Reuse PVC Pipes To Give Your Furniture A Stylish Fluted Makeover

When PVC pipes are wasting valuable storage space in your garage or basement, the most responsible solution is often a repurposing project. PVC is one of the least eco-friendly plastics, so rather than send it to the trash, find a creative way to give it a new function. From drawer storage to tool organization, we've seen how simple this can be in all the handy hacks to repurpose extra PVC pipes around the home and garden. Now, you can add a stylish furniture makeover to the list by reusing PVC to DIY a classic fluted design.

A fluted accent is a versatile feature that can infuse stylish yet subtle texture into furniture around the home. The same sophisticated look that's becoming one of 2025's hottest kitchen cabinet trends is an attractive addition to office desks, living room tables and drawer fronts, bedroom storage units, and household cabinets. While PVC pipes won't give you the natural appeal of wood dowels, there's no reason to avoid using them if you can envision a painted look.

Clean the PVC well to remove any dirt, gunk, and debris, and get an effective glue to secure your pipes on the furniture surface. Epoxy, superglue, or a construction adhesive, like Gorilla Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive, will work. After that, you just have to pick your paint and finishing materials. With your supplies in hand, you can plan where and how to apply this chic update.

There are two ways to form a fluted feature: Fix the PVC pipes to a panel to put on your furniture or stick them directly to the furniture's surface. The former is a great way to cover open areas. Attach a panel to a desk to cover everything underneath, or install it on an open-design entryway console table to redefine its style. The only extra materials you need are wood backing to hold the pipes together and pieces of wood for top and bottom trim to clean up the final appearance.

When making a separate panel, measure the height you want the entire panel to be. Subtract the top and bottom trim pieces to get your PVC pipe measurements. For instance, if the finished panel is going to be 42 inches tall and your top and bottom trim pieces are two inches thick, cut your PVC pipes to 38 inches. Attach the pipe sections in a row to a plywood or MDF backing with an appropriate adhesive. Then, measure and cut the trim pieces to cap the top and bottom PVC pipes, covering the open holes.

You can also stretch the use of each PVC pipe by ripping them down the middle. Cut them into halves or thirds to glue onto the furniture surface. Rip the pipes with a band saw or table saw, using a wood jig as a guide to ensure a clean cut.

Once your PVC pieces are lined up and installed, you can apply the finishing touches to bring the look home. Start by filling the gaps between the PVC pipes with a paintable acrylic-latex caulk, such as DAP Alex Plus, to diminish any imperfections. Then comes the fun part of finding the perfect color palette that will complement your décor and draw out the simple yet refined texture. Soft and neutral colors maintain versatility and add modernity. Jumping into the Art Deco stylings that fluted furniture promote, you can mix in metallic gold and brass hardware with vibrant greens, subdued pinks, or bold blacks. If you added trim, consider combining wood stains with paint to create a stunning look in the home.

Applying your chosen paint color can be tricky with PVC. You may get some bleed-through from underlying lettering, and the paint may not stick well without proper preparation. Start by roughing the surface with fine-grit sandpaper. Cleaning with acetone can then remove any dust and markings that might come through the paint. At the same time, it will slightly soften and condition the plastic for better paint adhesion. Add a primer for plastics as a base, and finish with two coats of your preferred paint.