11 DIY Furniture Makeovers Only Using Paint

What is it about DIY furniture makeovers that seem so intimidating? You've been meaning to dress up that old dresser, wooden chair, or boring bar stool for a while now, but you're not even sure where to start. That's where these furniture paint hacks, compiled by Porch.com, come into play. You'll be surprised by just how much you can do with just a simple coat of paint. It's time to give that old furniture some love.

By: Maisie Leese, Contributor for Porch.com

It’s not always easy to decorate your home in a way that’s unique to your taste, without breaking the bank. These money-saving makeovers will show you the simple power of paint, and have you redecorating your space DIY-style in no time. If you are guilty of harboring old furniture you secretly hate, now is the time to give that dingy dresser a major facelift. If thrift stores and garage sales weren’t appealing to you before, these drastic furniture makeovers may have you rethinking that $5 table you saw on the side of the road.

Take a look at these stunning furniture rehabs from the blogger community at Porch.com — they are just the thing to inspire your creativity and motivate you to recreate your space for less.

1. From Dingy Desk To Chic Workspace

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Image Credit: Love Grows Wild

Finding an inexpensive new desk often means settling for something flimsy, that may not last. This mint desk makeover shows you just how easily you can turn your old, dated desk into something stylish that you won’t have to worry about replacing down the road.

2. Upscale Laminate Table

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Image Credit: Confessions of a Serial Do-It-Yourselfer

Laminate is not only out-of-date, it’s tricky to cover up. However, finding an affordable laminate kitchen table at the thrift store is a piece of cake. If you’re feeling adventurous and are open to a multi-step project, all you need is some sandpaper, primer, paint, and acrylic sealer to turn your thrift store steal into a cottage-inspired table.

3. Pretty In Pink Nursery Dresser

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Image Credit: Cuckoo 4 Design

Fresh knobs and a simple layer of baby pink paint turned this secondhand dresser into something adorable and fit for a nursery. You could even choose a muted green instead, and distress the paint a bit more to fashion yourself a homemade antique. Furniture with carved details like this dresser can go from looking worn, to looking polished and expensive in a just a few easy steps.

4. Glazed Mirror Makeover

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Image Credit: In My Own Style

Adding accents of color throughout your home can completely change the feel of your space. Something as simple as repainting the frame of a mirror on your living room wall can create modern flare, with very little effort. If you’re craving a vintage finish, pick up some clear mixing glaze in addition to your paint for that unique rustic look.

5. Gold Dipped Bar Stools

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Image Credit: Honeybear Lane

Step outside the box, and give your kitchen a bit of a kick. This "dipped" technique is a fabulous way to spruce up boring furniture you’ve grown tired of. Choose something as bold as this pink and gold combo, or keep it classic with a muted palette. No matter the colors, the crisp, clean lines are what makes these stools pop.

6. Boring Bookcase Revival

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Image Credit: Kelly Hicks

Adding contrast and clean lines to your old furniture can help make your room feel more spacious and less cluttered. This beautiful bookcase revival showcases the way in which adding color to the back of bookshelves can create depth, and tie color into a minimalist space in a simple, classic way.

7. Statement Bench

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Image Credit: Malenka Originals

Whether you’re looking to dress up your front porch or want to liven up your mudroom, transforming a classic bench into a statement piece is the perfect hack. A simple fresh coat of paint would do the trick, but this unique design is a splendid example of the impact a bit of customizing and creativity can have on your home.

8. From Retro To Chic

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Image Credit: Habitual Homebody

A few hours and a few coats of paint brought this dresser out of the '80s and turned it into an elegant piece. The final added touch of spray painting the knobs brings the whole dresser together in its striking simplicity.

9. Colorful Coat Rack

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Image Credit: Big Box Detox

Little details can make all the difference. This pop of color transforms a mess of coats into an entryway decoration. Don’t take away from your home’s interior for the sake of utility — paint can help turn something that’s super practical into something that’s nice to look at as well.

10. Farmhouse Style Side Table

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Image Credit: The Interior Frugalista

Old paint can be just as drab as dull, unfinished wood. While there’s an added step of stripping old paint away before you can redesign already-painted furniture, the final product is so worth the effort. The way this before and after side table project mixes refinished wood with the vintage texture of chalk paint makes for a beautiful and authentic farmhouse look.

11. Reverse Dipped Dresser

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Image Credit: The Weathered Door

Add a modern touch to your bedroom with another take on the “dipping” technique. Keep the lines straight and clean, or add interest with a geometric shape along the sides or front. The contrast between the white paint and the dark wood in this mid-century design is to die for.

Top Image Credit: Honeybear Lane