How to Refurbish Old Furniture

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If you have a hankering to update some older pieces of furniture, then you’re not alone. The trend for re-inventing and re-purposing old furniture has grown phenomenally in recent years. Giving a facelift to an old chair, dresser or table is not difficult and there are many looks which can be achieved to suit all types of décor. Perhaps the simplest re-vamp can be achieved on wooden kitchen chairs, sanding, painting or waxing and a fresh upholstery job can help to create a stylish chair for very little outlay.

Similarly easy to alter are bedroom dressing tables which may be well built but dated in appearance, a fresh paint job, some new drawer and cupboard handles and you will be the proud owner of a bright and attractive piece of functional furniture. For beginners, chairs are the simplest project and can be used in dining rooms, kitchens or simply as an attractive addition to any room in your home.

1. The first step with refurbishing old kitchen chairs is to remove the seating panels. Turn your chair upside down and ascertain how the cushion pad (if one is present) is held in place. Many chairs from past eras use a simple wooden lever which can be pushed out of place so that the seat area is easy to remove. Others have nails or tacks in place to hold seating pads rigid and these can be pulled out with a claw hammer.

2. When you have removed the seating pad, give the chair a thorough clean using sugar soap and a cloth; remove all dirt and dust and then you can begin sanding the surface of the wood. Always wear a mask to ensure that you do not expose yourself to potentially harmful dust when sanding down old furniture. Some older pieces may have traces of lead present within the paintwork.

3. Once your surface has been sanded down, wipe with a damp cloth to remove dust. Painting is preferable if you would like to achieve a modern or shabby chic look for your chair and before you attempt to paint your chair, you should apply a good quality primer to ensure that your chair can withstand the knocks and bumps which kitchen furniture so often suffers! Allow your primer to dry for around 4 hours.

4. Next, apply your first coat of paint; the best paint for this type of project is an oil based interior paint and this is available in many colours; apply an even coat of paint and leave to dry for around 4 hours. Take extra care when painting chairs with fancy carving or edgings as an uneven finish will spoil the final look of the piece. Apply a second coat when you are certain that the first coat has thoroughly cured.  Do not attempt to use the chairs for at least 12 hours but preferably overnight. When you are sure the chairs are cured, replace seating pads.

This method will also be successful with old dressing tables, sideboards, cupboards, shelving units and even headboards. Refurbishing old furniture is a rewarding and pleasant way to give old and well made pieces a second life.

For more information on restoring old furniture and other useful tips and tricks click here


Words by Ant Langston