You can use low-cost and green ways to touch up old furniture you already have or upgrade used furniture, to make old furniture exciting.
#1 Paint it.
Fading furniture can have a whole new look with a fresh coat of paint. Strip the old paint, which can contain lead and other harmful chemicals. Choose low VOC or VOC-free paint in your favorite color.
VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are chemicals released from the paint that can cause illness as they are released into the air for decades. You can also strip and stain the furniture with natural and VOC free-stains.
#2 Reupholster it.
Reupholster old furniture with environmentally friendly fabric like organic cotton or wool. You can do it yourself or hire a professional. It’ll cost less than buying new and is still an eco-friendly choice.
#3 Add fine details.
Cabinets, drawers and armoires can be spruced up with a hardware change. You can find hardware with character at flea markets or a salvage store.
Tabletops can be updated with mosaic tiles made from porcelain or glass. You can find tiles at your local flea market, hammer them into pieces and then reassemble them on your tabletop into a beautiful pattern.
You can also use scrap or recycled metal to create flash on tabletops or cabinet doors. The metal can be used as tiles or as an entire front for an urban or modern look.