Interior items often lose their appearance over time. What to do if they are still strong and you don’t want to throw them in the trash? There is a good solution – paint the outdated model yourself. Work on updating the facade can be done at home. You can choose a paint or varnish coating, and also decorate the sample using improvised materials.

painted chest of drawers
Decorating furniture with your own hands will significantly reduce the cost of restoring a piece of furniture.

Changing the facade yourself not only saves money, but also allows you to make it the way you intended.

paint chipboard furniture
An old wardrobe, chest of drawers or table in an updated form will serve for many more decades.

How to choose the right paints and varnishes

Before choosing the means for working with chipboard items, evaluate the type of the restoration object, its original color. Decide whether you will simply refresh it or give it a new look. When choosing the second option, carefully consider how the other color matches the surrounding environment in the house.

painted furniture
Use a professional palette of tones and shades if you have difficulty choosing.

To decide how to paint chipboard furniture, you need to familiarize yourself with the offers of construction stores. Do not be lazy and go around several - perhaps your choice will be cheaper and better quality. Be sure to look at the release time of the paint and its composition. It is necessary to calculate its consumption, taking into account that the coating involves applying more than one layer.

three-door chest of drawers
To do this, measure the area of ​​the facade and multiply the amount of paint by 2, since you will need to make 2 layers for even coverage.

Do not buy lead-containing compounds - inhaling their vapors is dangerous to health. Alkyd ones are more environmentally friendly and dry faster.

alkyd paint
Alkyd paints are easier to dilute to a uniform color.

The varnish must be purchased either transparent or with a tint.

furniture varnish
Opt for warm tones if you plan to give the surface a natural wood color.

Test the selected chemical compositions on a neutral section of the slab. After each application, let the product dry. Evaluate the result and decide whether it is suitable for restoration.

painting wooden furniture
Painting chipboard furniture in a different color can make it look expensive and stylish.

The purpose of the object and its color

  1. When changing the color of the facade dramatically, you need to focus on the purpose of the interior item. Light or bright (not flashy) tones that please the eye are appropriate in a child's room. Girls like calmer colors and plant motifs, boys prefer dynamic shades.

    updated furniture
    Decorating in the appropriate style is appropriate.
  2. For the kitchen, color combinations that match the overall design are suitable.

    painting kitchen furniture
    Sideboards and cabinets are always in sight, so in addition to their main function, their appearance should serve as an interior decoration.
  3. In small rooms, it is better to avoid dark colors for the facade, especially if the room is located on the shady side of the house.

    paint furniture with your own hands
    If the structure has enough strength left, then anyone can radically transform furniture by painting.
  4. In bedrooms, you need to take into account the interior style and the level of lighting.

    white furniture in the bedroom
    In the bedroom, it is better to refrain from overly colorful combinations.
  5. When placing an updated item in the living room, you need to look at how well its appearance matches the color of the wallpaper and the style of the furnishings.

    updated wardrobe
    Bright colours, interesting combinations of shades, new fittings – and the worn-out wardrobe will be unrecognizable!
  6. The hallway, thanks to the small number of things, can include items with avant-garde decor that would look good in a teenager’s room.

    purple chest of drawers
    Designers do not have the concept of “outdated furniture” – only vintage, and therefore certainly fashionable!

Necessary tools at hand

From paints and varnishes, choose alkyd ones - they are the most suitable for models made of chipboard. They lay down evenly, do not leave obvious gaps on the surface, smell less and dry quickly.

spray painting
You can choose an aerosol container to avoid using a tray, sprayer, rollers or brushes.

You will need acrylic putty and adhesion based primer which should be used to prepare the surfaces.

priming wooden furniture
The putty and primer must be special for wood.

List of additional materials:

  • Solvent for removing old paint and varnish residues;
  • Degreasing agent for chipboard;
  • Rags or flannel napkins;
  • Gloves;
  • Construction tape;
  • Sandpaper;
  • Glue.
what to paint chipboard with
Necessary tools.

It is better to choose rubber gloves, otherwise the paint will soak into the fabric and remain on your hands.

painting a cabinet
If you use cloth ones, you can remove fingerprints using a solvent.

When buying brushes, focus not only on price, but also on quality. Restoration will be useless if hairs constantly remain on the surface. The roller should also be of high quality, with well-fixed foam rubber and a non-wobbling handle.

brush and roller
The hardware store has a wide range of rollers and brushes for working with acrylic paints.

To carefully prepare the chipboard and paint it, set up a work area in advance. Use old newspapers, construction film or cardboard from a large box as a bedding.

paint chipboard furniture
It is better to do the work on a closed loggia - there will be no drafts and the unpleasant smell will not leak into the apartment.

Necessary tools

Preparation for the process must be thorough. For work you need the following tools:

  • Spatula;
  • Knives - carpenter's and stationery;
  • Screwdrivers;
  • Construction hair dryer;
  • Brushes, foam rollers for paints in cans;
  • Scissors.
painting tools
A hacksaw may be useful to straighten the dried out ribs of the slab. They also need to be sanded with sandpaper.

Technology of painting and varnishing furniture

Before processing the parts, you need to disassemble the structure and unscrew all the fittings. After that, remove the remains of the original coating with a solvent and a spatula. The old layer may not come off easily. In this case, soak the board in solvent and let it swell a little. Then remove the peeling debris with a spatula.

wash
You can remove old paint with a spatula, having treated the surface with a paint remover beforehand.

Remove grease and dirt using a detergent. Dry the plate. Then sand it down, create a rough surface. Fill cracks and cavities with putty. Let it dry. Check for any other unevenness. Prepare a primer and apply it to the plate. It plays a big role in painting.

primer
When purchasing a primer, try to choose a shade that is as close as possible to the color you want your furniture to be.

Primer is the main hero in the matter of furniture facade renovation. It is needed a little for work, and it brings great benefit, leveling the plane and saving on the consumption of paint and varnish. It makes the coating much stronger. It is better to use it in two layers, so that the base is more reliable.

primer
After priming, leave the workpiece to dry or speed up the process with a hair dryer.

Check the condition of the paintwork materials: dilute excessively thick compositions with solvent. Apply paint evenly to the surface and smooth it out with a roller. Touch up the relief joints with a brush. Using an aerosol or spray gun makes the task easier, but it leaves a lot of splashes on other surfaces. In this case, you need to fence off the work area with impermeable barriers. For this, you can use large cardboard or stretch polyethylene film.

paint furniture
Leave the slab for 24 hours to dry the first layer; sometimes it takes longer.

Then apply the second layer and also let it dry. Repeat the same with varnish. If you plan to apply a picture or ornament, it must be done before varnishing. To apply the print, prepare a stencil. Carefully fix it during work using construction tape.

painting through a stencil
You can cut out the stencil from an old file folder.

After the chipboard has completely dried, proceed to assembling the structure. Don't forget about the fittings. After completing the work, choose a place where you will put your updated object so that it looks most advantageous.

painted nightstand
The restoration will be successful if you do not rush, trying to get everything done by a certain deadline.

Additional materials on processing chipboard surfaces can be found online.

Decorative elements

Often, chipboard objects are refreshed with the help of decoration. Drawings, ornaments, contrasting inserts, parts of the facade made of fabric or wallpaper - this is only a small list of ideas for giving a piece of furniture a new look. Decoupage napkins in Provencal or Victorian style, straw, artificial glass, colored paper, newspaper (magazine) clippings and much more are also suitable materials.

chest of drawers decor
The combination of the main color of the facade and the insert or print should be harmonious.

You can liven up the coating with contrasting colors, skillfully selected to match the overall style of the room. Brown tones (all shades of natural wood), yellow with blue, red with green go well together.

decor decoupage
You can decorate an old cabinet not only with simple painting, but also with painting. If you can draw, this is one of the chances to use your talent in practice and show your imagination.

The facade can be given a vintage look by applying patina or special craquelure varnish. You can choose unusual fittings that make the cabinet more interesting, creating the appearance of noble antiquity.

crackle varnish
The craquelure method creates an antique effect.

An alternative to painting can be covering the furniture with self-adhesive film. You can find a suitable shade (possibly with a pattern) in any hardware store.

self-adhesive for furniture
Updated items often become stylish pieces of furniture.

An exclusive look will help to reconsider the attitude to the worn-out object as outdated. Do not rush to send it to the dump. See what can be done with a cabinet, table or nightstand. Then you will not have to spend the budget on expensive furnishings.

Provence style decor
You can combine different styles and not be afraid to experiment.

VIDEO: A second life for an old chest of drawers.

50 photo ideas for updating old chipboard furniture with your own hands: