Simple Tips for Breathing New Life Into Old Furniture
Furniture is an integral part of any home, and it’s essential to make sure it’s as visually appealing as it is functional. You can probably look through your home and quickly identify the furniture pieces you use the most and the ones that receive the least attention, and you may even find some pieces that you genuinely love but need some care and attention. McCoy Homes offers a range of home improvement services, and we want our readers to know the best ways to get the most value out of their furniture. If you have older furniture that you don’t want to replace but would rather update, then keep the following tips in mind.
Repair and Refinish Wooden Furniture
High-quality wooden furniture is timeless, sturdy, and beautiful when it’s maintained well. You might have older wooden furniture that has seen years of use, or perhaps you have upholstered furniture with wood framing that is chipping, stained, or even cracked. You don’t necessarily need to throw out damaged or distressed wooden furniture. It’s easier to repair and refinish than you might think if you’re willing to contribute some elbow grease to the cause.
When it comes to restoring wooden furniture, you should expect to repair any structural issues such as weakened joints, cracks, or other imperfections first. Once the piece is stable and ready for visual improvement, begin by sanding. If you can easily match the finish, you may only need to sand a few spots to get it looking better. Otherwise, you should prepare to sand the whole piece, so the new finish is as even as possible. Once sanded, it’s ready for a fresh coat or two of wood stain and a protective coating finish.
Reupholster Old Padded Furniture
Whether you have a dining room set with outdated upholstery or a couch with damaged cushion covers, reupholstering your padded furniture isn’t as hard as it might seem. You can certainly refer to a professional, but trying on your own can be very rewarding when it turns out the way you hope.
Choose a new type of upholstery for the piece and do your best to remove the old and worn upholstery as cleanly and completely as possible. You may want to replace the cushioning in some sections. Attaching the new upholstery could be as easy as carefully stapling the new covering to the pad, but some pieces require needlework.
Hunt for Deals and Make Something New
If you need new furniture for your home, you don’t necessarily need to run out and buy something brand new. You can find all kinds of deals at discount stores and secondhand stores, and you might be surprised by what you see. You could come across a beautiful piece of furniture that simply needs some attention to bring it back to its former beauty. Before dropping hundreds or thousands of dollars on brand-new furniture, consider some restorative techniques for older pieces that you can pick up cheaply.
Breathing new life into old furniture can be incredibly rewarding, and who knows? You might try it and discover a new hobby in the process. Take time to look at the furniture in your home that may need some love, and don’t be afraid to look around for discarded furniture that might become beautiful additions to your home with a bit of effort. Have you restored old furniture and have a technique you’d like to share? The team at McCoy Homes would love to hear from you!