Nobody wants to throw away a good piece of furniture. Sure, any old cabinet can be put into the back for brighter days. But if it looks scruffy, why bother? Thankfully, there's no need to chuck a perfectly good set of drawers, there's a cheap way to spruce them up. Paint! Most of us are well aware of the good a splash of paint on the walls or ceiling can do, but most of the time we don't think about doing the same thing for our furniture. Not only can paint be used to hide damage, scratches and marks, but it can also bring a much loved piece of furniture right up to date with the current style in your home.

Vintage or unvarnished wood can look amazing, but over time scratches, marks and dents can make even the most beautiful wood seem limp and out of place. If your wooden furniture has seen better days, consider using a simple or neutral colour, such as white, to cover up scratches, while still leaving the beauty of the real wood beneath. Remember to paint around natural handles and fixtures. If you're having trouble, ditch the standard paint brush and use art brushes for a more accurate job.

If you're bored of the standard white finish on half the furniture, why not brighten it up with a colour? If you're feeling brave, pick a bright and bold colour for small pieces of furniture such as chairs. In general, stick to mild shades for large furniture such as wardrobes, dressers and cabinets. Adding unique patterns or pictures is a great way to make furniture more exciting. Remember, the great thing about paint is that it can always be redone if you decide a different colour would be better!