Understanding Bad Shopping Habits

Posted on: 4 March 2016

Buying used furniture at a flea market or garage sale -- or simply dragging something out of your attic -- can be a great way to decorate your home for less. If you want to give used furniture a nice, modern twist, follow these three tips.

1. Give it a Fresh Coat of Paint

First of all, you'll probably want to give your used furniture a fresh coat of paint. You'll need to scrape and sand away any existing, chipped paint. Then, add a primer, and add a couple of coats of paint. When doing so, consider taking your old furniture in a whole new direction -- for example, instead of painting white furniture white again, consider using a bright-colored paint to add a pop of color to your home. For example, coral or turquoise are very popular colors for accent furniture these days and can make for a modern statement piece. 

2. Add a Sealant

You'll probably love how your furniture looks when it's painted, and you probably want it to stay that way. However, if your furniture is used regularly, the paint can chip and fade away if you aren't careful. This is especially true in certain situations, such as if you are using the piece as an end table (where you might place cups and glasses) or as a plant stand (which could get wet when you water your plants). Luckily, adding a clear sealant on top can help you keep your furniture looking nice in the long-term.

3. Replace the Hardware

Adding new hardware to your furniture is the perfect way to make it look new and modern again. You can purchase new hinges, drawer pulls, cabinet handles and other hardware from your local home improvement store, and you can put them on yourself with a screwdriver or a small, handheld drill. You can use basic bronze-colored or silver-colored hardware, or you can look for bolder, more colorful or decorative hardware. Doing so is an affordable and easy way to finish off the look of your redone used furniture.

There is no reason to go out and spend a lot of money on new furniture. Instead, consider picking up affordable home decor items for sale from a flea market or a yard sale, or look for old, worn-out furniture that you already have. Then, you can make these three improvements and can have new-looking pieces that are sure to look great in your home.