Simple Updates for Old Furnishings

You don't have to buy new furniture to transform a room. Simply change the hardware.

If Your Style Is Vintage

Nothing amps up a plain veneered dresser like a set of vintage hardware. Elaborate designs can add punch to an unadorned piece, play off the newness of a recent purchase, and give a room personality. The teardrop pulls shown here accomplish all three. And with the additional appeal of a comfortable, solid grip, they offer function as well as beauty. "Vintage-style knobs will reinforce the period details of a room and make a simple piece look as if it has a past," says Nancy E. Berry, author of Architectural Hardware: Ideas, Inspiration, and Practical Advice for Adding Handles, Hinges, Knobs, and Pulls to Your Home.

To buy: Wood-and-brass teardrop pulls in Antique by Hand finish, $13.50 each (1 1/8 inches in diameter), houseofantiquehardware.com.