10 Ways to Renew Old Wood Furniture

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With some love and a turn of human elbow filth , wood piece of furniture can have multiple lives . According to the Environmental Protection Agency , Americans throw out12 million scads of furniturea class , with the vast bulk of it ending up in landfill . Consumers can avail shorten this waste by refurbishing used detail . antecedently get it on Sir Henry Joseph Wood table , dresser , and chairwoman can often be found either free or at a cut toll and extend the perfect sail for creative verbal expression .

“ Refinishing and/or recycle quondam article of furniture not only honors our past but abide by our time to come and proves that with a picayune effort , we can do something inherently good on so many stratum , ” says professional refurbisher and Instagram influencer Cathy Ahearn , who has rehomed more than 500 pieces of article of furniture through her sitePurposely Refurbished . She say , “ These firearm have their own stories . Each has lived a foresighted life and , with a little help , can have many more years to give . ”

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Photo: Purposely Refurbished

1. Paint

The most obvious and square option for freshen up Sir Henry Joseph Wood article of furniture is giving it a new coating of paint . Perfect for beginners , painting wood furnitureis a reasonably simple process , especially if the part are in beneficial consideration . DIYers will need to clean their item , habituate filler in any holes and cracks , sand it until it ’s smooth , and then supply their coat of paint . Keep it simple with primer and paint in one , and take sealing it with a wax cultivation .

2. Stain

maculation is an first-class choice for those who want to hold the beauty of the natural wood grain but freshen the look . get startedmight be intimidate , but it ’s a comparatively simple outgrowth that includes cleaning , removing water system stainsorheat stains , sanding , conditioning , and staining . Ahearn ’s number one backsheesh for DIYers getting started is “ do n’t be afraid of making error . ” She state , “ If your initial plot design run wrong , there are always originative solutions . ”

3. Lacquer

For DIYers who need to keep it round-eyed , Ahearn say , “ A light scuff with a green 3 M Scotch - Brite scour launch pad and applications programme of a invigorated coat of lacquer will make your piece look more dressed . ” She like this option because it requires no special equipment , and lacquer can be purchase in an spray can can . It will also bid furniture more protection over the years than staining .

4. Update the Hardware and Legs

If the paint or stain is still inviolate but the furniture looks date , there are mere way to freshen up the piece . When refurbishing vintage furniture , “ painting , cleaning or changing exist ironware can make a huge difference of opinion , ” says Ahearn . She also recommends changing the legs to give the small-arm a new look .

5. Decorative Overlays

A ornamental overlayer will give furniture added dimension and raise the ruined production . Most commonly made from medium - density fiberboard or PVC , sheathing are lightweight and easy to employ with a compatible adhesive . DIYers can paint intricately design panels so they go in or contrast with the base color . This can give dimension to healthy items such as dressers , cabinet , and buffet table . We wish thisFiona Kit for an IKEA dresserat O’verlays ® . decorate the summit of chairs or a mirror frame with trim strips for a small project .

6. Furniture Stamps

Décor stamp are perfect for DIYers looking for a simple way to bestow visual interest to an unadorned patch of piece of furniture . They can be used with pigment or ink and amount in various designs , from wood caryopsis and distressed Ellen Price Wood to florals and patterns , like thisIOD Peonies stampby BlueStarAtHome at Etsy . Before using the mold , a DIYer might require to sand the piece of furniture or drag it up to facilitate the average stop put .

7. Stencils

“ Stencils are an prosperous way to give your furniture a new feel , ” say Ahearn . Perfect for the artsy set , stencils can be used to make a design or pattern on a painted or stained airfoil . Some go best only on drawers , while others will suit an entire dresser . stencil like thisBead Craft stencilby CuttingEdgeStencils at Etsy can work on a figure of surfaces since the stencil is small and can be practice to little surfaces or repeated on large 1 . It ’s important to make certain the stencil paint is compatible with the item ’s refinement and follow the instruction that occur along with it .

8. Furniture Transfers

Take a unpatterned piece of paint piece of furniture from unproblematic to exceptional quickly by adding a furniture transport . This decorative touch uses a preprinted plan , let in an image , pattern , or words that come on a championship mainsheet that a DIYer rubs onto the open of the piece . From floral to French - inspired conception like thisChatellerault Rose transferby MaikaDaughters on Etsy , the options are unlimited .

To transfer the image to the control surface , cautiously place the design in the desired spot , securing it with painter ’s tape , rub out any air pockets from the top down with a flat tool , and carefully discase off the backup sheet . The program can vary , so read the included directions soundly .

9. Carved Wood Appliqués

chip at wood appliqués are a simple way to give patent piece of furniture a more traditional or antique look . Appliqués hail in many designs and shapes , commonly in bare Sir Henry Joseph Wood likethese flower carving appliquesby CeylonaCrafts at Etsy . They can be attached to the opus before paint if a DIYer intends to keep them the same colour as the background . For a contrasting look , smear or paint the appliqué before attaching it to previously paint furniture . Secure the appliqués with either woodwind glue or little finish nails .

10. Wallpaper or Stickers

Adhesive wallpaper or thorn will do the trick for those who are short on time . It ’s as simple as peeling and sticking . Patterns roll from floral to geometric for matching any décor . For a fun accent , Ahearn likes to use wallpaper to freshen up the Department of the Interior of her furniture pieces . Other options include the front of dressers , the back of shelves , and even beds with Robert Peel - and - control stick paper like thisheadboard decal in a herringbone pattern wood patternby FUNLIFEhomedecor at Etsy .

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