A great cheap way to bring old pieces of furniture back to life is to reupholster them. You can save furniture that would otherwise end up in the trash or transform basic furniture into something fun and creative. These types of projects are ideal for using gently used items and saving some money. Here are a couple of the ideas for alternatives to upholstery fabrics from Planet Green:

• Vintage Curtains: for very little money, you can get curtain fabric from a local second-hand vintage shop. A lot of good curtains are even made with upholstery fabrics.
• Thick Blankets: with gently used blankets from thrift stores or second-hand shops, you can upholster a bed, headboard, dining room chairs, and more. Just make sure that the fabric you pick is strong and on the thicker side.

Check out many more green, creative ideas over at 5 Green Furniture Upholstery Fabric Alternatives.