Now more than ever, interior designers and savvy homeowners are looking to the past to create unique home décor for today. There are a number of reasons that refurbished furniture has become so popular in modern design and we have a few ideas to get you started in giving your furniture a facelift.

Recycling Old Furniture Saves Money

For individuals and homeowners, budget restrictions often drive the decision to take a lackluster piece and create something new. There is no shortage of sources for vintage or old furniture to be refurbished. All you need is a little time to look and a little creativity. Great places to start your search are:

• Ask friends and family members if they have pieces they plan to discard or donate. Someone else’s trash may be your next treasure.
• Thrift and consignment stores. Many of these types of stores are managed by charities, so in addition to scoring a bargain you’ll likely support a great cause as well.
• Garage sales. Make sure to bring cash and be ready to negotiate.
• Auctions and estate sales.
• The internet. Look at local eBay listings to avoid hefty shipping charges, and don’t forget Craigslist. Popular search terms could be: furniture, dresser, table, chairs, mid-century, modern, shabby chic, oak, pine, cabinet, or even name brands of furniture companies.

Help the Environment by Recycling Old Furniture

In addition to the affordability that comes with recycling an old piece of furniture, you can also feel confident that you are helping do your part for the planet by creating a sustainable design.  It’s very likely that by taking a table off your uncle’s hands or picking one up off-line, you’ve saved something valuable from the landfill.

Recycle Old Furniture for Unique Decor

Finally, if saving money or sustainability are not your goals – perhaps you’ll consider recycling a piece of furniture for the simple reason that with a little time and elbow grease, you’ll have a piece of furniture that is one of a kind. Many big box retailers now offer copy-cat products that mimic unique vintage designs. By finding a vintage piece you love and giving it a bright coat of paint you’ve freshly updated the real deal in a way that works perfectly for your home and décor style.

Recycle Old Furniture with Paint

Once you find the perfect piece for your home, there are many ways to consider making it your own.  One of the easiest and most affordable ways to update furniture, especially wooden furniture, is to apply a fresh coat of paint.  This simple project can be accomplished in a weekend and requires very little skill.  Talk to a professional at your local paint or hardware store to learn what product will work best for the piece you have found.  Common steps will include sanding the furniture, priming the furniture (depending on your choice of paint), and then applying two thin, even coats of paint. A finishing sealer may also be desired depending on what paint you use and how much wear you expect the furniture to receive after painting. For example, it is always recommended to apply a finishing sealer to table tops, chair seats, and other high traffic areas.

Other Ways to Recycle Old Furniture

If paint alone isn’t enough to restore your piece, consider adding fun accents to make your furniture truly unique. Easy ideas include:

• Applying designer stickers or decals to your furniture after painting. This is especially popular among furniture to be used in a child’s room. (A friend of mine is looking to do up a loft bed to free up some space in their kids room, but she has struggled to find inspiration. If anyone has seen cool inspiration for one, please share in the comments (for those of you who don’t know what a loft bed is you can see one here ).
• Replacing old hardware with new colorful or shiny metal designs. Look for unique drawer pulls, knobs or hinges that compliment your current décor.
• Recover old upholstered chair seats or benches with new padding and fabric. This can be done easily with a scrap of fabric and a staple gun.
• Use patterned paper and adhesive or a second color of paint to add great emphasis to the backs of bookshelves or to the drawers of a dresser.

The possibilities are truly endless for creating a one of a kind piece of furniture that is uniquely you. With the added benefits of affordability and sustainability, why would you ever buy new? Here’s some cool furniture inspiration on Pinterest.

Author Profile Sarah Cross loves furniture, but hates paying retail prices. This has motivated her to find ways around it, and she now heads up SMAC Furniture, a family owned and operated partnership that sources liquidated furniture in Australia and see’s true benefits and savings returned to everyday people.