When you bought the kitchen table, it was to die for. Now you don’t know what you were thinking. It’s ugly, out-dated, and doesn’t go with anything else in the kitchen. But hold on – before you toss it in the dumpster, consider ways you can revitalize the table.

Add a fresh coat of environmentally-safe paint. You’ll be surprised how much a difference this can make. Suddenly, the table looks new again. Be bold! Instead of going with a neutral color, try a fun, bright color that complements your kitchen’s design.

Get fancy by adding a design. That may sound like a daunting task if you’re anything like me – I’m lucky if I can draw a nice stick figure! – but you can make it easy on yourself by purchasing or making your own stencil. Print out a design you like (on recycled computer paper, of course!) and cut out the shapes. Then, simply measure to ensure that the design is evenly spaced. Now it’s a simple “paint-by-number,” and in the end, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind item all your friends will ask about.

Age your furniture. You can pay a ton of money to buy a table that looks rustic, or you can embrace the dings and scratches on your old table by “distressing” it further. Dark furniture does really well with this technique, but it works for all colors. The site French Provincial Furniture has a great how-to for aging your furniture.

Still not feeling it? Repurpose the table! Consider other areas in your house where it can be used. Yes, you can move it into the dining room or maybe even the home office, but think outside the box. Add an outdoor-safe finish and use it the next time you have a barbecue. Or cut down the table legs and sand them to make a place for your kids to do their arts and crafts.

If I still haven’t convinced you that there’s a second life for your kitchen table, then consider letting it do some good for the community by donating it to charities like Goodwill or Salvation Army. Your table won’t go to waste, someone will get a good deal on a new kitchen table, and the funds from the proceeds will help families who are struggling in this economy. It’s win, win, win!

Image Credit: back garage