Make over ordinary finds with paint, fabric, hardware, and more.

So the table you bought last year turned out not to be the one. Or the "adorably worn" cabinet you found at a flea market seemed like less of a steal once you got it home. Not to worry. With new hardware, fresh paint, and other adjustments, almost any piece of furniture can be customized to fit your taste and needs exactly. First, identify the item's best features (convenient shelving, gorgeous glass doors) -- you'll leave them intact. Next, address what's not working. Does the piece have a boxy shape that could be improved with molding? Do the latches need updating? Think about making less conventional changes, too, such as covering drawers with fabric or combining two cupboards to create a standout armoire. Here, you'll find furniture makeovers for every room in the house. Some you can easily re-create yourself and a few require the help of a professional. Whatever the means, the end result in every case is a singular piece you'll want to live with for many years to come.

Dressed-Up Bureau
Brass knobs and ivory paint streamline the bureau; drawer fronts covered in toile fabric look distinctive. Choose wooden drawers with easy-to-remove faces, such as those held together with nails or screws.

Remove knobs or latches, and detach the face. If you'll be updating the hardware and will need holes in different places, fill old holes with putty, then sand smooth. Cut a piece of fabric that is 2 inches longer on all sides than the dimensions of the face; snip the corners on a diagonal. Fold the cloth over the face, making neat corners and using a staple gun to secure as you go, stapling opposite sides first. Apply matte acrylic medium (available at art-supply stores) to the fabric with a paintbrush -- this will soak through the cloth and adhere it to the face, and also add a protective, easy-to-clean coating. Reattach face. To replace old hardware, cut a tiny X over each existing hole with a utility knife, and refasten. If you're adding new knobs, drill holes and attach where desired.

Padded Chair
Instead of recaning a missing seat, we made a wooden one and topped it with a matching cushion made by an upholsterer. The frame is painted a burnt gold here. For a truly coordinated look, have a seamstress create a Roman shade and duvet cover, too.

1. Tape kraft paper over the open seat, trace the groove around the inner rim and cut it out. Cut that shape out of 1/2-inch-thick plywood and sand edges. Cut the shape again from 1/2-inch-thick foam. Cut out two more layers, one from batting and one from fabric 2 inches wider all around than the others. Lay cloth face-down; stack batting and then foam and wood on top.

2. Fold edges of batting and fabric over wood; fasten with a staple gun. Attach piping with staples. Secure seat to chair using screws and mending plates.

Stone-Top Night Table
Molding adds character and serves as a border for a new cut-to-fit limestone top. A coat of pale-yellow paint is the finishing touch.

Measure the perimeter of your tabletop. Cut four strips of baseboard cap molding (available at lumberyards) to size in a miter box, making a 45-degree angle at each end. Attach molding around the top edge of the table with wood glue and 1 1/2-inch finishing nails; countersink nails with a nail set. Fill holes with wood putty, then sand them smooth. Prime and paint the entire nightstand. Have a piece of 1/2-inch-thick limestone cut to fit at a tile store, and place it inside the molding border.