Repurposing old furniture

Becky's "new" coffee table in my old living room

I’m a diehard fan of repurposing.  Almost every stick of furniture in my home is either a hand-me-down from a benevolent relative or a thrift store find.  I also like to trade “white elephant” furniture with friends.  One man’s trash is often a DIYer’s treasure.

Let’s face it, decades old furniture tends to be of better quality than the new stuff (hello particle board!) and the blemishes of age can add much-needed character  to a home in this era of disposable everything.  Every DIY’er knows that a coat of paint, some new hardware and a little imagination can turn a dated piece into a unique and useful item.  I think it’s lovely to walk into a home where each piece, no matter how humble, has its own story.

The coffee table you see here is a prime example.  My parents bought it in North Carolina some time in the 60’s and I’m positive that, in my formative years, I played a large role in destroying it’s original dark stained finish.  This is no antique, but it’s a classic design and, hey, I needed a small coffee table!  Years ago, I took it in and stripped and sanded down the ringed & nicked surface.  I glued a few broken bits, threw some navy paint on it, and I had a thick piece of glass cut for the top to accommodate my coasterless lifestyle.

Four apartments later, I have to admit that I’m a little tired of this table and the small scale doesn’t work with my newly reupholstered 8 foot sofa (another  family hand-me-down).  So look for the table soon in Becky’s SOHO So-homey makeover!  She needed a small coffee table and that item was definitely not in her budget.  So, she got the white elephant this time.  I’m glad the little table has a happy new home and it will probably get another DIY paint lift in the near future.  Meanwhile, I’m thinking that I’ll repurpose an old trunk of Scott’s to serve as coffee table in our new living room…