Make Old Furniture New Again

It may be that you have got a battered old piece of furniture stuck in a corner of your loft or garage that could do with being given a new lease of life. Or, it could be that you’ve found the perfect something up from your local thrift shop that you think may have potential. Whatever the reason, giving furniture a makeover can be fun and satisfying. After all, you’re giving something your own personal stamp that will make it not only individual, but also save it from the garbage!

The first thing that you must do is to make sure that the piece you are going to be working on isn’t valuable. No one wants to smother a Thomas Sheraton cabinet in paint only to find out it’s worth when it’s too late. If you have any suspicions at all that there may be some value in your furniture, get it valued before you get to work.

So, now you’ve determined that your piece isn’t a priceless heirloom,  what can you do with it? Here are a few ideas:

• Paint and stencil – If you are looking to spruce up a solid bit of furniture such as a table or a cabinet, then a lick of paint and a bit of stencil work can do wonders for a grubby old piece of unloved furniture. Make sure that you clean it thoroughly prior to painting, and that you use decent quality paint brushes, the last thing that you want is a load of brush hairs stuck in the paint once it dries.
• Re-cover recovery – Got an old chair that has seen better days? Well, it could be that just simply re-covering the cushioned seat area will give that tired old chair another few years of life yet. Easy to do and inexpensive too.
• DIY lighting – Create the atmosphere that you desire by making your own lighting from recycled old bits of furniture. With a bit of imagination you can use just about anything from old bird cage to a line of unused candelabra to turn your interior lighting into a conversation piece.
• Shelf life – Old wooden step ladders are perfect for use as shelving. They can either be stood in a corner of a room or wall mounted to give the room a really quirky look. Simply rub down and repair any major digs or scrapes, then it’s up to you whether you stain them, paint them or leave them just as they are.
• Get stacked – Two cabinets, no matter how different, that are painted in the same color and then stacked on top of each other can produce one very impressive large centrepiece.

The ideas are endless, your imagination really is the only barrier between you and a fantastic new look for your home. So make sure you are on the lookout for any pieces that you think can be transformed, they may well save you a tidy sum!

Have you ever “rescued” old furniture? How did you give it new life?