The Easiest Way To Revitalize Thrifted Furniture, According To Makeover By Monday

Renovation expert Jenni Yolo is a firm believer that you don't need a ton of time, or money, to give your space a whole new life. In fact, in her new Magnolia Network show, "Makeover by Monday", she sets out to prove that in just a three-day weekend, homeowners can completely transform their homes without breaking the bank, or their backs. With an affinity for thrifting and a keen eye for style, Yolo has revitalized countless pieces of used furniture, turning them into beautifully updated statement pieces — and is now teaching others how to do the same.

In a recent episode, titled "Making Space for Dining In," Yolo pays a visit to her friends Ami and Geoff, who enlist her help in turning their dining room into a space that better suits their needs (per Realtor.com.) Instead of a formal room designated solely for dining, Geoff and Ami want more of a casual space that also serves as a place for their kids to hang out and do homework or play board games. With a tight budget and a short turnaround time, Yolo is up for the challenge.

As part of their dining room makeover, Ami and Geoff tell Yolo they need a new buffet table, which sends her — and their tight budget — to the thrift store, where she finds an old buffet for $20. "It's a little bit beat up, but I saw a lot of potential in it," Yolo says, "I'm going to paint it black, add raffia to the insets, and I'm going to update the hardware and create a beautiful piece for their space" (per Realtor.)

What started as an outdated and unassuming piece of furniture, was transformed into a beautiful, one-of-a-kind staple piece, perfect for Ami and Geoff's bungalow-inspired space. With just some paint, a roll of raffia cloth, and some cool brass handles, Yolo is able to get the piece done in just three days — proving it's possible to completely makeover your space in a minimal amount of time.

Yolo is a fan of using spray paint to give outdated wooden furniture a fresh, modern look. The results are dramatic, but the process itself is very quick and easy — just sand and paint. According to Yolo, sanding is an important first step because it roughs up the surface of the furniture, allowing the paint to properly adhere. 

Yolo recommends using multiple thin coats, notes TMJ4 News, adding that people often make the mistake of going in too heavy-handedly with the spray paint because they want to cover as much of the surface of the furniture as they can as quickly as possible. This can cause the paint to drip, which can lead to bumps in the paint when it dries that need to be sanded away. Spraying light layers and letting them dry in between coats is the best way to get smooth, even coverage.

Once the furniture is painted and dried, she recommends finishing it with another coat of clear, matte spray paint, to help your finished product look even more modern and chic. She also says she loves painting outdated consignment pieces with chalk paint to give them a similar matte look.