Quick and easy upcycling ideas

Is your furniture looking a little worse for wear? Instead of throwing old items out, give them a new lease of life with a quick and creative makeover. A lick of paint, a strip of wallpaper or even a simple Sharpie pen can transform tired items into treasured pieces in no time at all.

With a bit of elbow grease, some imagination and minimal expense, you'll end up with a completely unique home interior or why not flip your furniture and sell it on to make money for more homewares – win-win!

Here's how to get started...

Liven up a cabinet with leopard print

Animal print isn't going anywhere fast, so we're delighted that Annie Sloan and her resident paint experts have come up with this gorgeous leopard print upcycle project. The effect is created by layering paint and wax – a technique inspired by traditional batik printmaking.

Embellish a bedside table

If you're new to upcycling then you may want to start with a smaller project like this bedside cabinet transformation by @happyretrofurniture.

If you don't have a unit in need of TLC already, take a look on Facebook Marketplace or eBay and pick up one for pennies. A tester pot of paint, a few samples of wallpaper and PVA glue are all you need to master this bright and cheerful revamp.

Ombré a second-hand dresser

Challenged with the task of upcycling a charity store find, blogger Medina Grillo chose this mid-century dresser. She started by sanding it, and after the initial plan of stencilling half circles along the bottom drawer didn't turn out as she envisioned, she turned to plan B.

After sanding off the paint, she stained two-thirds of the piece with a dark wax. Once dry she applied white chalk paint to the bottom drawer using a dry brush technique, applying the paint in quick upward motions. The result, a cool ombré effect!

Go bold with graphic paint effects

Be sure not to forget your bathroom when you're upcycling your home furnishings. This vanity unit, designed by @happyretrofurniture, is actually an old chest of drawers that's been revamped with a bright geometric pattern.

A wash basin has been plumbed into the top to make it functional as well as funky. A cheap flea market find, totally flipped!

Revive a vintage bathtub

How about this for an affordable luxury bathroom idea? If you're lucky enough to have a clawfoot vintage tub then make it the focus of your bathroom with this striking facelift.

First, mark off the areas of the bath you don't want to paint with painter's tape, then sand lightly and wipe clean. Spray on a primer before applying two coats of your chosen colour. Finally, spray a clear lacquer for a gloss finish.

Create a retro pet palace

Maggie McGaugh certainly knows how to think outside the box regarding furniture upcycling. This retro TV was found in the trash, but it has been rescued and transformed for a four-legged friend who will enjoy snuggling up in their cosy new bed.

Carefully remove the internal electrics to leave the smooth shell, then paint the exterior and line the inside with patterned wallpaper. Pop in a soft, cosy bed and it's ready for your pet pal to snuggle up in.

Breathe new life into your garden bench

Don't ditch that garden bench, bring it back to life with a coat of exterior wood paint in a rich jewel tone. Give it a sand and clean first, then apply the stain with a large brush. If you have any fretwork or other details, paint them a contrasting colour.

This features gold detail for a luxe finish. Why not complete your outdoor set with an upcycled pallet table in a contrasting jewel tone?

Embellish dresser drawers

At first glance, this dresser is muted and classic, but playful drawer detailing gives it real character. Pink candy stripes make a fun addition to any bedroom, whether you're young or young at heart.

To get the look, you need chalk-finish paint, a ruler and masking tape to mark out the design.

Blend in a bookcase

Boring bookcases begone! This is a paint decorating idea you'll definitely want to try. If you're looking to decorate a room, why not create a cohesive flow and paint your furniture to match? Here the walls and a plain cabinet have been painted a stunning azure blue.

For added interest a band of white runs along the centre of both the walls and bookcase. Make sure you use a suitable primer before painting your bookcase and measure and mark out the band with a good quality painter's tape for a crisp finish.

Upholster your headboard

Upholstering a headboard might sound like a daunting project, but it's actually a relatively painless DIY project, although you might want to start with a classic headboard shape if you're a beginner! You'll need to remove the headboard before beginning, which could prove to be the trickiest part.

Then you'll need to source some one-inch (2.5cm) foam plus wadding and fabric. Cut the foam to size and glue it in place before affixing the wadding and finally the fabric to the headboard using a staple gun. If you don't quite have the skills, fabric glue will also do the job – just ensure the fabric is taut.

Add personality with washi tape

A really quick way to update furniture is to add detail with washi tape. This removable craft tape is perfect for making over any unloved pieces and here crafter Hester van Overbeek has transformed IKEA MALM drawers.

Start by sticking lengths of tape to your drawer, making different sized triangles, squares, and other geometric shapes. Press the tape on by sliding your finger over it and cut the ends of the tape in neat straight lines for a professional finish.

Try out new ideas

When it comes to experimenting, here's a top tip: try out your new ideas on ultra-cheap or ideally free pieces. A friend gave Maggie McGaugh this vanity for free and which in its previous state was ready for the trash. But with paint and creativity and some light sanding, it’s ready for a new life as a thoroughly modern-looking dressing table.

If you’re keen to try your hand at flipping furniture, Maggie advises starting small. For instance, try a bread bin before you try and tackle a full-sized piece of furniture. “Creativity grows over time! Use a piece of furniture you already own or find free. Sand, clean, and paint! With every flip, you can try new colours techniques, and steps,” she says.

Makeover a metal bedframe

Victorian-style metal bedframes make a quirky addition to children's bedrooms, but you don't need to stick to traditional neutral colours. Instead, paint the frame a warming primary shade and carry it across accessories for a cohesive look.

Depending on the quality of the frame to start with, you may have to sand and clean the metalwork before applying a primer. Coat twice with coloured spray paint or brush on chalk paint. Pair with cute stuffed toys to finish!

Update your desk

If you want to bring on-trend metallics into your homeworking space without compromising on style, rose gold is the hue to choose.

Warm and welcoming, this Rust-Oleum upcycle brings a plain metal desk bang up to date in this pretty pastel scheme.

Revamp with new handles

If you have a limited budget and not a lot of time in which to undertake an upcycling project, then the quickest and easiest way to spruce up old pieces and retro furniture is by simply changing up the handles. From characterful porcelain options to sleek bars, there are endless options out there when it comes to furniture hardware.

Maggie McGaugh made this sideboard striking again with a fresh lick of orange paint and two styles of brass handles. The finished look is stunning. Get creative then sit back and admire your handiwork.

Add sunshine to a garden set

Choose a gloss lacquer paint combined with chalk paint to refresh tired metal garden furniture, for stylish outdoor dining. You can pick up an old set like this for less than £40 ($50) on eBay.

Give it a quick sand down and clean and then apply a coating of chalk paint in any colour you like – go neon for a fun summer look – and follow up with a coat of a hard-wearing, water-based polyacrylic varnish to withstand general wear and tear.

Upcycle play furniture

Don't forget the kids' furniture! Blogger @theottohouse gave this IKEA DUKTIG play kitchen a revamp to test out her own full-size kitchen plans.

Providing a chance to put her plywood and ribbed wood dreams into real life, she used plywood for the splashback and covered the doors with lengths of ribbed wood which she cut to size. Black spray paint gave the sink, tap and handles a modern update.

Go bold in the bedroom

How's this for bedroom inspo? A rich coat of paint on a tired wooden bedframe is an easy way to make a statement in your bedroom, especially when combined with matching bedding and contrasting vibrant pink curtains.

For a project like this, you'll need chalk paint. It's quick to apply and adheres to wooden surfaces beautifully without requiring any sanding or prepping. Choose a cobalt shade to get this bold look.

Modernise a vintage sideboard

This vintage sideboard was spotted in a charity shop for only £15 ($20) and has been given a total revamp with a simple lick of paint and some patterned wallpaper.

Choose satin finish furniture paint – you can apply with a roller and you won’t need to prime – and go for self-adhesive paper for a mess-free finish. Play around with colour options and clashing patterns for a bold look.

Style up an old side table

Created by the clever folk at @happyretrofurniture, this super-stylish side table would make a great addition to a living room.

Sand and prime your tabletop, then mark out a geometric design in pencil. Carefully paint, working section by section using masking tape and eggshell paints. It'll certainly give a unique and vibrant new look to a tired table!

Update dining chairs with maps

For very little cost, these old wooden school chairs have been given a unique makeover by Pillar Box Blue. To get the look, dismantle the chairs, sand them and then wipe them down.

Using PVA glue and a selection of maps from your favourite spots around the world, carefully decoupage the paper onto the wooden fronts. Once totally dried, apply a coat of protective varnish and reassemble.