3 Easy Tips To Revamp & Refresh Any New York Home

Savvy New York City dwellers are always looking for creative, innovative and exciting ideas to decorate their homes. Rather than following the pack shopping at the traditional furniture stores, New Yorkers like to reinvent themselves by thinking outside of the box when it comes to planning and furnishing living spaces.

Well aware of the increasing importance of being eco-friendly, coupled with budget concerns, people are more conscious of the necessity to reuse items that they already own. Instead of heading out to buy new furniture, it is now the age of repurposing what is presently in the home to revamp the décor.

Assess the Furniture: Take a look at the existing furnishings and inherited items that are attractive but a bit tattered and out of date, not well suited for the new decorating plan. Old furniture can be given a new life with a coat of paint. Paint an old wood dresser in a sleek black color to modernize it, and place it in the living room as a credenza. Repurpose living-room end tables as night tables in the bedroom. Recover grandma's Victorian sofa in a contemporary fabric. Bring the sofa together with an existing ottoman by upholstering it in the same fabric as the sofa, then add a tray to the ottoman to turn it into a coffee table. Fur is in when it come to unique upholstery and accessories in the home. A beautiful fur coat that is too worn out to wear can be reused and made into a throw for the living room. Don't give away the leather skirt or pants that are no longer in style. Use them to make pillows or to reupholster a chair seat. Clean the old drapery and repurpose it into upholstery for a chair or bench. Jeans that are no longer worn can be reused for many different things such as window treatments, pillows, a lamp shade and a rag rug.

Old Table, New Paint (credit: Carol Ruth Weber)

Old Table, New Paint (credit: Carol Ruth Weber)

Renew and Repurpose with Paint: Paint the ratty old furniture to make it into new furnishings for the home's décor. It is important to prime before painting to create a base for which the paint can adhere. An all-purpose primer will get the job done. Finish the project with high-gloss enamel paint in a fresh color and change any hardware to create a brand new look.

Old Tub, New Paint (credit: Carol Ruth Weber)

Make A Coffee Table Ottoman (credit: Carol Ruth Weber)

Utilize the Versatility of a Hot Glue Gun:A hot glue gun can be your best personal assistant. It is a versatile tool and highly recommended to have on hand for all DIY needs and projects. Hot glue is the go-to repair from repairing loose trim on upholstery and rugs to affixing molding edges that have come undone. In a pinch, hem the drapes with hot glue. Make sure that there are plenty of glue stick refills on hand to seal all of the problems.

Below are some local businesses that may be able to help you get started.

Doody Home Center
2461 E 17th St
Brooklyn, NY 11235
(718) 648-6000
www.doodyhomecenters.com

Doody Home Center is the expert in homes. They can provide you with great insight for your redecorating project.

Rainbow Ace Hardware
1449 1st Ave
New York, NY 10021
(212) 288-4868
www.rainbowacehardware.com

Rainbow Ace Hardware has everything from paint options to frames and furniture.

Tarzian Hardware
193 7th Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 788-4120
www.tarzianhardware.com

Tarzian Hardware has the tools you need to repurpose any item in your house.

Related: 5 Tips for a Successful Sidewalk Sale in New York
Related: Clean Up Your Spring Cleaning Plan in New York

For more great tricks, tips and advice about your home, visit CBSNewYork.com/YourHome.

Carol Ruth Weber began her career as a Theatrical Costume and Set Designer and segued into the world of Interior Design. As an interior designer she has twenty-eight years of experience in all phases of the business. You can read more of her work on Examiner.com and she can also be contacted at WeberLifeDesign.