Everyone loves a freebie and as the saying goes - one man's trash is another's treasure. You might need to put in some time and elbow grease to transform it into treasure, but chances are the pieces you found and painstakingly restored will not only have the best stories, they'll be a focal point in the home.

White paint may be the easiest - and most effective - way to give something a new look (and it'll go with any style of home), but why not give it a little more wow factor with a pop of colour too. A mix of the two is a simple way to get colour into a space without letting it overpower - the white dose brings its vibrance down a notch.

We painted this table white on the base and let a pretty greeny blue dress up the top. You could also try decoupaging the top with some coloured, patterned gift wrap or wallpaper or stenciling on a design in a contrasting colour.

We used: untinted white paint on the base, Wattyl Quartzy Blue on the top.

Tip: Don't forget to sand, sand, sand the old away before you paint.

For decorating ideas, great projects and much more, check out Belinda Graham's The Happy Home blog.