How to Transform Old Furniture and Give It a Fresh New Look

We all have a piece of old furniture in our homes that you can't seem to get rid of. It may be because you can't find the right place for it or because it no longer fits with the decor of your home. Whatever the reason, your furniture deserves to have a new lease of life. Once you give your old and dusty furniture a makeover, we guarantee you will want to keep it forever. 

Now that we have a bit of extra time on our hands due to the global pandemic, it could be useful to improve our DIY skills. If you find that you have a knack for restoring old pieces, you could always turn this hobby into a small side business and re-sell up-cycled furniture online. 

Second-hand stores, garage sales, and charity shops are great places to look for old furniture. Don't be picky with what you find in these stores; all you need is a sprinkle of imagination, and you can re-sell these pieces for double or even triple the price you purchased them for. Here is how you can transform old furniture and give it a fresh new look. 

Wooden Furniture  

Even the most straightforward chest of drawers or bookcase can benefit from a little creative magic. If your furniture is a dull wooden color and full of scratches and marks, it could be a great idea to give it a fresh coat of paint. Find a vibrant color to make it stand out and remove any existing hardware before you begin painting. 

If the furniture has any varnish on it, you will need to remove this by sanding the surface. Unless the paint you have chosen is chalk paint, you will need to prime the furniture to ensure the color won't fall off. After priming, go ahead and apply as many coats of paint as you would like.  

Anyone can add a fresh new coat of paint; however, the finishing touches are what will elevate your furniture to give it a whole new look. A new set of cabinet pulls or furniture legs can add a real contemporary feel to the piece. Similarly, if you have a bookcase, you can add a contrasting color or sheet of wallpaper to the furniture's back. It's the little details that will make all the difference. 

Reupholstery 

If your couch no longer works with the decor in your living room or you have found a beautiful armchair with hideous fabric, upholstery is the perfect up-cycling method for you. Bear in mind that this technique is slightly more challenging than painting, so it could be a good idea to get two pairs of hands rather than one. 

If this is your first time, don't start with a whole sofa. Try out this technique with a stool or chair first. The first step to reupholstering is to remove the fabric. Make sure to take photos of the chair for reference before you start ripping it apart. Then take the old material and mark the sides (like 'T' for top or 'RA' for right armrest) to know where the new fabric should be placed. Use the old material to make the pattern from your new chosen fabric. Then re-staple the new fabric onto the furniture as tightly as possible. 

Removing, cutting, and replacing the fabric are only the technical aspects. You should also be mindful of the type of material that you choose. Don't just go for the most aesthetically pleasing choice. Make sure that the fabric is strong enough to withstand tears when pulling it firmly. If you're a beginner, try to go for something on the cheaper side as you may have to buy some more fabric if you make any mistakes. 

Whether you are looking to revamp your old furniture for personal use or to start a side business, the most important thing is that you have fun while doing so. Upcycling old furniture is an excellent outlet for creativity. It also helps the environment because it reduces the number of materials that end up in a landfill every year. We are so used to buying and then throwing things away that it has almost become second nature. Re-transforming your old furniture is a great way to keep entertained, make some extra money, and help save the environment, all at the same time.