As I tried to hack through a turnip a couple of weeks ago to make a beef stew in the crock pot Santa brought me for Christmas, I gave up — before breaking the knives mom had years earlier saved for years for “when I had my own place.” 

I went out and bought a great knife set that cuts anything like butter.

No matter how much I sprayed the pots and pans food stuck on and burned. While ruining some of the food stuck in the pot was depressing enough, trying to clean the pans was worse.

When I bought the knives I picked up stunning red pots and pans that have yet to let food stick to their insides. 

But those are small items that are semi-affordable (thanks to some birthday money).

The whole other issue that has been taunting me — with typically less affordable solutions — has been mismatched furniture. 

Sure my bedroom bureaus and desk match, but they match in a lovely shade of pea green.  The bureau standing in for an entertainment stand is stained, with trim that has never been finished. My coffee table is another shade of stain that has been handed down from my grandmother. Another small table a more natural finish sort of matched the kitchen table some friends kindly gave to me when I moved in. 

That’s about three shades of wood too many for my taste, and furniture in stores were luring me to contemplate exactly how much I can afford, but when I looked at the price tags, it was a dream quickly extinguished. 

It took me just a few episodes on Home and Garden Television before a thought dawned on me — if I can’t buy new stuff, maybe I can make it new.

With some quality time on my couch, staring at my furniture, I started brainstorming refinishing ideas. 

I first wanted to reupholster my couch, an idea I’ve stifled in fear I would end up with a dismembered couch in the kitchen and no hope of putting it back together. But painting I could do.

And how much could paint cost? 

Well, a gallon of black exterior paint was $27.99, two brushes were another $15 and two sanding blocks made for a grand total of $49.09. 

I started with the small square table, a yard sale find, and began painting (after I sanded and wiped down the wood). 

One coat didn’t completely cover the former finish but after second coat and I had a completely new piece of furniture. 

With a little more creativity, I collaged black and white photos on the tabletop and sealed it with a resin mixture, and now it sits for 72 hours waiting to harden and be used again. 

It’s a beautiful new piece of furniture made from something old for a fraction of the cost of buying a brand new table, and while painting the bureaus, desk and coffee table will be a process and take up a few weekend afternoons it’s a more affordable option than buying new. 

A more self-fulfilling option as well.

— Emma Bouthillette