An upcycled Facebook marketplace freebie gets a new life as a chic side table

The first lockdown saw us feverishly baking banana bread, doing a million Zoom quizzes and getting ourselves fit. This time around, we can't be bothered. 

However, taking on a DIY project is still one of the best ways to really cheer ourselves up. One savvy woman recently nabbed an old side unit for free on Facebook Marketplace and lovingly restored it with a fresh lick of paint. The result is a stylish piece of furniture that only cost her £13 in total.

Here's how she did it. 

Before

Speaking to Real Homes, self-confessed bargain hunter Natalie explained how she completed the transformation.

'It costs £9 for the paint and £3.79 for the gold spray paint. I already had sanding paper at home, had cleaning supplies, tape, nails etc. I see a lot of posts on Facebook relating to DIY and I really wanted a piece of black furniture.'

Natalia also shared her top bargain hunting tip. 'I am always on Facebook Marketplace and I always look at the free section first.'

'I came across this one and I could see its potential straight away. I am on a budget as I am decorating my whole flat but I’m a massive bargain hunter anyway! One man's trash is another man's treasure.'

Natalie spray painted the handles and wheels and has really breathed new life into the Facebook Marketplace freebie. She is now using the side unit as a dressing table in her new home, styling it with a golden turtle ornament, a golden tray - very handy for holding trinkets - a mirror and vase of flowers.

We're loving the choice of black to give the piece a sleek makeover - and it's also highly functional with plenty of space to stash away makeup and hair products.

With Interior Design Masters kicking off on Tuesday, February 2, we'll no doubt be inspired to take on our own DIY projects, from reupholstering to making our own artwork. 

We all need a little more storage after a year of lockdowns, so keeping an eye out for a bargain chest of drawers could be the way to go. 

After

Natalie also shared some before-and-after shots on Facebook group B&M Bargains and More and the post received thousands of reactions and hundreds of comments from people praising her handiwork.

'That looks like it cost a fortune!' one said.

'What a brilliant job, it looks a totally different piece of furniture,' another wrote.

Facebook Marketplace really is a treasure trove.