4 Ways to Update Craigslist Furniture

Sometimes when you’re searching Craigslist, you stumble upon exactly what you want – Oh, happy day!   However, more often, you find a bargain that needs a little help -- or even a lot of help!

Craigslist has been my friend for several years now, for buying and selling all kinds of household items.  We picked up this chaise lounge chair for just SIX dollars!  It was sturdy and comfortable, but the fabric was out of date, and torn on one arm. Recently I sewed up a slipcover for it from a canvas dropcloth, using Miss Mustard Seed's tutorial, the total came to about $20 bucks!  It may not be "perfect", but it's comfortable and perfect for our guest room!

This glider rocking chair and matching ottoman were snagged this summer for just $25. The wood had already been painted white, which is great!  The original seat and back cushions had been replaced with thick foam cushions, and custom-made zippered covers.  The only problem was the color...pink.
Now, when our daughters were babies, this would have been perfect for the nursery. However, it definitely clashed with our current neutral-farmhouse theme!  The chair was in fair shape, and I figured that I would just sew up new cushion covers for it.

BEFORE - The original Craigslist Ad

The first thing I did was remove the cushion covers, and deconstructed the padded top of the ottoman, thinking I would use the fabric as a pattern for sewing up new ones. They needed to be washed...but first, I filled my kitchen sink with hot water and bleach (a lot of bleach), pushed down the material into the water, and in a couple of hours, they were white!  I laundered them, and Ed helped me stuff the foam padding back inside.  That saved me a lot of time sewing, and now it fits perfectly in our more neutral living room. Zero extra cost was an added plus as well!

The best bargains for me are FREE, and I was browsing through the free Craigslist section in our area, and saw this couch.  With kids and grandkids coming to visit, we needed to add more seating spaces. This is what the piece looks like:

BEFORE

The sweet military couple that was giving it away said it belonged to his grandparents, and I believed him. Other than the dated fabric, this thing is clean, and has absolutely NOTHING wrong with it. It had a slipcover thrown over it, and they gave that to us as well. (All totally free to us, because they had purchased a new Ikea sofa.)  I washed and dried the slipcover, put it back on, and it wasn't too bad! The look is lived-in, comfy, and casual. Just what we were going for!

AFTER - with the clean slipcover

Our son and his family came up for the weekend after we brought it home, and everyone seemed to like it and said it was comfortable. I really like the fact that I can toss the slipcover into the wash, just in case the grandkids accidentally get something on it.

Normally, I shy away from used upholstered pieces, but if it can be washed, cleaned up, or covered up, it can be worth the chance.

Wood furniture is an easier risk to take, as you can see from my Dresser to TV Media Console.
From worn-out to Farmhouse!  Click on the two photos to see how I used DIY chalk paint, embossed wallpaper, and curbside-found wood to give this dresser a prominent place in the living room!

BEFORE - The original Craigslist Ad

After a DIY Makeover

What have you found on Craigslist that you absolutely had to have?  Was it perfect in every way, or did you tackle a little DIY with it?
Leave me a comment below, or catch up with me on Instagram, Facebook or G+!  I look forward to your next visit!