DIY Furniture Transformations

Make the most of your furnishings by repurposing pieces into custom creations that look good and work hard. With these simple, affordable ideas, you'll be able to transform your ordinary furniture into fresh finds for your home.

Power Horses

Bring an industrial chic look to your home office with a desk made from metal sawhorses, the support of choice in workshops and garages. After you prime them with a rust-inhibiting primer, paint them any color of your choosing, such as this bold cerulean blue. Add a shelf cut from medium-density fiberboard (MDF) for extra storage. Top the sawhorses with a desk custom-made from MDF, or simply span the pair with a salvaged or new home-center door.

Editor's Tip: Hold a magnet up to the sawhorses. If it sticks, you'll have extra note-keeping function built-in.