Salvage operations

Mondrian table

You will need: Table, several rolls of colored electrical tape and one roll of black tape

Step 1: Find a clean, dry table, preferably one without a slick varnish.

Step 2: Carefully press colored electrical tape to the tabletop, taking care to align each strip of tape with its neighbor. Don't stretch the tape too far, as it could contract later.

Step 3: Use black electrical tape to separate the different colors and add definition that would make Piet proud.

Chair reupholstery

You will need: Chair with a firm cushion, one yard of fabric, scissors, measuring tape, screwdriver, stapler

Step 1: Find a clean, wooden chair with a cushion that can be removed by unscrewing it from the underside of the frame. After unscrewing the cushion, measure and cut a square of fabric that's a few inches wider on each side than the cushion. (Note: If the existing cushion is too flat, get a slab of high-density foam the same size as your fabric piece to staple down.)

Step 2: With your cushion facedown and centered on your fabric (pattern-side down), start at one edge and staple the fabric directly into the backside of the cushion. (No need to remove the ugly existing fabric; just cover and staple right over it.) Pull the fabric taut as you staple for a smooth, professional-looking finish.

Step 3: Once you've stapled up all the edges, screw your cushion back into its frame.

Bath mats with pizzazz

You will need: Bath mats of various colors and textures (we use four, though it depends on the size of final mat you want), pencil, ruler, duct tape, scissors

Step 1: Pick the pattern you want (here, we use a pattern of diagonal stripes) and pencil it on the backside of the bath mats. (Keep in mind that what's on the back of the mat will be reversed once the mat is flipped.) Cut out the pattern.

Step 2: Place the pieces together facedown and tape up the seams. If you're not handy with scissors, tape excess carpet to any incorrectly cut portions.

Step 3: Then flip and sink (your toes) in.

Wooden welcome sign

You will need: Slab of wood, acrylic paint, alphabet sponges, paintbrushes

Step 1: Paint the wood a light color; light paint will create a higher contrast to the darker paint you'll use for stamping.

Step 2: After the wood is dry, stamp, stamp, stamp. Don't worry about lining the letters up perfectly or about line breaks—just say you were going for something "industrial."

Step 3: The paint will look bubbly but will dry flat.