Perhaps you have some old furniture in your home that has lost its appeal. However, made of quality wood, by modern standards it is considered an attribute of luxury and good wealth. Replacing old furniture with modern analogues in this case may not be the best solution. There are various methods available to everyone on how to update it.
- Replacement of fittings
This easy way to update old furniture doesn't require any further explanation. Just choose more suitable handles for your dresser or nightstand - and their appearance will change dramatically.
- Decorating with moldings or stucco
At the moment, there are special catalogs that present a wide range of products of this type, which can be simply attached to the surface of the furniture you are restoring.
- Surface renovation, color and texture changes
The most effective solution that will help to give old furniture a modern sound, making it work in a new way for interior design. It is carried out in different ways: with the help of varnish, paint, self-adhesive film, etc.
The above methods for updating old furniture can be used together - then they will allow you to get the most interesting and attractive result.
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Lacquer miracles of transformation
Varnishing can give time-worn wooden products a new lease of life. It will not only improve their appearance, but also protect them from mechanical damage, temperature changes, and harmful effects of moisture. The result depends on the selection of varnish, a comparison of the main varieties of which is given below.
| Oily | Acrylic | Nitrocellulose | Polyurethane | |
| Gloss level | glossy | It can be both glossy and matte | It can be both glossy and matte | It can be both glossy and matte |
| drying speed | relatively slow | fast | fast | very fast |
| wear resistance | relatively low | relatively low | high | the highest |
| smell | cutting | absent | cutting | cutting |
| price | low | low | average | relatively high |
Having made a choice in favor of one or another option, you should dry and clean the furniture to be restored, sand it and apply varnish in two or three layers. After the composition dries, the old walls and doors will surprise you with a new fresh appearance and beauty.
With the help of varnishes you can not only update furniture, but also change its color. To do this, you only need to add a coloring pigment to the coating - and the final shade of the apartment's furnishings will change.
Renewal with self-adhesive film
You can simply update your furniture with your own hands using this now widespread decorative and protective material. You only need to measure the length accurately, remove the protective layer from the film, stick it to the surface to be treated and smooth out the unevenness with a dry cloth. And a completely new design of your interior items is ready.
This film is available in a variety of color variations - there are examples that imitate wood, single-color, with drawings and patterns. However, imitation of natural wood coating in this case is a mediocre solution - it usually does not look realistic enough. However, single-color and ornamented versions of self-adhesive film are currently at the peak of popularity.
Sometimes wallpaper is used for the same purposes. In combination with stucco and moldings, they give a spectacular result.
Classic and original coloring
Undoubtedly, an old chest of drawers, a cabinet or a stool will be noticeably transformed after painting. The main types of paints used for these purposes are latex, acrylic and oil. All of the listed options are distinguished by a bright and rich color that is obtained as a result.
In the classic version, these paints require serious preparation of the surface to be painted. However, if you mix any of these compositions with warm water; chalk, gypsum or construction plaster, you will get the so-called chalk paint. It does not require preliminary cleaning and priming - you only need to remove fat from the object being treated.
Speaking of original painting methods, it is worth mentioning milk paint, which gives furniture a vintage look. And, of course, the use of various stencils, which allow you to get an interesting pattern on the restored items. For simple geometric patterns, it is not even necessary to cut out a special stencil - you can use masking tape. It is glued to the fragments that are not supposed to be painted, and then easily peeled off, leaving no traces.
Reworking using decoupage technique
This is another good way to effectively update your furniture. Decoupage is decorating objects using images and patterns from napkins, wallpaper, fabrics. The image you choose is fixed in the right place using varnish. The description of the technique sounds simple, but it has certain nuances.
How to create a new decorative item from an old stool?
To make it clearer how to apply the above techniques in practice, let's look at their use using an old stool as an example.
- Two-tone coloring
A simple and fashionable method of transformation is to paint the lower part of the legs of a chair or stool in a contrasting light color. This creates a visual effect of the lightness of the structure. It looks very conceptual. The upper unpainted part in this case is usually covered with glossy varnish.
- Multicolored stripes
Another new trend achieved with the help of bright colors and masking tape. Such stripes are applied both to the legs of the stool and to its seat. Just remember that the shades you choose should be supported by other design elements of the room, otherwise the result of your creative work will not be in harmony with it.
- Applying a picture to a seat
The decoupage technique described above would be very suitable here. Although a stencil combined with a contrasting paint composition may also work.
How to make furniture in vintage style?
The list of what you can do with your old wall, chest of drawers or grandfather's table is limited only by your creativity. However, one of the interesting options is to create the effect of stylish and expensive antiques. This is another possible answer to the question - how to update furniture. There are different techniques in this direction.
- Artificial patina
Using an old cabinet as an example, this method looks like this: you need to sand the walls, apply acrylic paint in a muted shade of pink or blue. After drying, you need to treat the surface with a hard sponge so that the walls look unevenly painted. The final stage is to re-sand the walls with sandpaper so that the wood becomes visible. In combination with properly selected handles, your cabinet will acquire a truly interesting look.
- Glaze
This method of artificially aging a material is borrowed from painting. It consists of creating two levels - a translucent upper one and a bright lower one, shining through from under the upper one. This is achieved by applying a special varnish.
- Splash
By applying randomly scattered droplets of paint to a piece of furniture, you can create an interesting decorative object that suggests a long history of use.
Video: How to update kitchen furniture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMCciFuZt58
