10 creative ideas for repurposing old furniture
Wooden, weathered recycled furniture can serve all sorts of surprising purposes if you think creatively: a filing cabinet becomes a clothes storage solution, and office drawer units can turn into kitchen cabinets. Upcycling furniture ideas like these are ecological, wallet-friendly, and full of personality!
1. Repurposing a filing cabinet into clothes storage
An open clothing storage solution was created in this sloped-ceiling sleeping area. The space between the rack and the wall is perfect for a narrow filing cabinet, whose deep drawers neatly hide folded clothes and accessories. You can freshen up and protect a wooden filing cabinet with a stain containing plant-based oil. The wooden rack is from Helsinki Secondhand, while the cabinet is by Billnäs.
2. Storage in matching shades
In the hallway of this apartment, an old display cabinet has been repurposed and painted in the same emerald-green shade as the wall in the adjacent dining area. A good paint option for DIY old furniture projects is the solvent-free, water-based furniture paint by Virtasen.
3. Transforming a rustic ladder into a nightstand
An architect lamp has been cleverly attached to the top step of this antique ladder, leaving room for a water pitcher and glass. Best of all, the steps can hold plenty of books. Vintage ladders are easiest to find in antique shops. The lamp is from Ikea.
4. Repurposing a 1950s sideboard into a bathroom focal point
A vintage sideboard can be repurposed to create a functional vanity top in a spacious bathroom, where it doesn’t have to be placed near the shower. The 1950s sideboard is coated with boat varnish for moisture protection. The vessel sink is made by Svedbergs. The old lamp shades by Lisa Johansson-Pape have porcelain bases designed for damp areas, brought back into production by Ifö. The tiles are from Pukkila.
5. A teak TV stand turned into a plant shelf
Not all houseplants thrive on a sunny windowsill. The houseplants of this home grow on a delicate 1950s teak TV stand with teak shelves, getting just the right amount of light from a window across the room. Old TV stands can often be found on online secondhand stores.
6. A kitchen drawer unit moves to the hallway
A solid wood kitchen drawer unit was repurposed into a practical storage spot for accessories in the hallway of this Finnish home in Berlin. The wheels attached underneath make it easier to move this hefty piece of furniture. Caster wheels strong enough for heavy furniture are sold by Witre, for example.
7. A unique island from a shop counter
The centerpiece of this house’s kitchen is a repurposed store counter, purchased after the shop went out of business. This sturdy, solid wood piece, originally made in India, has drawers on wheels and an electrical outlet, so kitchen appliances can be used on top. The oval table serving as an extra worktop was found at a secondhand shop.
8. Transforming office furniture into kitchen cabinets
The timeless lower cabinets in this honey-toned kitchen were built from repurposed wooden office furniture. A custom wooden countertop was made on top of the drawer units, with the stove and sink installed in it. Discarded but still functional office furniture can often be found in secondhand stores. If you wish, you can refresh them with stain, paint, and new handles.
9. Airy doors from old windows
The living area of this wooden house is enclosed by a pair of glass doors repurposed from old windows. Their beautifully weathered frames complete the relaxed Scandinavian decor.
10. A bookcase turns into a dish cabinet
This glass-doored 1950s bookcase is perfect for storing tableware, placed conveniently next to the dining area. The black-stained top adds a graphic accent to the teak cabinet. Purchased from Wall of Art, the poster by Hanna Peterson found a frame at a flea market.
