How to Breathe New Life Into Your Old Furniture

Do-It-Yourself or DIY furniture renovation can give you and your home a whole new lease of life as well as be a rewarding hobby.

The latest, mass produced furniture isn't everyone's cup of tea. If you like character, there are plenty of ways to refresh and revive furniture, frames and light fittings to make them gorgeous and glamorous.

DIY furniture restoration gives your creative side free range through staining, stripping, whitewashing, repair, reupholstering and general restoration and renovation to make your home a place people really want to be. It can also be a lucrative little earner for you as well.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Funky fifties couches and armchairs with great bones look great recovered in bold coloured fabrics, vinyl or leather. Check out your local upholstery fabric store to see the stunning options now available.

• Sixties and seventies furniture is in vogue at the moment fetching surprisingly high prices online – especially if it is in good nick. It is easy to make dining furniture look its best by sanding back and repolishing if need be and recovering seats.

• Antique bassinets become heirlooms when lovingly restored and modernised with the latest mattresses and safety features. Have a look at some of the fabulous new nursery fabrics now available.

• Antique prints, paintings, posters and even advertising posters are fetching good prices in online and antique auctions, especially if they are beautifully framed up.

• Stripping back wooden dining furniture and cabinets can turn them into wonderful feature centrepieces in a room. You need time and patience and all the safety gear (including goggles, good quality respiratory masks and gloves), but modern chemical strippers work fast and efficiently. Please remember though if you have respiratory issues, furniture stripping is not something you should do. The fumes are toxic so even with safety gear, it needs to be done in the garage with the door up so there is plenty of ventilation or even in the fresh air outside.

• Whitewashing and liming wooden and cane furniture can give it a whole new look while still allowing grain and knots to shine through. It also lightens the whole atmosphere, especially teamed up with fresh, light coloured fabrics.

• Oil paints can also transform dowdy, but interesting wooden, cane and other furniture and frames into much more glamorous and attractive items that you really want to have in your home.

Have a look at what can be done:

• 8 Ways to Make Old Furniture Look Brand New

Some images courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net