When Emily sent us photos of her china cabinet makeover, we had to share the before-and-after shots. Here’s the note she included:
I’ve been following your blog and felt inspired to move away from a house full of dark furniture and lighten things up a bit. We had some dark clearance dining chairs that we bought last summer, but decided to give them an airy overhaul. We found discount fabric and paid a professional to paint and reupholster the chairs, and they still came in under $100 each. We had also been searching for a china cabinet to store our servingware, which had been tucked away in our guest room closet, when we found one on Craigslist for just $75. It even had a working light! To transform it we used leftover topcoat and the same fabric from the chairs, along with about $40 worth of primer, paint, and brushes from Lowe’s. We love the new look and hope you do too. Thanks for the inspiration! – Emily
Here’s the cabinet before the makeover:
And here’s the same china cabinet after a fresh coat of paint and fabric lining the back:
The transformation is remarkable — what looked like an ordinary, worn piece now reads like a much more expensive item. This is a great example of how older furniture can be refreshed with a few thoughtful updates: new paint, fabric, hardware, patterned drawer liners, or a bit of antiquing. With some planning and elbow grease, you can dramatically change the look of a piece without spending a lot.
Great job, Emily — and thanks for sharing your makeover with us!