New furniture can be expensive, which is why we choose to flip an older piece instead. It can be simple as some new paint and hardware or you can upgrade the old outdated style by add new trim for a whole new look.

Check out this farmhouse desk project to see how easy it is to refinish old furniture into more modern pieces with only trim, paint, and new hardware.

How to Easily Refinish Old Furniture to Look Brand New

I found this old mass-produced 70’s student desk buried in a garage under piles of old papers and junk. Since we were looking for a small desk, I decided to give it a makeover to save it from the landfill.

You Might Also Like: 5 Important Tips You Need to Power Wash Concrete

Start with Sanding

When planning to paint previously stained wood, a light sanding is definitely recommended. I used a 120 sand grit just to ruff up the surface and remove some of the finish.

Remove the Old and Add New Trim

This step is where you can really transform a piece of furniture. I found poplar and pine project wood already the perfect size for this project.

I simply cut the wood on the miter saw and attached the pieces using wood glue and small 1″ brad nails.

Don’t Skip the Primer

This step is one you really don’t want to skip. It helps hide the color underneath and assures the finish paint adheres to the wood.

Instead of buying something new, I used what I had. Zinsser Bulls Eye 123 plus, which worked well.

Use a Quality Finish Paint

I chose a cabinet and trim enamel from Home Depot, but there are a ton of products out there. When choosing your finish paint, it’s really important to use a durable product to hold up frequent use. Trust me when I say that old paint that you found in your garage won’t give you the results you want.

The investment in new, quality finish paint is worth money. You can find high-quality paint in a ton of finishes. For this project, I choose a semi-gloss, but you might try a flat or chalk finish depending on the look you’re going for.

Upgrade Your Hardware

This step is optional depending on whether you like the existing hardware.

We thought that our little desk could use a makeover so we went with new drawer pulls from Home Depot. They definitely made a huge difference and matched the new farmhouse style of the trim.

Well, there you have it. In just 5 simple steps I was able to flip this old, outdated student desk into a new modern farmhouse piece.

Have you refinished any furniture lately? Let me know in the comments below!