Upcycle Your Old Furniture And Save Money
Upgrading what you already have
Do you have a full house of furniture, but none of it is exciting you? Instead of scrapping everything and buying all new furniture, there is another option! Not every furniture flip has to be for profit. Some can be for the fun of it and you can even update furniture as a gift or surprise for loved ones.
If you're looking to up-cycle and makeover your own furniture, you're in the right place!
This week I got to tackle a flip that was close to my heart! My parent's entryway table needed a little love so instead of buying a new one, I wanted to revamp the one they already had!
How it started.
Finding inspiration for your flip
I checked out stores in my area to get inspired. While I knew my parent’s entryway table needed love, I didn’t know exactly what I would do for this flip.
If you find your imagination tank running low, scour shops to see what’s popular. You can also look online at websites like Wayfair, Pottery Barn, or any other brand that matches your style.
The view from the top.
In my search, I saw a similar table at Target that I really loved. However, the table was priced at $250 and made of particle board. Obviously, I knew I could do it better myself with the original wood table.
Disclaimer:
This article contains affiliate links. I will receive a commission for items purchased through these links at no extra cost to you. I appreciate your support. Please read all labels and follow all manufacturer safety recommendations when working with paints, stains, and other equipment, and wear and use appropriate personal protection equipment. Readers should attempt these projects at their own risk.
Products I Used for this flip:
Surfprep Sanding System [code: FFT10 for 10% off]:
RZ MASK: [code: FFT10 for 10% off]
Getting set up for success
As I always say, preparation is the most crucial part of any furniture restoration.
Before cleaning, I removed the glass from the top of the table and the sheet of caning from the bottom. I also removed any lingering old staples from the bottom where they were once attached to the caning sheet.
Wrestling a staple out from the bottom of the table with my pliers.
I do plan to restore the caning and reinsert the glass once I’m finished. I think these two elements are essential to the original table. This entryway table is over 50 years old and it’s been in my parent’s home since I was little, so it felt important for it to still be recognizable.
That being said, you may wish to take a more dramatic approach to your flip.
Cleanliness is next to godliness, right?
Once these elements were removed, I cleaned the table and its parts with Dixie Belle’s White Lightning Cleaner. To use this cleaning agent, fill a mister bottle with warm water and a tablespoon or two of the cleaning solution. Spray generously and wipe down with a clean cloth.
You will need another spray bottle filled with clean water for rinsing off the remaining cleaner.
One more prep step
This table had a pretty glossy finish so scuff sanding was important to do. Scuff sanding is just a light sanding of everywhere you’re painting to Rough up the surface. I used medium grit sandpaper for this.
Sand down the entire surface so the paint better adheres.
As always, make sure to wear a mask like my RZ MASK to protect your lungs. If you opt to use the same mask as me, use my code FFT10 to save a small percentage on your purchase.
Once I started sanding the table, I switched to my Ryobi Orbital Sander because I needed more pressure than hand sanding was giving. After sanding, clean the surface one more time to remove any saw dust.
Adding color
Now that everything was sanded, it was time to paint. I decided to use my sprayer instead of hand painting because of the curves on this piece.
Here are some Wagner products I recommend if you’re looking to make the investment:
For drama, I chose Dixie Belle's Silk Paint in Anchor to make this entryway table moodier. It’s an all-in-one paint that includes a primer and a top coat, which is a win in my book.
Don’t forget to strain your paint!
I filled my nozzle with about half of the jar. I like to use these strainers to filter the paint into my sprayer. This helps remove any unwanted clumps of paint or other sediments. This step saves me from those annoying surprises.
When spraying, you want to add some water to the paint nozzle but not too much. I used just a little bit of water with mine because this is mineral paint. Overly thinning it out could make the built-in primer and top coat less effective.
Make sure to test spray on cardboard or something similar before moving to your furniture. This is a great way to try out your spray pattern and check your paint’s consistency.
Crouch low and flip the table over to make sure you get full-coverage.
Revamping the Caning
Since I wanted to include the original caning, I knew it would need a little love to bring it up to date. I went with Dixie Belle's Chalk Paint in Sandbar to protect the caning and mute the color some.
Painting this cane insert will protect it for many years to come.
Once the paint was dry, I reattached the sheet of caning using a brad nailer. If you don’t have this tool, you can use finishing nails and a hammer. In both cases, make sure your nails are the right length. You don’t want them to be too long that they poke through the top side of the table or too short, so they don’t attach the piece to the table.
Final Reveal
The final look!
The most exciting part about this flip is that we kept it secret from my mom. Though flipping for a profit is satisfying, there was something extra special about giving back to my loved ones.
Watch here to see her reaction and the big reveal!
We have tea!
Are you tired of having a looming debt over your head that you have no clue how you’re going to get the money to pay off? I was able to earn enough money by flipping furniture to pay off $25,000 worth of student loan debt! That is why we created the Flipping Furniture for Profits Course & Coaching Program! I take you step by step exactly how I was able to pay off this debt in just 6 MONTHS! The course is hands-on and full of helpful steps to set you up for success! Learn more about how to get started here. 🎈
Let’s keep flippin’ learning,
-Lauren & Neiman
