Latest DIY Trash to Treasure Vintage Projects
Love thrifting vintage finds? The problem is they always need a bit of reviving. Get expert DIY tips for your next trash to treasure project. Favorite DIY product recommendations and how to’s to revive your vintage finds.
We are deep into treasure hunting season, and there are so many fun thrifted vintage finds to bring home! I have vintage reviving projects going every where I look, so instead of seeing pretty and styled, I’m sharing the projects that I’m working on-for family, for the booth, maybe for myself? Enjoy the process in Latest DIY Trash to Treasure Vintage Projects.
Latest DIY Trash to Treasure Projects
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DIY Painting Projects
When old furniture either hasn’t sold, or has been inherited by a loved one, it’s time to give it a makeover. I painted this pretty spooncarved side table red over a decade ago to coordinate with a vignette in my former store. Since then it’s been in my Dad’s assisted living room (it was perfect for his little Christmas tree). He’s in heaven now, and the table needs a new look for my new booth. I gave it 2 coats of Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint in Typewriter. I lightly distressed it and sealed with their hemp oil. It went straight to the booth for the Fall switch up.
Find Miss Mustard Seed’s Products HERE. Use code 10OFFLB for a discount.
Reviving Vintage Metal
Fall is a great season to enjoy patinaed metal decor. I especially love the industrial rustic pieces for Autumn. I’ve been thrifting old galvanized and rusty pieces all summer-industrial shop stools, metal drawers, old army trunks. I scrub them with a soapy wire pad (like THIS), rinse and let them dry in the sun. Then I brush or spray on a layer or two of THIS, which creates a beautiful, aged patina.
Touching Up Vintage Accessories
Vintage accessories often need a little touching up here and there. THIS set of furniture markers is great to have on hand for wood frames, stools, chairs, etc.
THIS set is also handy to have on hand for touching up metallic finishes. Often old gold frames have spots where white is showing through. Just touch it up with the antique gold to blend in with the original.
Cleaning Old Linens
Vintage fabric blankets, afghans and quilts are always more fresh when given a good soak in THIS. I dissolve it in a plastic tub and soak, then wash in the machine. In summer, I lay it on a clean drop cloth in the grass to dry in the sun.
This pretty vintage yellow floral blanket just got spread out on some chairs to dry. They smell so fresh when dried in the sun!
Quilts get revived and repaired simply. Get my tips in “How to Easily Repair an Old Quilt”.
Decoupage Old Paper Ephemera
Vintage books, music and other paper ephemera can add character when decoupaged into art or added to another vintage item. I picked up a couple of free boxes of old music this summer at an estate sale. I bundled stacks to put in my booth for sale, I created framed art, and I’m going to glue it into vintage suitcases. It adds great graphic punch to anything and everything.
“Vintage Suitcases: How to Clean and Refresh (and keep their classic appeal”
“9 Fun Ways to Decorate with Vintage Suitcases”
Reviving An Old Curio Cabinet
A couple years ago I picked up this pretty curved glass curio cabinet when I was curbside junking. The glass was intact and the wood finish looked good, but it didn’t have shelves. Happy Girl said she’d like it at her house.
Mr. Fix-it had to tighten the wiggly legs and make custom shaped shelves. I sanded the shelves, gave them a new stained finish and polyed them. I wiped the whole piece down with THIS to revitalize the finish.
We took the back off and updated it by wallpapering it with a yellow floral. It will brighten the interior and set off her styling nicely.
We decided an antique glass knob looked best to make it more easy to open.
This old piece is in it’s new home, ready to get accessorized!
Old Kitchen Table Repurposed as Coffee Table
One of the last things we picked up when we were curbside junking last Spring was an old wooden kitchen table. I loved it’s turned legs and timeworn character. It only had one dropleaf and was in rough shape. We popped in onto the top of the trailer load.
The bottoms of some of the legs were rotten, so I knew it needed to be repurposed into a coffee table. We took the leaf off and cut down the legs. I sanded the whole thing-rather aggressively. So far I’ve got 1 coat of stain on it, but it’s too orange. I’m going to try some other stain colors over the top. Hopefully I can get an old world look and seal it up with poly. Still in process!
Revived Antique Desks, Trash to Treasure
We revived and refreshed the pretty drop down desk I picked up last Spring. I added a glass knob, too. It sold last week in the booth, which made me so happy; it was a beautiful piece.
Since there’s two more weekends in August to go with the back to school theme, I picked up another desk on FB marketplace. The seller told me it was a standing desk that was from his grandfather’s carriage business; this is old!
Someone made a stand for it along the way. I think it would be neat to have shelves below for even more useability.
Look how pretty it is inside:
The little drawer with the knob has a lock on it. It must have been used for dollars and coins. You can also see the ink spillage spots.
Mr. Fix-it noticed the unique chain used on the drop down. We haven’t seen this type before.
I’m going to get it cleaned up, but think I’m going to have a hard time parting with it. Probably need to do a google lens search to get an idea of it’s value. I’ve never seen anything like it before. Maybe if it doesn’t sell for a decent price I can find a spot for it??
Can you tell my head (& life) is spinning with vintage projects right now? It’s a little crazy, but I love it! Hope it inspires you to do some treasure hunting, and hope my tips help you know how to revive it all, too.
You can find all my Vintage Reviver’s favorite products HERE. Be sure to follow so you’ll know when I find new resources.
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Thrifting with the Gals
My Thrifting with the Gals friends are joining me today. See how Ann, Rachel and Robyn are decorating with their thrifted finds from Vermont and Maine, North Carolina, and Florida!
Rachel, The Ponds Farmhouse, “Thrifting for Fall Home Decor and How to Style It”
Robyn, Robyn’s French Nest, “How to Decorate for Fall with Coastal Grandmother Style”
Ann, Dabbling and Decorating, “Thrifted Bedroom Ideas: Unexpected Vintage Finds That Add Character”
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Lora
Wow these are some great projects! I’m getting to the age where I hesitate to bring home project pieces because I let them sit forever. But I love all your ideas and maybe I’ll pick up a few more in the future. Great post.
I get it, Rachel! Having a booth again, along with kid’s homes is motivating me;)
That desk is a treasure, Lora, and I love Restor-A-Finish too. I use it on everything. Great post!
Thanks, Ann! Yes, love both the desks…and tis’ the season for them!
I love everything, but especially like the patina you created with the old metal trunk. And the carriage maker’s desk is wonderful. I think I might have a hard time parting with that too.
I used to have a booth, so I know how much work it is, but you have a flair for decorating it, which helps a lot with attracting buyers. Good luck!
Florence
Thanks, Florence! Yes, it’s fun selling again, but definitely a lot of work! If the antique desk doesn’t sell for a good price, I wouldn’t be sad to bring it home for awhile;)
You find the best pieces and that old desk is such a great find.
Thanks, Marlene! I think they find me;)
These are such good tips. I want to try more decoupage!
Yes, you should totally decoupage old sheet music somewhere in your home!
Hi Lora , The desk is pretty nice , if you had the space on a counter that’s where I would put it and use that bottom part for something else. The old Curio Cabinet that you cleaned up for happy girl turned out nice.
Thanks, Teresa! If it doesn’t sell, I may try to find a spot for it somewhere;) Love all those little cubbies!