Instant Furniture Makeovers

Photo: Erica George Dines

Budget-friendly ways to transform old furniture into dazzling updated focal points.

1 of 39

Wing Chair Before

Photo Robbie Caponetto

We challenge you to find a Southern girl who would turn down her grandmother's hand-me-downs. Inherited items are the lifeblood of Southern homes. Use our ideas to turn "before" items like this into "after" pieces everyone will adore!

Before: This wing chair is covered in dated fabric, but has a uniquely striking shape.

2 of 39

Wing Chair After

Photo Robbie Caponetto / Styling Anne Turner Carroll and Fran Keenan

This chair goes from floral to sophisticated with a smart upholstery update. Exposing the wooden legs and adding a nailhead trim make this chair conservative yet hip. The perfect combo for a new couple's first home.

Wing Chair Fabric: Ottoman Leaf in Chocolate by Robert Allen; 1-800-333-3777

3 of 39

Arm Chair Before

Photo Robbie Caponetto

The small print on this arm chair keeps it in the past. The frame is attractive and the exposed wood shows a lot of potential.

4 of 39

Armchair After

Photo Robbie Caponetto / Styling Anne Turner Carroll and Fran Keenan

5 of 39

Sewing Table Before

Photo Robbie Caponetto / Styling Anne Turner Carroll and Fran Keenan

Two of these $5 flea market sewing tables are just the right size for sofa side tables.

6 of 39

Sewing Table After

Photo Robbie Caponetto / Styling Anne Turner Carroll and Fran Keenan

We changed the look of this table by taking it to a wallpaper hanger who gave it a custom look by covering it with grass cloth. Using wallpaper to cover wooden furniture is a polished alternative to simply updating with paint.

Wallpaper on Table: Naturals II Linshan Rushcloth (548501) in Olive Haze by Gramercy, available through Blue Mountain Wallcoverings

7 of 39

Chest Before

Photo Robbie Caponetto / Styling Anne Turner Carroll and Fran Keenan

This blah sideboard is a nice functional piece, but was in desperate need of a trendy update.

8 of 39

Chest After

Photo Robbie Caponetto / Styling Anne Turner Carroll and Fran Keenan

9 of 39

Barrel Chair Before

Photo Laurey W. Glenn

Another one of grandmother's hand-me-downs, this barrel chair has been put to good use over the years. Because it is sturdy and has retained it's shape it's a perfect piece to try a little recovering magic.

10 of 39

Barrel Chair After

Photo Laurey W. Glenn

11 of 39

Console Before

Photo Robbie Caponetto / Styling Anne Turner Carroll

Hard working pieces like this are a must for entertaining. This console just needs a few changes to take it from bland to glam.

12 of 39

Console After

Photo Robbie Caponetto / Styling Anne Turner Carroll

The console transforms into a swanky bar, thanks to a new coat of paint and a custom-cut limestone top. Any local kitchen or bath showroom can get a stone top cut to size. Scan the remnants section for odd-size leftovers that are bargains.

13 of 39

Amoire Before

Photo Robbie Caponetto

This wood storage cabinet has stylish doors and is the perfect size for storing things in a small bedroom. The finish is a little dark so the piece could use a little updating.

14 of 39

Amoire After

Photo Robbie Caponetto

We brightened this piece up by painting it turquoise. At 12 inches deep, it’s small enough to fit the room but still big enough to hold five shoe storage cubes and lots of boots and handbags.

15 of 39

Dresser Before

Photo Robbie Caponetto

Don't give up on an old piece! This old dresser seems to have lost it's luster. The finish is dingy and the style seems outdated.

16 of 39

Dresser After

Photo Robbie Caponetto

The old dresser got a fresh coat of white paint to help it blend in. An old map of Europe, found at a thrift store was the missing link. The weathered look adds a sense of history to the room.

Dresser Paint: Summer White (7557) from Sherwin-Williams; 1-800-474-3794

17 of 39

Slipper Chair Before

All this old (and may we say, drab?) chair needs is new fabric. Total gutting is not required.

18 of 39

Slipper Chair After

For this chair we kissed the why-was-it-ever- popular avocado green velvet good-bye and refreshed it with a prettier sage fabric. A darker stain on the legs and sides lends an elegant touch.

Chair Fabric: Hourglass by Robert Allen

19 of 39

Club Chair Before

The heavy skirt and loose cushions on this chair make it obvious that it's from the 1980s.

20 of 39

Club Chair After

Ask your upholsterer to expose chair legs (stain or paint them first) by eliminating the skirt, and then opt for a tight-back cushion. We added a small lumbar pillow here for extra back support.

21 of 39

Wood-Framed Sofa Before

This cringe-worthy wood-framed sofa was found by a dumpster.

22 of 39

Wood-Framed Sofa After

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Now, a personality-filled piece, freshened up with a bold pattern and white paint.

Designer: Jamie Meares, Furbish Studio, Raleigh, NC; furbishstudio.com.
Sofa fabric: custom by Furbish; furbishstudio.com.
Sofa paint: ProClassic Alkyd Interior Enamel in White; sherwin-williams.com.
Wallpaper: Foxglove (W5805-03) from Hothouse by Suzy Hoodless for Osborne & Little (osborneandlittle.com).

23 of 39

Classic Armchair Before

A classic shape fallen victim to a dated floral.

24 of 39

Classic Armchair After

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Updated with a subtle ticking stripe with a vibrant, one-of-a-kind ikat center.

Designer: Jamie Meares, Furbish Studio, Raleigh, NC; furbishstudio.com.
Chair paint: ProClassic Alkyd Interior Enamel in White; sherwin-williams.com.
Chair fabric (ticking): for assorted ticking fabrics, try Robert Allen (robertallendesign.com).
Chair fabric (ikat): Mercury P6324 in 23002 (1101357) from Lewis & Sheron Textiles (lsfabrics.com).
Wallpaper: Angles Wallpaper in Silver/White by Hygge Cooperative (hyggecooperative.com).

25 of 39

Vintage Chairs Before

Pretty but expected Swedish dining chairs.

26 of 39

Vintage Chairs After

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Stylish seats updated with tailored gray leather and nail-head trim.

Designer: Tara Shaw, Tara Shaw, New Orleans; tarashaw.com.
Chair leather: For a similar look, try Milano in Platinum (9250/15) by Holly Hunt Leather (hollyhunt.com); 212/755-6555.

27 of 39

Settee Before

A tired, sagging settee with an interesting shape and mid-century legs.

28 of 39

Settee After

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

An attention-getting perch with a shape that's exaggerated with unexpected horizontal stripes.

Designer: Cynthia Collins, Collins Interiors, Dallas; collins-interiors.com.
Fabric (stripe): Pacifica in Fuchsia by Steven Harsey Textiles (harsey.com); 954/925-1133.

29 of 39

Chest Before

A plain Asian chest with an imposing black finish and lack of hardware.

30 of 39

Chest After

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

An impressive sidekick with modern white lacquer and striking brass hardware.

Designer: Cynthia Collins, Collins Interiors, Dallas; collins-interiors.com.
Cabinet paint: Linen White (912); benjaminmoore.com.

31 of 39

Bar Cart Before

Photo: Courtesy Parker Kennedy

The elegant curved lines of this bar cart were clouded in dismal shade of brown.

See More Painted Furniture Ideas

32 of 39

Glam Bar Cart

Photo: Erica George Dines

The makeover: Painting the wheel covers gold and the frame a coral orange (Flame; benjaminmoore.com), along with new mirrors cut to fit atop the shelves, elevates this rattan cart from a computer trolley to a host's best friend.

33 of 39

Cane Chair Before

Photo: Courtesy Parker Kennedy

Monochrome upholstery and paint in a tired palette had this caned chair in need of an upgrade.

34 of 39

Chic Seat

Photo: Erica George Dines

The makeover: Dingy paint and fabric kept these caned chairs from a bright future. Fiery red lacquer (Candy Cane Red; benjaminmoore.com) and new chinoiserie upholstery (Coromandel; fschumacher.com) put them back in the seating game.

35 of 39

China Cabinet Before

Photo: Courtesy Parker Kennedy

A china cabinet with good bones lacked pizzazz under a sea of beige paint.

36 of 39

Mod China Cabinet

Photo: Erica George Dines

The makeover: A pale gray lacquer (Dovetail; sherwin-williams.com), paired with crisp white trim and a graphic papered interior (Zebras; scalamandre.com), wakes up a faded but handsomely proportioned cabinet.

37 of 39

Baroque Dresser Before

Photo: Courtesy Parker Kennedy

This stately dresser was begging to make a statement, but an unfortunate hue was forcing it to fade into the background.

38 of 39

Baroque Dresser

Photo: Erica George Dines

The makeover: Metallic gold trim highlights this piece's ladylike curves and elegant detailing, while a coating of masculine navy lacquer (Marine Blue; benjaminmoore.com) keeps the look from veering too matronly.

Replay gallery

Account

More

Instant Furniture Makeovers

1 of 39

Wing Chair Before

2 of 39

Wing Chair After

3 of 39

Arm Chair Before

4 of 39

Armchair After

5 of 39

Sewing Table Before

6 of 39

Sewing Table After

7 of 39

Chest Before

8 of 39

Chest After

9 of 39

Barrel Chair Before

10 of 39

Barrel Chair After

11 of 39

Console Before

12 of 39

Console After

13 of 39

Amoire Before

14 of 39

Amoire After

15 of 39

Dresser Before

16 of 39

Dresser After

17 of 39

Slipper Chair Before

18 of 39

Slipper Chair After

19 of 39

Club Chair Before

20 of 39

Club Chair After

21 of 39

Wood-Framed Sofa Before

22 of 39

Wood-Framed Sofa After

23 of 39

Classic Armchair Before

24 of 39

Classic Armchair After

25 of 39

Vintage Chairs Before

26 of 39

Vintage Chairs After

27 of 39

Settee Before

28 of 39

Settee After

29 of 39

Chest Before

30 of 39

Chest After

31 of 39

Bar Cart Before

32 of 39

Glam Bar Cart

33 of 39

Cane Chair Before

34 of 39

Chic Seat

35 of 39

China Cabinet Before

36 of 39

Mod China Cabinet

37 of 39

Baroque Dresser Before

38 of 39

Baroque Dresser

Share the Gallery