How To Refinish Furniture From Thrift Stores

Refinishing furniture is a great way to save money and give outdated items a fresh look. Whether you want to use secondhand items in your own home or in a furniture flipping venture, refinishing these pieces can add value and enjoyment. 

Thrift stores can be gold mines when it comes to finding used furniture. You may want to visit local shops regularly, as their inventory can change frequently. 

Don’t be discouraged if you find furniture with a worn or outdated finish. If the piece is good quality – such as constructed from solid wood – and not structurally damaged, it likely won’t be very difficult to transform. 

Other Places To Find Secondhand Furniture

In addition to thrift stores, garage sales and estate sales often include vintage items or quality furniture at low prices. Keep in mind that timing can be important. Consider arriving early for the best selection or near closing time when sellers might offer even further discounts. 

Online marketplaces can also be excellent places to thrift furniture. You can search those platforms for specific items and, in some cases, negotiate prices with the sellers. 

If you’re lucky, you might even be able to get used furniture for free. Whether you prevent a curbside chair from ending up in a landfill or are offered furniture that friends or family no longer want, you can easily discover how one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. 

Why Refinish Furniture?

Refinishing furniture can be a hobby, a budget-friendly way to decorate or even a business venture. Consider some of these benefits of transforming secondhand pieces: 

• Save money. New furniture can be expensive. When you refinish used chairs, tables or décor, you can create custom pieces for a fraction of the cost of buying new furniture. With some effort and creativity, you can turn a $20 thrift store purchase into a piece you’ll enjoy for years to come.  

• Appreciate the quality. People often find that older furniture has better quality and craftsmanship than newer pieces. If you have a piece that’s well built but has a dated finish, a new coat of paint or stain may be all that’s needed for it to suit your space.  

• Create custom pieces. Transforming dated furniture allows you to create exactly what you want. You can choose colors, finishes and hardware that perfectly match your style.  

• Develop new skills. Each project teaches you new skills. You can learn about different types of wood, paint techniques, hardware installation and basic repairs. These skills can be valuable for future home improvement projects. 

• Environmental benefits. By giving old furniture a new life, you're reducing waste and minimizing your environmental impact. You're also reducing demand for new furniture production, which requires natural resources and energy. 

• Potential income stream. You can turn your project into a furniture flipping venture. Online marketplaces and local selling groups make it easy to find buyers for your refinished furniture. 

How to Refinish Furniture

Before you start your project, it’s a good idea to gather some key supplies. They may include a cleaning and degreasing solution to remove dirt and grime, sanding tools to remove rust or old finishes, wood stain supplies like brushes and rags, and painting supplies like drop cloths, brushes and paint trays. 

Finally, don’t forget to pick up the paint or wood stain you’ll use to give your item a fresh look. 

Most refinishing projects require five main steps: 

1. Clean thoroughly. Remove dirt, grease and grime from all surfaces using a degreasing cleaner. Pay special attention to areas around handles and other frequently touched surfaces. A clean surface will allow your new finish to adhere.  

Remove all hardware, including handles, knobs and hinges. Clean hardware separately and decide whether to reuse, replace or refinish it. Store screws and small parts in labeled containers so you can easily find them later. 

2. Assess and repair. Examine the piece for damage. Tighten loose screws, fill holes or scratches in wood furniture with wood filler and address any structural issues. 
   If you’re refinishing metal furniture, sand off any rusty spots. 

3. Sand properly. If you’re refinishing a wood surface with a thin veneer, consider using a chemical stripping product. Otherwise, sanding sets the groundwork for a quality wood refinishing job. To remove chipped or peeling paint or finish, or if you want to refinish wood stain, start with a coarser sandpaper (around 120 grit). This will remove the old finish and any minor imperfections. Progress to finer grits (180 to 220) to smooth out the surface, open the wood grain and help the new finish adhere. 

Always sand wood in the direction of the grain. Dust particles can create bumps and imperfections in your final finish, so be sure to remove all sanding dust using a vacuum and tack cloth. 

4. Apply your finish. If you plan to paint, use high-quality primer first, especially when changing colors dramatically or painting over dark finishes.  

You can paint furniture with spray paint or a brush-on paint. Be sure to follow the directions on the can’s label, which will provide application tips and information about dry times between coats of paint. If necessary, lightly use fine-grit sandpaper between coats for added smoothness. Remove sanding dust before applying the next coat of paint. 

If you plan to stain wood, test stain colors on a hidden area first. Follow the directions on your stain’s label. Apply stain evenly in the direction of the wood grain, working in manageable sections. After allowing the stain to penetrate, use a clean rag to wipe away the excess stain. 

5. Add a protective finish. Protect your work with appropriate topcoats. Polyurethane adds a protective coat to stained wood, while clear spray paint can help protect painted surfaces. Apply multiple thin coats rather than one thick coat for best results. 

How To Create Unique Furniture Finishes

If a traditional finish isn’t for you, consider giving your updated piece a unique look. For inspiration, consider these alternatives to a classic finish. 

• Distressed furniture. Create an aged appearance by lightly sanding edges and corners after painting. Use fine-grit sandpaper to reveal underlying wood or paint layers. This technique works especially well with chalk paint. 
• Two-tone finishes. Use both paint and stain for unique looks. For example, consider staining a desktop and painting or giving an antiqued look to the fronts of the drawers. This creates visual interest. 
• Hardware updates. New hardware can dramatically change a piece's appearance. Modern drawer pulls can update traditional furniture, while vintage hardware can add character to plain pieces. Or, rather than replacing hardware, you can spray paint the original knobs and hinges. 

What Is Furniture Flipping?

Many times, people refinish furniture with the intention of flipping it. Furniture flipping is the process of buying used or outdated furniture, refurbishing it and selling it for a profit. The key is to add value to the furniture through restoration, painting or reupholstering. This might involve painting a nightstand, reupholstering an armchair or refinishing a table. 

Many projects can be completed with basic supplies you might already have at home. Plus, you're giving new purpose to items that might otherwise end up in landfills. 

Some people flip furniture as a hobby to refresh their own homes, while others turn it into a profitable side business. Regardless of your motivation, furniture flipping offers a creative outlet that produces tangible, useful results. 

What Is Upcycled Furniture?

Another way to give old items a new life is by upcycling. Upcycled furniture gives pieces a new purpose. For example, you might turn an old ladder into a leaning bookshelf or convert wooden crates or pallets into a table.  

With a little creativity and the right paint or stain, the possibilities are endless. 

Start With Simple Projects

Refinishing furniture offers an affordable way to create custom pieces that reflect your personal style. Start with simple projects to build confidence, then gradually tackle more complex pieces as your expertise grows.