ometimes curb appeal comes from just that – the curb.

It’s easy – and fun – to give a furniture facelift to throwaway treasures you find sitting on the sidewalk, in someone’s garage or at secondhand shops. An hour here, thirty minutes there, and one person’s junk becomes another person’s jewel. It’s my very favorite form of recycling.

The best candidates are chairs, tables, dressers and other pieces that have attractive lines, but look worn or have a finish that just isn’t you. If your item is rickety or has loose parts, tighten up screws or use a dab of glue to secure the pieces together. Then gear up and get ready to create a little makeover magic with my four-step facelift.

1. Prepare. Wash the furniture with a mild liquid soap to remove surface dirt. If you’re working outside, you can hose it down and wipe it clean with a sponge. Let it dry, then smooth the wood with a fine-grit sandpaper. Remove the residue with a tack cloth.

2. Prime. Spray on an undercoat of primer. The paint will adhere better and your handiwork will last longer. If you like the look of natural wood, give it a light buffing with super fine (#0000) steel wool.

3. Paint. Spray paint the object the color of your choice, selecting a glossy finish to add a soft sheen. Let dry, then apply a second coat. When it dries, spray on a weather-resistant polyurethane to finish.

4. Pretty it up. Accessories work for furniture just like they do for clothes. Toss on some pillows, drape a snuggly throw over a chair arm and you have a cozy place to enjoy a good book or cocktails with friends. Add a candle and a stack of magazines to a tabletop and you have a chairside companion. Paint windowboxes to match, fill with flowers and you’ve created a wonderful sitting area out of a bare patch of lawn.

Freshen pieces you already have – or turn fixer-uppers into fashion focalpieces. A glue gun, a can of spray paint and your own imagination, and the possibilities are endless!