Wardrobe Treasures Turn into New Furniture Look

Don’t discard favorite clothes… dress your furniture with them!

Rainy days are ideal for decluttering my closet, and I was in the mood for it. Soon, I had proudly gathered a pile of clothes, ready to donate it to Goodwill. But I also had the familiar treasures that I always put back in the closet because I just can’t let go off them.

What I Could’t Let Go of

1. A washed out 20-year-old T-Shirt from one of my visits to the town of St.Helena, Napa Valley, where dear friends of mine live. Torn, mended, unwearable in public, yet very well loved.
2. Blue jeans from a trip to Austria’s „Apricot Country“ (the beautiful Wachau Valley north of Vienna). I fell in love with their cheerful bright blue colour. They were tight when I bought them, and now, there’s no way they will fit if I ever plan to breathe in them again.
3. Another pair of summer denims whose sunny yellow makes my soul jump with joy, a €5 Goodwill catch, unfortunately a bit on the small side for me. Yet, a boost of sunshine I will not let go!
4. Several blue jeans, too old to wear, but way too connected with fond memories to part with them yet.

I Needed a Plan

I was determined. I couldn’t be defeated yet again by sentimentality and my holding-on gene. I just couldn’t put these items back – yet again.

What were my resources? Time, great music to accompany the task, creativity, scissors, sewing needles and thread. (Please know: I have hardly any sewing skills, just enough to do the job.) And I had the greatest tools since the invention of fire and bookprinting: safety pins.

If I Can’t Fit into Them, I Sit on Them

Yes, I decided to dress my furniture with treasures that I no longer wear. Introducing the stars of my furniture reinvention fashion show:

SAINT HELENA: The New Darling in My Bedroom, Coastal Grandma Style

My plain old white Ikea armchair got dressed with baby-blue jeans plus the washed out St. Helena T-shirt, complete with a pillow made from the top of another pair of blue jeans, stuffed with two old outworn sweaters (which I would otherweise have discarded). Everything can be taken off, washed and re-fitted.

MISTER LEVI: The Elegant Armchair

Thanks to three pairs of blue jeans, an elegant armchair (one of a set of two) whose velvet covering had suffered from heavy use, got a fresh Bohemian face, topped with a matching pillow – also stuffed with garments from my previous decluttering safari.

SCOTTY: Mister Levi’s Twin

Mister Levi’s twin armchair turned into a cheerful Christmas character: the kind of armchair that Granny would sit in when reading fairytales to grandkids. All made possible with the help of a Kilt-style long skirt, a big red woolen shawl, a checker patterned apron and an elastic cotton belt. Just stuffed everything in – no sewing, not even safety pins.

LIMONCELLO: Sunshine Chair

This Ikea chair is now my sweet Little Miss Sunshine, dressed with that pair of yellow jeans from the thriftstore and held together with a former bathrobe belt. (PHOTO: yellow chair in front of red sofa)

What Did I Gain from This Project?

1. A new fun furniture look at zero cost.
2. The experience of creative transformation.
3. Joy and the feeling of accomplishment.
4. I get to keep, use and look at beloved items.
5. And I contribute to a sustainable environment.

You can do it, too! All it takes is a little reinvention spirit, a touch of courage and perhaps a rainy day to start the project. For more ideas and inspiration see my book: 17 STEPS TO BEING HOME.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you recently hesitated to let go of something you no longer use but still hold dear to your heart? How did you deal with this situation? Share your inspiration with this community. Every idea is a stepping stone to the next empowering project.