We often call them second-hand or used but with a little creativity and attention, you can turn garage sale furniture finds or forgotten old gems in your basement into veritable vintage pieces that add unique style to your home. Here are a few ways to reinvent old furniture:
Refreshed and reupholstered. Many of us leave old sofas and chairs by the curb or donate them to charities. But reupholstering can breathe new life into a classic or a family favorite. Unless its a piece with extremely simple lines, your best bet is to contact a professional most upholsterers make house calls to provide an estimate, saving you the hassle of lugging furniture around town. A quality recovering can cost as much as buying something new, but if its something you really love it may well be worth it. Reupholstering is a great idea for your old headboard too!
Pillow talk. One of the simplest and least expensive ways to freshen up lived-in furniture is with accent pillows. Look for bargain fabrics and your local textile store but stick to classic designs, like solid colors or simple graphics. And dont be afraid to mix different sized pillows theyll add visual interest. New fabrics for curtains and tablecloths are another way to spruce up your space on a budget.
Handled just right. If your armoire, credenza or electronics storage unit is looking worn or outdated, consider new hardware. Upgraded knobs and handles can be quite inexpensive and they dress up old furniture in a flash. Remember to bring a sample of old hardware with you when youre shopping, or measure the original, to make sure it fits when you get home.
Check here, here and here for more clever ways to make old furniture new again. As always, share your great ideas with us in the Shop Talk Blog community forum now!
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Did you know?
How old does something have to be for it to be an antique?
As a rule of thumb, items should be a century old. Some collectibles, like rugs from the Middle East arent considered antiques unless they were made before 1700. But cars, since most arent more than 100 years old, are viewed as antiques if theyre more than 25 years old.
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