For several years now, the trend has been toward Scandinavian decor: clean lines, light colors, graphic patterns, and simple designs. No more moldings, gilding, and other flourishes; no more bulky furniture and overloaded interiors. The keywords are sobriety and style. However, this is not a reason to throw away your old furniture or to refuse your grandmother's old furniture... You just have to give it a makeover! Indeed, nothing is lost, everything is transformed.
With a little imagination, a little creativity, and a lot of will, it is possible to transform any old piece of furniture, whether it is a chest of drawers, a table, or a wardrobe, into trendy furniture. If you have recovered some old furniture from your grandmother that does not match your decor; if you have found old furniture in the street or in a recycling center and you want to give it a second life; or simply if you are fed up with your chest of drawers, your table or your cupboard which are no longer up to date; here are ten tips for revamping old furniture with style!
Tip #1 for revamping old furniture: choosing the right piece of furniture
All furniture (or almost all, depending on its condition) can be revamped. But, before getting started, you need to know what you are doing. A beginner will prefer to start with an old bedside table or an old chair, in short, small furniture, before tackling a huge wardrobe or the renovation of an old kitchen. Then, you have to prepare: write down your ideas, draw your project before carrying it out, provide the necessary materials, and think about the different stages of the makeover. This will help avoid errors and failures.
Tip #2 for revamping old furniture: prepare the furniture
Before painting wooden furniture, it must be prepared. Start by removing the handles, detaching the doors, or taking out the drawers. If it is varnished, you must start by stripping it. If it is painted or if it is raw wood, it must be sanded. Don't forget to clean it well to remove any wood or paint residue that could leave marks. And before repainting the furniture, don't forget to apply an undercoat to protect the wood.
Tip #3 for revamping old furniture: repainting the furniture
To revamp an old piece of furniture, the simplest and most effective way is often to simply repaint it. To do this, choose the right paint, that is to say, paint suitable for wood. Two coats are necessary for an optimal finish. It is also possible to add a glossy varnish or a matte effect varnish.
Tip #4 for revamping old furniture: opt for color
For a modern effect on old furniture, you can opt for pep colors, yellow, green, or electric blue... Gray or black will also give vintage furniture a more modern, almost industrial appearance. For a more refined look, white will immediately make your furniture more trendy. In short, everything is possible to match the revamped furniture to the decoration of your interior. Up to you!
Tip #5 for revamping old furniture: draw graphic patterns
If you want to take inspiration from the Scandinavian trend, you can repaint your old furniture with graphic patterns. Triangles or lines of different colors. This will immediately bring a modern look to your cabinet, chest of drawers, or sideboard. Don’t hesitate to play with patterns and colors. To avoid drips or smudges, consider using paint tape to outline the patterns.
Tip #6 for revamping old furniture: leave the wood raw
You can completely repaint your furniture to restyle, or you can have fun leaving parts of raw wood, for a modern effect. For a table, for example, only paint the legs and not the top (or vice versa). For a chair, leave the legs in natural wood. For a chest of drawers, just repaint the support but not the drawers. This will modernize them while keeping their vintage charm.
Tip #7 for revamping old furniture: think about wallpaper
It's not just paint to revamp old furniture, there's also wallpaper. Far from being out of date, it will give a facelift to the furniture. Even more so if it is used in small steps. Please note: if you decide to hang wallpaper on wooden furniture, remember to choose the appropriate glue.
Tip #8 for revamping old furniture: change the hardware
To modernize a dresser, cabinet, or bookcase, sometimes all you need to do is change the hardware. Opting for sober, designer, or graphic handles allows you to completely transform the appearance of the piece of furniture. Add trendy paint, and you will no longer recognize your furniture before/after.
Tip #9 for revamping old furniture: add designer legs
To break the mastic effect sometimes associated with old furniture, it is sometimes necessary to add height. Little tip: add wooden feet or hell to raise them, and that’s it.
Tip #10 for revamping old furniture: divert the function of the furniture
A vintage chest of drawers that becomes bathroom furniture; a dresser that leaves the kitchen to decorate the living room; a bar chair that becomes an office chair… anything is possible. Thanks to the makeover you can divert the function of the furniture, to give your home a look that is both trendy and offbeat!
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