5 tips for upcycling second-hand furniture

It is natural for every house owner to want to change the look of their home every couple of years. Whether your home consists of monochromic kitchen thematic or pastel playrooms for your children, it is common for old furniture to need a brand-new look. Instead of wasting your money on additional items, try upcycling different items to produce a fresh look to enhance your home.

  1. Painting Colours and Bases

Know your colour palette before you even think of setting it upon the wood or factory furniture. It is wise to pick two colours to begin with, starting with a dark undercoat before brightening it up after it has dried. The best types of paint to use for this are chalk paints. This means that you can avoid re-staining the wood and, thus, save yourself some time.

  1. Your own Style in relation to your Furniture

What sort of things do you enjoy painting? It is important to plan your design before setting it on paper. This will avoid mistakes and allow you to get a true vision in your head before you begin. If you already have a vision and have drawn it previously, then it is most likely you will get your first sketch done before you even know it.

  1. Take Risks and Accept Mistakes

While you may want to replicate delicate Japanese designs or intense portraits of animals or people on your tables and furniture, it may be wise to start off slow before building up to harder to tasks. Unless you are a professional artist that has grown to understand how to transfer their designs onto furniture, it is recommended that you start with modernistic shapes and patterns. That way if a mistake is made then it is easily fixed. Be sure to forgive yourself for your mistake. Certain types of paint are easy enough to wipe away before you start again.

  1. Children’s Toys and Items

Although it can be dangerous to paint furniture and rooms in a larger than life colour, such as a bright yellow, flamboyant pink or lime green, there is potential for this by upcycling any children’s toys or items. Before painting any children’s’ products be sure that your paint is non-toxic. After consulting their safety, you can get started. For this is a fantastic means of recycling old toys, as well as involving your children in a painting activity. Be sure to get their opinion on what colour you paint their toys, as well as allowing them to pick the toys they would like to paint. This can be a great family activity on a rainy day!

  1. The Finishing Touches

After you have smoothed out your wooden furniture with wax or polishing fluid (that do not spoil the paint or leave an unnatural stain upon the wood), be sure to add the finishing touches with a lint-free cloth. Scrub at your furniture to give it its final gleam before giving it time to settle. This will allow your furniture and wood to become glossy and look almost as if had only recently been bought. If you wish to give it more time to dry without risks of damaging your product, then be sure to leave it overnight to dry out.