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Furniture need a little love? Try these upcycling tips from an interior designer

We've got cost-effective ways to completely transform your space, straight from a designer.
Woman paining a wooden chair yellow, outside on her patio
blackCAT / Getty Images
/ Source: TODAY
By Terri Peters

A while ago, my husband sent me a text while walking our dog. It was a photo of an old kitchen table and four chairs that had been tossed out by a neighbor.

The pieces had "good bones," as they say, but since the full extent of my furniture upcycling skills up until that point had been spray painting flower pots for my garden, I wasn't sure what he expected me to do with the old dining set.

Terri Peter's dining room round table outside
Courtesy Terri Peters

"If there's anyone who can make it perfect for our house, it's you," he texted.

Suck up.

Terri Peter dining room chair outside
Courtesy Terri Peters

So began the frenzy of texts to my friends who are known to upcycle furniture regularly. After getting some words of encouragement and tons of advice for chalk-painting, I decided that was the route to go.

Much to my surprise, it turned out beautifully — just look at this upcycled furniture before and after. As I redesigned our breakfast nook area around the beautiful new upcycled dining table and chairs I had created, I was bitten by the upcycling bug.

Terri Peters dining room set after paining her round table and chairs
Courtesy Terri Peters

Since then, I've made my fair share of sustainable home decor. I've refinished our bar cart, spruced up old mirrors from the thrift store for my entryway and purchased an old cabinet on Facebook's Marketplace that I repurposed into a small cabinet for dishes I want to display.

Whether you, like me, are seeking out pieces to upcycle, or just want to spruce up your space without buying a completely new table or chair (or are trying your hand at the once viral TikTok trend of transforming your side table) there are plenty of ways to repurpose your existing pieces and refresh your home decor.

Rebecca Hay, an interior designer based in Toronto, says with the right materials and techniques, it's easy to master upcycling furniture. In fact, Hay works sustainable techniques into many of her own projects and designs.

Here are some small ways Hay says you can make a big impact on furniture that's in need of a little bit of love — or just make an eco-friendly change to refresh a tired space.

Embellishments ideas

From wallpaper to knobs, Hay says it's easy to spruce up any furniture with a few quirky embellishments.

"Try peel-and-stick wallpaper at the back of a shelving unit or replace wooden shelves in an armoire with glass shelves and remove the doors," the designer suggested. "This gives it a light airy vibe and is a great way to display items."

HaokHome Shiplap Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

For a distressed wood look that still feels bright and fresh, try this peel-and-stick wallpaper with over 3,800 five-star reviews.

Opalhouse Speckled Dot Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

Pick this speckled dot wallpaper to add a sprinkle of fun into any space. It is available in both black and metallic gold.

Wallpops Grassweave Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

This bright cheerful stick-on wallpaper will brighten up any room with its ivory colors and woven appearance.

Opalhouse Celestial Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

Navy and gold are incredibly elegant. We can't get enough of this peel-and-stick paper from Target, which is perfect to update bookshelves, small furniture or whole rooms.

NuWallpaper Brick Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

Give shelves a brick look with this light and airy white brick-printed wallpaper.

Dritz Home Ceramic Embossed Flower Knob

Changing out the knobs on old (or new) furniture to these flowery ceramic ones will instantly update the look of the piece.

Franklin Brass Nickel Fulton Knob

When changing out several knobs at once, such as on a dresser, consider saving money with a bulk pack, like these classic silver ones.

Fabric ideas

Hay says reupholstering furniture is a great way to upcycle.

"I love recovering a seat cushion with a modern print," said Hay. "Often sofa and chairs are solidly built and structurally sound, they just need a little modernization with fun fabrics."

(While fabric choice is, of course, subjective, here are a few fun prints we love.)

Ambesonne Palm Leaf Fabric

Hello, tropical vibes! Spruce up your space with this summery, dark green fabric. It would be beautiful for upcycled chairs or any other repurposing on your to-do list.

Lunarable Reptile Fabric

For a dash of fun, try adding an animal-print accent pillow or stool. This warm brown and snakeskin-print fabric is a trendy, patterned take on neutral tones.

Scott Living Coral Reef Luxe Canvas Palace Fabric

For throw pillows or a coastal-themed reupholstered chair, this coral-print medium heavyweight cotton fabric is guaranteed to bring the ocean vibes.

Waverly Santa Maria Desert Flower Duck Fabric

Bright, colorful and vibrant, this duck fabric, a heavy woven fabric, would be perfect for repurposed furniture — anything from an old armchair to a vintage footstool.

Rose Satin Jacquard Coral Fabric

In the mood for something fancier? Jacquard fabric, often silkier with a woven pattern, is another great option for reupholstering furniture.

Paint ideas

While painting over a piece of furniture's original design or finish may seem scary, Hay says there are plenty of paints, like chalk paint, which is a decorative furniture paint, that are very forgiving.

"Some of my favorite ways to upcycle are with paint," Hay said. "It's a great way to take an old wooden piece of furniture and breathe new life into it, and chalk paint is fun because it doesn't require a professional or primer."

Shabby Chic Chalk Based Furniture Paint

This chalk paint has more than 7,500 perfect five-star ratings on Amazon. This paint comes in 37 different colors with matte and metallic and finishes, so you can get just about any look.

Behr Interior Decorative Chalk Paint

If you're seeking a smooth, velvety matte finish for your next DIY project, try this Behr chalk paint. It's great for creating both modern and vintage looks and perfect for upcycled wooden furniture.

Country Chic All-in-One Chalk-Style Paint

This chalk-style paint is Amazon's No. 1 Bestseller in Household Furniture Paint for a reason — it's loved for its coverage, texture and ease of use. The best part? This paint dries in 30 minutes, according to the brand.

Waverly Inspirations Chalk Paint

My favorite thing about this chalk paint is that it's also sold in stores at Walmart, making it a snap to pick up more if you run out mid-project.

Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint

Another reliable brand of chalk paint comes from Rust-Oleum. This Chalked Paint is also available in tons of classic colors like blush pink and coastal blue.

FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Paint

From Tuscan red to Victorian pink, the sky is the limit when it comes to the array of shades available from FolkArt. As a bonus, this brand is often sold in craft stores, making it a good one to save on when coupon specials arise.

Rug ideas

Maybe you don't have the time to completely remodel a piece of furniture, but still want a new feel for your home. Adding a vintage rug is an easy way to change the look of any room, according to Hay.

"They're a fun way to add character to your space," she said, adding that she usually sends out vintage rugs for a professional cleaning. "This way you can be confident that you eliminate the dust mites and any dirt. And, a professional can add a protective layer to the rug to help add to durability."

Nervous about purchasing a rug secondhand? These options have a vintage look but are brand new.

SAFAVIEH Distressed 8' x 10' Area Rug

For a vintage-inspired rug that matches any interior, this muted ivory and silver rug does the trick. Plus, it has over 5,00 five-star ratings.

Rugs USA Overdyed Vintage Round Rug

Add a pop of color to your space with this low-pile round rug, which comes in an array of shapes, colors, and sizes.

Rugs.com Oregon Rug

This area rug comes in several neutral colors and has low piling along with an imprinted woven design.

Well Woven Adeline Bohemian Rug

Boho is in — have you seen the popular "nap dress"? And we love the boho vibes we get from this stunning, colorful area rug.

Rugs.com Brighella Round Rug

Whether your style is bright and colorful or subtle and gray, this round rug's beautiful shape and design will give any room a vintage vibe.

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Terri Peters

Terri Peters is a writer and editor for TODAY.com. She lives in a small beach town on the Atlantic coast of Florida with her husband and two kids. When she isn't writing, she can be found at the beach or exploring Florida's theme parks with her family.