5 Easy Flea Market Makeovers

You don't need to spend big bucks to make a big impact when you decorate your home.

Shopping garage sales, flea markets and thrift shops is always a great way to get a good deal, and you can identify hidden gems if you know what to look for and how to refurbish your finds. Some of the bargain buys can be transformed into eye-catching design pieces with a few simple steps.

5 Tips for Successful Shopping

1. Be Prepared: Always take stock of what you're shopping for and do all measurements at home. Flea markets and garage sales can be overwhelming because of the volume of items, unless you know what you're looking for.

2. Be Ready to Buy: Make sure you have enough cash, in small denominations.

3. Expect to Haggle: Negotiating is part of the process, and is expected.

4. Be Fashionably Late: Early arrivals might get the best selection, but it's actually better to arrive late if you want to make a deal.

5. Be Realistic: Examine every piece to make sure it can be fixed up and is worth purchasing. Some refurbishing, such as upholstery, can get expensive.

5 Easy Do It Yourself Projects

END TABLE MAKEOVER
A simple do-it-yourself project that can be tackled in a day, and transforms a dirt cheap find into a one-of-a-kind piece.

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Do-it-Yourself Home Makeover

The Find:
You can generally find used end tables for approximately $30 each at flea markets or thrift shops.

The Supplies:
Kilz Spray Paint Primer, $4.48, available at Home Depot (www.homedepot.com) and other hardware stores.
Rust-Oleum White Gloss Spray Paint, $6.88, available at Home Depot (www.homedepot.com) and other hardware stores.
Knobs, $8 each, Anthropologie.com
Glass: 19" x 26", $20, available at Michael's Arts & Crafts stores (www.michaels.com) nationwide.

The Process:
Paint the end table white.
Change the hardware on drawers by adding new, stylish knobs.
Have a new piece of glass cut to fit the top.
Put photos underneath glass.

The Cost:
$80 ($30 per end table, $50 for supplies), cheaper than most end tables at department stores, and its a one-of-a-kind, personalized piece.