10 Clever Ideas for DIY Repurposing Furniture Projects

Give your old furniture new life with these creative ways of repurposing furniture.

If you’re up for a challenge and want to get creative with your home decor, then repurposing old furniture is the way to go. Not only is it an economical way to revamp your living space, but it is also rewarding and a great way to add a unique style to an outdated piece. These 10 clever repurposed furniture ideas are sure to inspire your future DIY projects.

From reinventing old dresser drawers to making use of vintage record players, you’ll be amazed at the transformation. With some imagination and a bit of elbow grease, you’ll be well on your way to having home decor that’s both cozy and stylish. So get ready to upcycle your old piece of furniture, because with a little effort, you can make your living space one of a kind.

Where Do You Find DIY Furniture?

Don't have a vintage piece of your own? Here are a few suggestions for where I have found old pieces to refurbish.

• Thrift stores
• Flea markets
• Antique stores
• Garage sales or estate sales
• Facebook marketplace or a classifieds group
• If your own home is lacking, why not ask relatives? There are bound to be some old furniture pieces in Grandma's attic.

What Do You Need to Repurpose Furniture?

When I first started working out of my home, my initial business was refurbishing furniture. After a plethora of furniture transformations, I swapped over to more DIY projects and doing things around my home. To tackle these furniture projects, there are a few simple tools and basics to invest in:

• Sanding tool
• Drill
• Paint brush or paint sprayer
• Paint or wood stain
• Sealant for your paint or wood
• Wood putty

Repurposing Furniture Ideas

Benches

It is so fun to repurpose furniture in different ways. I love to bring new purpose to upcycled furniture to create style in the home. An easy way to continue using an existing piece is by turning it into a bench.

Retro Record Player Turned Shabby Chic Bench

Bringing repurposed life to this retro record player was a bit of a challenge. Taking apart an old record player is a long process. These things are built well so it takes a long time to hollow them out. I made this record player into a bench. I removed the retro legs and added new bunt feet, creating a whole new look with shabby chic style.

Repurposing wood furniture like this has a whole new look with a fresh coat of paint. I sprayed this bench with a custom mixed latex paint and then antiqued it with sand paper and glaze to bring out all the details. Different ways to distressing furniture listed here. I also top coated with a spar urethane to help it hold the finish.

This old record player is perfectly refurbished as a bench with an abundance of storage. It's amazing what a little paint and elbow grease can achieve!

Small Dresser Bench

This outdated piece was not in good condition when I received it. But that is nothing that some creative juices won't fix! What began as a small and broken dresser is now a new functional piece of furniture. The small size is great for an entry or front porch. Details here.

Isn't the paint color on this refurbished furniture so fun?

Large Dresser Bench

Repurposed dressers are some of the best projects! I turned this older piece into a French-style bench by removing some of the old dresser drawers and adding new pieces of wood. See the details here. Using a longer dresser like this will also provide more storage space for decor.

Turning a Crib to a Bench

Take your old crib and turn it into a bench with a little bit of creativity and a dose of hard work. This Pinterest-worthy repurposing involves using a saw for cutting your crib down and creating a new seat frame with wooden planks.

Make a DIY Headboard Bench

It's amazing what is possible with the rights tools, a little paint and a headboard in good condition. This headboard may be time consuming, but it is not a hard furniture project. After it was all assembled I painted the wood with milk paint and sealed the bench with a dark oil wax. I then used a wood stain on the wood planks for added character.

See the video for more info!

Shelves

Old Door Turned Shelf

This DIY repurposed furniture project works best if you use an old door that is solid wood and already formed into sectioned panels. Cut your sections, add trim to top and bottom pieces, then paint! Add new hardware and decor if needed.

And if style isn't enough, this hanging shelf is also an easy way to hang decor, purses, scarves or jewelry.

How to Turn a Car Bumper Into a Shelf

Looking for a really unique way to get storage and style in one? Give new purpose to a car bumper by turning it into a shelf with storage and decor.

Headboard Repurposing Furniture

Door Turned Headboard

I love giving this old door a repurposed life. Once assembled with added crown molding, I left the vintage hardware on and used a dry brush technique for more antique character.

Repurposed Furniture Cabinets

French Record Player Turned Storage Cabinet

Who knew that old record players could produce such great upcycled furniture ideas? This old record player was a cinch to turn into a storage cabinet because someone had already removed the insides by the time it came to me.

Next step, I then finished off this piece with paint, vaseline for distressing followed by a few touches of wax. Replace with new hardware if desired!

This piece is great for using as an end table, a tv stand, or an additional storage cabinet in your kitchen or entry.

TV Console Transformed Cabinet

I found this beauty at an estate sale. It was amazingly well taken care of and in prime condition. You know when it has a built in TV and record system, it is made well.

But taking this outdated furniture apart was a lot of work. It amazes me how well furniture items like this were built then, versus now.

I finished this new furniture by painting the cabinet a light ivory and then slightly distressing the edges for a vintage appeal.

This beautiful wood cabinet is also very versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. Use it as a buffet, TV stand, dresser or clothing organizer.

Having more storage space is always a win! The deep bins on the sides can be used for any type of storage such as blankets, dishes, clothing, games, etc.

And don't you just love these gorgeous details? Now that this cabinet has been painted, you can more clearly see all the lines and character.

DIY Repurposing Furniture Projects

Repurposing furniture is one of the best ways to save money and incorporate style into interior design. What better way to add character to your home than with a vintage piece that has been redone and repurposed for good use. Use these 10 DIY repurposed furniture ideas to restore one of your own furniture projects and bring a fun focal point to any room.

Happy DIYing!

Brooke