Repurposed Furniture and Decor

Don't give up on chairs with torn seats or tables with missing legs -- we have plenty of ideas for giving new life to worn furniture in unexpected ways.

A table that has lost a leg can find new purpose as a console in an entryway or hallway.

Just add wheels to a sturdy basket, and you'll have a mobile end table that keeps clutter contained.

An old wooden stepladder provides a steady spot for a row of books as well as an alarm clock and reading lamp.

Sturdy benches that merely take up space in the garage can be stacked and repurposed as a brand-new bookshelf for the family room or den.

A wooden pot-lid rack is ideal for holding mail; all it needs is a fresh coat of paint. For easier viewing, place smaller items, such as letters, bills, and postcards, near the front, and larger catalogs and magazines toward the back.

Transform a traditional piece of bedroom furniture into a multitasking mini office, complete with bulletin board and filing cabinet.

Balanced on a few overturned flowerpots, an old wooden door becomes a rustic and sturdy outdoor coffee table or work surface.

Create custom cabinetry in your garden shed with vintage wine crates from flea markets or online auctions.

These two flea market cupboards looked nothing alike, yet it wasn't hard to turn them into a single piece that functions like an armoire.

Wooden shutters can be just as functional and good-looking indoors as out. This refinished trio hangs on the wall over a hallway console as a bulletin board. Their louvers are a perfect (not to mention plentiful) spot to tuck invitations, display artwork, or hang a message pad.

Old coat hooks can be mounted on a wooden plaque and put to work corralling the daily mail.

Paint or stain a precut plaque, available at crafts stores. Paint hooks to desired color. Secure the hooks side-by-side with 1/2-inch wood screws. Repeat to form additional rows to separate your mail.