by Laura Lee Winger

Created on: August 17, 2010

The thrill and excitement of getting your very own place for the first time shouldn't be overshadowed by the daunting reality of decorating with hand me down furniture.  These "blessings" can come in all shapes and sizes, not to mention colors, and can really turn your dream space into a drab place.  But, with a little color and a few tips, you can make do much more than simply make it work!

Use Color to Pull It All Together
One of the easiest ways to make various pieces of hand me down furniture fit together is by using a unified color scheme.  Sofa covers, or even blankets or sheets tucked in nicely, can upgrade the look of a soda or love seat and bring it into your color scheme.  Use throw pillows to continue the theme around the room.  If there are a lot of patterns in the room, use solid color throw pillows.  If there are not a lot of patterns, use your throw pillows to add interest and variety.  Throw pillows can also be covered or modified, so keep that in mind as you are decorating.  To accessorize the room, find items that fit with your color scheme, or spray paint them to match.  Old wood furniture can take on a new life with a fresh coat of paint, too.  Be sure to balance dark, heavy colors, with lighter, neutral colors like white, beige or gray. 

Plan the Space
Just as you would if you were purchasing all new furniture, you want to plan your space appropriately.  Avoid cluttering small rooms by minimizing tables, desks and other surface spaces.  Keep your floor open by using your wall space whenever possible, especially for mirrors, pictures, book shelves and anything that can be hung.  For larger rooms, use area rugs to designate nooks and sitting areas.  Avoid using small furniture in large rooms, cluttering large rooms with lots of small furniture is not the same as using furniture of the right scale. 

Use It or Lose It
Or rather, design the space how it's going to be used.  Don't let the furniture dictate the design; let your intended use dictate where the furniture goes.  If you're going to use your dining area for a study, then put a desk in there instead of a dining table.  If you don't need a dresser in the guest bedroom, then don't crowd it with a dresser just because you have it or because it matches. 

Repurpose
Small drawer and shelf units make a great base for a vanity; just add a long shelf over the top and voila, a new, modern-looking vanity!  Repurposing furniture is a great way to turn hand me downs into fabulous upgrades! 

Hand me downs can be more than just functional pieces to fill your new space.  Using color, space planning, utility and repurposing, you can make your space your own, even with hand me down furniture!

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