New life for old furniture: how to update a sofa? The way they refurbished their old couch surprised everyone! DIY sofa upholstery idea The easiest way to give an old sofa a new look

Over the past ten years, it has become popular to restore old upholstered furniture - Soviet sofa-books, dining chair seats, favorite armchairs. Reasons why people give new life old things, almost sentimental - a relic sofa brought by great-grandfather in the form of a trophy from the war, or an armchair in which grandmother knitted a lot of socks for the family in three generations.

But more often we are surprised to understand that solid Soviet furniture in terms of quality and integrity of the frame is much better than the new one, which is in the low and medium price ranges. Such furniture is often made of raw timber, cheap spring blocks, and is pulled over with cheap and low-quality fabric from above.

A great number of master restorers have appeared - there are even such craftsmen who can transform appearance old sofa, that it will not differ from modern counterparts in design and content. But, in fact, with minimal household skills, desire and patience, the constriction upholstered furniture with your own hands - a simple and even creative activity.

Do-it-yourself furniture restoration and upholstery methods

Furniture restoration allows you to completely transform old interior items

There are two ways to update the appearance of upholstered furniture: washing and replacing. Both options are quite time-consuming and technically cumbersome, but doable! All efforts will pay off when you see and feel the fruits of your labor with a sense of complete satisfaction.

This option is best suited for small pieces of furniture: chair seats, stools and small armchairs. If you like the upholstery fabric on your favorite old sofa, it is well preserved, has a unique woven pattern, and you understand that the modern analogue is not affordable, then the sofa cover can also be washed.


For washing large furniture covers, it is better to use the services of a professional laundry.
  • Saving money - you only spend time with small expenses, including the cost of laundry detergents and furniture fittings(staples, lining).
  • The revival of the authentic look of the piece of furniture.

Minus one, but significant - it is likely that the cover will “sit down” or even spread when washed. Since the upholstery fabric is not designed for washing, it is not treated for shrinkage, as, for example, clothing fabrics.

Complete upholstery replacement

This path is the longest and most difficult, but true. Old and dilapidated upholstery is mercilessly thrown away, and the sofa can please you with a brand new fabric in fresh colors. Complete replacement You can make a furniture cover yourself at home. But be prepared for the appearance of problems hidden under a leaky cover: cracked frame beams, broken springs, a broken fiberboard or a faulty lock mechanism.

If, having opened the cover, you are disappointed to find internal breakdowns, do not despair - just the operation to replace the cover develops into a more complex, capital phase of upholstering upholstered furniture.

Padding

This relatively new concept includes not only upholstery replacement, but also: complete renovation frame, replacement of foam rubber, locks, spring blocks, everything that is required. In fact, reupholstering is a major overhaul of upholstered furniture, as a result of which you will receive a new interior element made to your taste.


Overhaul allows you to save even the most "killed" furniture

Necessary tools and materials

In order for the work on the upholstery of upholstered furniture to proceed comfortably, measuredly and without unnecessary nerves, you need to prepare the necessary tools in advance.

Tools d for disassembly and assembly work

  • Large flat screwdriver and pliers - hook and pull out old staples.
  • A Phillips or flathead screwdriver to fit the slot of the screws that secure the lock to the frame.
  • Set of wrenches for nuts and bolts.

Almost all upholstered furniture frames are bolted, so you can’t do without a set of keys
  • Roulette - do necessary measurements when replacing body parts.
  • Stapler - construction or pneumatic. The second one is preferable, because, without any effort on your part, it drives long, strong staples deep into the wood of the frame, even through several layers of fabric.
  • Staples - from 6 mm to 10 mm, depending on the thickness and density of the selected upholstery fabric.
  • Garbage bags (bigger and denser).

To sew new covers you will need:

  • New upholstery fabric - the choice in stores is breathtaking, choose according to taste and cost. In order not to make a mistake with the footage, sketch out an approximate detail before buying. Consider standard width roll - up to 145 cm (together with the edging of the edges of the canvas) and the location of the patterns relative to the pile and gloss of matter.
  • Lining fabric for padding rear surfaces backs and seats. It is not necessary to do this, but the lining layer will protect the furniture from dust getting inside, and the cost lining material small. Therefore, it is better not to neglect this simple operation.
  • Sharp scissors, best of all special tailor's for cutting.

When cutting new covers, tailor's scissors will be simply irreplaceable
  • Crayons or thin pieces of soap.
  • Threads - no less than No. 10, and better - special reinforced for hard fabrics.
  • Meter line.
  • Pattern paper, if you are going to modify the appearance of the product: change the shape of the front, back and seats.
  • Sewing machine.

Tightening technology

Dismantling old furniture

This is the first and dirtiest stage - you have to unscrew and remove the former, locks and disassemble the frame. Then remove all the old staples with which the upholstery is fastened to the frame.


After removing the upholstery, a rather unsightly picture may open up to your eyes.

Take care of the place of disassembly - you have to stir up the "dust of the ages" that has soaked the sofa or chair. And the staples have a nasty habit of scattering across the floor and digging into the soles of slippers (or feet). If it is not possible to disassemble the sofa on the street, cover the equipment (TVs, computers, etc.) with a film, and take everything you can to another room.

Keep garbage bags handy - you will have to throw away a lot of rubbish, which has turned into the internal stuffing of the sofa (armchairs, chairs, etc.). When you finish disassembling, immediately remove all the resulting garbage from the house. In the internal dust of upholstered furniture, various muck can lurk - from allergens to dust mites.

Repair work and replacement of parts

Having removed old case, you can find a number of serious breakdowns under the harmless scuffs of the upholstery, do not rush to give up and throw away the sofa, calculating in your mind how much it will cost to buy a new one.

All repair problems are solvable, and parts are replaceable - the list of breakdowns and how to fix them is not as extensive and scary as it might seem at first glance.

Cracked frame beams

All old sofas and armchairs are based on frames fastened with locks and glue. This is a strong and durable system, much better than modern installation with self-tapping screws. But when the service life ends, the corners of the frames give slack and crack. Beams need to be changed. Choose a dry tree, without knots, cracks and bark - bast or middle with an even straight structure. Otherwise, the beam, which carries a large load, and does not have strength and integrity, will quickly burst. A damp tree in warm and dry apartment conditions will begin to dry out and warp belatedly. It is better to repeat the lock saw - order a master carpenter or do it yourself. It is better to impregnate the joints of the frame beams with PVA glue before joining.

Broken parts made of fiberboard (pads-lintels of the seat and back frame)

Everything is simpler here - you measure the size and cut out new parts yourself with a jigsaw or make them to order in a furniture workshop. It is better to prepare separate parts of the jumpers (in old sofas there are usually three of them - the middle and two side ones), which are easier to change in case of a break. You can attach them to the frame with nails or a pneumatic stapler.


Broken springs not only impair the ammartization properties of furniture, but can also cause injuries and cuts.

A sore spot is the middle of the seat, where children love to jump and guests sit. Some craftsmen manage to "twist" spring blocks replacing broken springs with new ones. However, there is no guarantee that after some time some other old spring will not burst and for the sake of it you will not have to start all the work again. Therefore, it is more rational to replace the spring blocks completely.

Seat belt replacement


Any dense tape of a suitable width can act as belts.

Usually, the frames of the seats and backs of old chairs are pulled together with interlaced wide belts, on which foam rubber is laid. And the belts are very rarely torn, most often the junction of the belt and the frame is rubbed. Any belts that you consider durable will work as a replacement. The main thing is that they should be tightly woven, preferably from synthetic materials and a width of at least 5 - 7 cm.

Clumped foam

Any kind of foam rubber has such technical specification, as the number of compressions. This is an indicator of how many times the material can withstand compression and be able to restore its original shape and elasticity. Almost always in old furniture foam rubber has long outlived itself in this parameter and turned into dust or into a viscous substance resembling sticky plasticine. Throw it away without regret and lay a new foam rubber.


It is better not to save on foam rubber - this is not only a soft layer, but also protection internal structure from breakdowns

Replacing locks

It is also a common problem - over time, the steel mechanism of the lock becomes loose, a backlash appears in it or the springs fly off, snapping the lock into the “sitting” or “lying” position. Inspect the lock carefully, it may be necessary to change the screw or adapt a new latch spring. If not, then the lock will have to be changed - fortunately, this is not a problem, in furniture fittings stores you will be offered big choice modern castles.

Master class on sewing new cases

The most creative stage of work. You can leave the look of the furniture the same, in which case, you can use old covers as patterns. Before use, they should be thoroughly shaken and vacuumed.

When cutting new parts, carefully monitor the location of the weft and warp threads, as well as the direction of the pile. This is especially true for the patterns of the past and the seat-back, if the width of the fabric does not allow you to make a one-piece cover (meaning the upholstery of the sofa-book).

With your creative and sewing skills, you can transform the look of old furniture into a modern, comfortable, and personal style. The main part of the modifications is achieved by foam rubber overlays - soft rollers on the formers, backrest headrests are added. You can take into account the location of the body in a sitting position and add foam pads on the seat (under the knees) and inserts under the lower back.

When using darts, folds, figured parts, covers will get completely new form and become more modern.

In order to qualitatively and beautifully perform work on modifying the appearance of upholstered furniture, you need basic skills in cutting and tailoring. If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better not to risk doing it yourself, but to involve a specialist in the work.

The nuances of cutting and sewing

  • Leave a seam allowance of 1 - 1.5 cm, depending on the density of the fabric.

When cutting the fabric, be sure to leave 1-1.5 centimeters for the seams
  • It is desirable to process the edges of the sewn parts with an overlock or zigzag.
  • Coarse pile upholstery should be hand tufted before machine stitching to avoid shifting of parts.
  • If leatherette, artificial or natural leather is chosen for upholstery, then use a special roller as a presser foot of a sewing machine when making facial finishing seams. In extreme cases, you can smear the surface of the fabric under the foot with a thin layer of machine oil.
  • In the case of sewing decorative overlays into the cover, baste the folds manually.

As often as possible in the process of sewing, do fittings - foam rubber, softening a rigid spring frame, pliable material, the shape of which is set precisely by the cover.

Fixing new covers on the details of upholstered furniture

Repair work has been done, the covers have been sewn, it's time to proceed to the crucial stage of stretching the new upholstery. You need to be clearly aware that the final result and the appearance of your chair or sofa depend on the quality of this stage. You will need patience and accuracy in your work.

At the stage of the last fitting, it will still be possible to correct mistakes - to sew in or loosen the corners a little, to alter the tucks. Do not be alarmed if the case is very tight on the frame - in the process of attaching it, you will still “shoot” it even tighter. Worse, if the cover is put on freely, because. attaching it with staples, there is a high probability of getting ugly folds and creases.

The sequence of work on fastening new upholstery covers:

  • First of all, put the covers on the parts and, while they are in a free position, straighten them as much as possible. The seams should be even and parallel to the edges of the parts, match the corners of the covers with the corners of the frames.
  • Then begin to fasten the cover with staples - holding the stapler in right hand, with the left constantly, with stroking movements, stretch the fabric from the middle of the part to the edge. Watch out for a smooth and evenly rounded bevel - this is especially true for the edges of the backs and seats of armchairs and sofas. It is better to start “shooting” with staples from the middle, so possible excess tissue will move to the edges, where they can be sutured by hand.

stapler - best tool for fastening furniture covers
  • When upholstering the former, carefully cut out the holes for the bolts with scissors and shoot the edges of the cutouts with staples. If necessary, use a hammer to drive the staples into the wood more tightly.
  • After stretching the upholstery, you need to close the wrong sides with sheets of lining fabric. Do not waste time carefully cutting and cutting out the lining with scissors. Having outlined the approximate length, taking into account the inversion of the edges of 3–4 cm on each side, make a notch with scissors and tear the fabric, the synthetic lining is torn exactly along the thread, which you will not get when cutting with scissors. Shoot the wrong side with the lining from the corners, pulling the fabric tightly.

Some of us are terrified of change, others cannot live without it. But whatever one may say, everyone needs small changes from time to time. For example, repair.
Or something less dramatic, like reupholstering your favorite sofa: the appearance of the “king of the living room” has a great effect on the interior of the entire room. Do you think you can’t do without significant costs or even buying new furniture? But no! It turns out there is an easy way to update old sofa almost "thank you". And you don't need any special skills.


If you want to update the living room, but there is neither time nor money for repairs, you can limit yourself to a small (yes, remote) sofa. It turns out that you can change its upholstery at least every month, depending on the mood or the phase of the moon. The main thing is to do it correctly and safely. This is where a simple but effective life hack will help.

To update an old sofa you will need:

1. A large piece of fabric or a ready-made sofa cover;
2. Scissors;
3. Construction stapler

The author of the life hack used furniture cover, but a piece of fabric of the appropriate size will also work.


Cover the sofa completely, and carefully cut off the rest of the fabric, which will be on the floor, around the perimeter. Try to do it evenly - you will still need it.


Move the cover back, "exposing" the seat. As shown in the photo.




Just tuck the fabric inward a little, as shown in the photo. True, it turned out something similar to the upholstery?


Now arm yourself with a construction stapler and literally nail the fabric to wooden frame sofa. Try to make "seams" in inconspicuous places, all the while pushing the fabric a little deeper into the joint. If you make a mistake, no problem! Just remove the paperclip and start over.




Use a separate piece of fabric for sitting.


Remember that piece of fabric from the first step? It will help you hide all the sloppy work. Just make a stylish drapery "skirt" out of it.




The sofa is unrecognizable! And when you get tired of the upholstery or want to change the style of the room, you can easily make a new one.


Many of us have old furniture in apartments, houses and summer cottages. Sofas are especially common. And if they can no longer please with a presentable look, the question naturally arises: how to update an old sofa?

Yes, yes, you should not scatter old things, often very beautiful interior elements are obtained from them. It makes sense to update if the base of the furniture is strong, it does not sag, creak or fall apart. In this case, it is possible and necessary to update the sofa - we only need to conjure over its appearance.

How to update an old sofa: starting with wooden elements

The old models of this furniture usually have wooden legs, sometimes armrests - this is if we are talking about the inheritance that was inherited from grandmothers. Such elements need to be painted or varnished - specific choice depends on the chosen theme and the combination of colors that you want to see. If you are thinking about how to update a sofa at home, then you probably already have a picture of the final result in your head.

Before painting, the surface must be prepared by sanding it first. For this purpose, purchase sandpaper from the store. With larger particles, it is suitable for removing the top layer of old varnish, with small particles, for grinding the surface. When everything old is removed, thoroughly clean the material with a barely damp cloth, remove all dust from it and let it dry. The paint is applied in two or three layers, varnish too. But be careful: we do not recommend repainting a dark base with light colors. Often even good paints cannot cover the old dark tone, so strange shades remain in places. To update the wooden parts of the sofa, choose light colors for light colors and dark colors for dark ones.

Next step: reupholstering the sofa

Full upholstery of an old sofa is a complex and time-consuming process that requires some preparation. It is necessary to disassemble the products into parts: back, seats, sidewalls. Then each part must be tightly covered with the selected material (just ask the store to show you upholstery fabrics) and fix it all. Used for fastening construction stapler- Staples are hammered into solid sections of the frame. If they are not there, you will have to sew a full-fledged cover, which is put on the element and completely stitched.

If you are thinking about how to update the sofa with your own hands as simply as possible, this solution cannot be called such. The main problem is to evenly stretch the fabric and secure it correctly. When deciding on such a feat for the first time, do not take material with drawings or large patterns- any distortion in this case will be clearly visible. Choose solid colors, not too shiny materials.

You can update the upholstery of the sofa in a different way

How to update the sofa upholstery at home and at the same time make a minimum of actions? You can replace a full-fledged constriction with a selection of a beautiful cover. In specialized stores, special covers are sold that allow you to close the entire old sofa along with the legs to the floor. Depending on the style, you can choose a product for any interior: classic, eclectic, country, etc. So, for country, choose light shades, candy. Flowers as a pattern will look great. For classic interior a richer, more luxurious fabric is needed - with the inclusion of gold and silver threads, a heavy material like that used for curtains.

If someone sews at home, you can make covers yourself - but do not forget to sew on ties that will secure the structure in inconspicuous places. With the help of such a product, it is very easy to update an old sofa. Be careful if there are pets at home - choose elastic fabrics that the claws do not cling to. many heavy and dense fabrics suffer greatly from the desire of seals to sharpen their claws or from too active dogs, rodents.

Pillows are another way to give new life to furniture.

When wooden elements put in order, and the cover is bought or sewn, take care of the accessories. Now the use of pillows has firmly become fashionable. Before you reupholster your sofa, consider which cushion options will work with your chosen fabric. It is not worth choosing a monochromatic material for both furniture and accessories. The color of the pillows can vary greatly - but the texture and density of the fabrics should be close. If you put an element with a very thin fabric on a dense upholstery, the latter will look cheap. And you can also use not only pillows - imitations of natural skins look gorgeous. Such artificial details do not need to be chosen according to the size of the sofa. Just take a canvas that is two times smaller than the sofa itself, and throw it casually over the edge of the furniture. If it touches the floor, it will create interesting effect unobtrusive comfort.

You can update an old sofa quite quickly - and everything is easy to do with your own hands. Perhaps our tips will help you save money and give new life to furniture.

Marina Chief designer HEGGI

There are several decorating options that will update your sofa without a complex restoration. You can purchase ready-made covers, picking them up under existing size and design. Ready-made covers are offered by some factories in a large assortment. And you can sew the cover yourself, it's easier than constriction. The easiest option is to cover the old sofa with a blanket or blanket and decorate problem areas with pillows. The choice of these accessories in stores is very wide!

Sofa restoration: how to update an old sofa yourself

If upholstered furniture has ceased to suit you, because it is dilapidated or outdated in appearance, it is not necessary to buy new thing, can be done do-it-yourself sofa restoration .

We note right away that in order to update the sofa, you need to have at least some skills in working with tools and a sewing machine. In this case, even if you use other technologies, the result can be quite good. But if you don’t even have basic skills, then you shouldn’t mess with updating the sofa yourself, especially if the model is complex or expensive.

To restore the sofa, you will need tools that you need to stock up in advance:

    Kit screwdriver (flat and cross), which remove the old fasteners;

    Hexagonal keys if the structure has bolted connections;

    Side cutters, wire cutters, jigsaw;

    Building stapler and paper clips to secure new upholstery or a shoe hammer and furniture nails;

    Sewing machine , tailor's scissors, chalk or marker, threads to match the fabric, needles.

Stages of the waist

The upholstery of an old sofa must go through 5 stages in sequence:

1. Sofa disassembly on the individual elements: pillows, backrest, sidewalls, etc.
2. Removal old upholstery
3. Cutting new upholstery
4. Fitting
5. Assembly sofa.

If a " achievement list» furniture for more than 7 years, you will have to update not only the upholstery, but also the springs, backrest or sidewall elements.

Let's consider each stage separately.

Stage 1. Disassembly

To properly disassemble an old sofa, use instruction or photo of this model which you can find on the Internet. Usually, the backrest is removed first, then the sides and the seat.

If the back was made of chipboard, then we are looking for places where the material has crumbled, and remove those pieces . With a pencil and a ruler, we mark out a patch from a new piece of chipboard, thinner than the main one. The area of ​​the patch should be slightly larger than the old size. Jigsaw cut out two identical patches . We put the back on the screws, and on each side of the back we put patches on the same screws. Then we tighten this "pie" with nuts. At the same time tighten all other screws and screws weakened during the operation of the sofa.

Stage 2. Removing the old upholstery

Using a side cutter, an anti-stapler and a screwdriver, separate old upholstery . Your goal is to keep as much as possible old material. If this can be done, you will get excellent patterns for new patterns.

At the same time, consider springs or other frame fillers . If the filler is worn out, it is better to replace the entire or worn part.

Stage 3. Pattern

We make new patterns by overlaying the old pattern on the fabric. upholstery material. Pay attention to how much seam allowance was given, and sew the elements taking into account this distance. It is best to draw a line of the future seam along the old marks with chalk, bast, and then sew where necessary.

You need to cut out taking into account the pattern and direction of the pile. If the pattern of the new fabric is small, no adjustment is required, large drawing may need to be combined decorative elements, so the fabric consumption will be more.

Choose a fabric based on the design of the room and the type of filler. If the “filling” of the sofa is foam rubber, then for the upholstery you should choose a fabric with an average thread tension. If there is cotton wool inside, fluff, then the fabric should be well stretched. For the spring seat, you can choose dense fabrics.

The most popular fabrics for upholstery of upholstered furniture are tapestry, jacquard and velor. They look great, are practical to care for and are easy to process. Find out about the density of fabrics when buying or on the Internet. Avoid rough fabrics even if you liked them by design. It's hard to work with them.

The combination of companion fabrics will decorate your sofa , but it will require more skill, and it is better for beginners not to mess with leatherette, it is so different in quality characteristics that only an experienced person can find a “common language” with him.

Stage 4. Tightening

Here you will need mechanical stapler . We tuck the fabric on one side and fix it with staples to the wooden frame. If there is an edge, then you do not need to tuck. Staples should be placed with a frequency of 3 cm, the direction of the staples is perpendicular or parallel to the edge. Having fixed the fabric on one side, go to the opposite edge. You can first bait the upholstery with 3-4 staples to make sure that it lies flat without moving, and then go through the staples around the entire perimeter.

Before finalizing the cutting sides, turn the corners in . If the corners cannot be stapled, sew them carefully blind seam manually. It is very important to stretch the fabric evenly so that there are no wrinkles on the surface in the future. Similarly, you need to update all other parts of the sofa.

Stage 5. Assembly.

Assembly is done in order reverse process disassembly. Be careful not to confuse the left and right parts. If this is important, then when disassembling them, it is better to mark them. Take a photo

Perhaps your house has decayed furniture that has already lost its attractiveness. However, made from quality wood, by modern standards is considered an attribute of luxury and good prosperity. In this case, it may not be possible to replace old furniture with modern analogues. the best solution. There is various methods available to everyone, how to update it.

  1. Hardware replacement

Choosing new handles for old furniture from the range

This easy way renovate old furniture does not require further explanation. Just pick up more suitable handles for your chest of drawers or bedside tables - and their appearance will change dramatically.

Rack with a variety of furniture fittings

  1. Decorating with moldings or stucco

We use moldings to decorate furniture

On the this moment exist special catalogs, where a wide range of products of this type, which can be simply fixed to the surface of the furniture you are restoring.

Types of decor for restored furniture

  1. Updating surfaces, changing colors and textures

Unusual chest of drawers update with repainting and replacement of fittings

Most effective solution, which will help give old furniture a modern touch, making it work in a new way for interior design. It is carried out in different ways: with the help of varnish, paint, self-adhesive film and so on.

Updating the old furniture wall- before and after

The above methods of updating old furniture can be used together - then they will allow you to get the most interesting and attractive result.

New life for an old sideboard with film

Painted light wall in the living room before and after the transformation

Restoration of antique wooden furniture

Lacquering can give shabby time wooden products new youth. It will not only improve their appearance, but also protect in the future from mechanical damage, temperature changes, the harmful effects of moisture. The result depends on the selection of varnish, a comparison of the main varieties of which is given below.

Having made a choice in favor of one or another option, you should dry and clean the restored furniture, sand it and apply varnish in two or three layers. After the composition dries, the old walls and doors will surprise you with a new fresh appearance and beauty.

Improving the structure of wood furniture using a marker, alcohol and wax

With the help of varnishes, you can not only update the furniture, but also change its color. To do this, you just need to add to the composition of the coating coloring pigment- and the final shade of the apartment will change.

Refurbished lacquered desk wooden

Update with self-adhesive film

Beautiful self-adhesive film for decorating children's furniture

You can simply update the furniture with your own hands with this now widespread decorative and protective material. You just need to accurately measure the length, remove from the film protective layer, stick it on the surface to be treated and smooth out irregularities with a dry cloth. And a completely new design of your interior items is ready.

Self-adhesive films for furniture with unusual patterns

This film is found in various color variations- there are specimens that imitate wood, plain, with drawings and patterns. However, imitation of natural wood flooring in this case is a mediocre solution - it usually does not look realistic enough. But plain and ornamented versions of self-adhesive films are now at the peak of popularity.

The kitchen set, pasted over with a self-adhesive film with an elegant pattern, immediately acquires an exquisite and unusual look.

Sometimes wallpaper is used for the same purpose. In combination with stucco and moldings, they give a spectacular result.

Classic and original coloring

Turning an old shelf into an interesting piece of furniture by painting and decorating the back walls

Undoubtedly old chest of drawers, wardrobe or stool will noticeably change after staining. The main types of paints used for these purposes are latex, acrylic and oil. All of the above options are bright and juicy color, which is the result.

Old chest of drawers made of wood before and after changes - painting, adding new fittings and moldings

AT classic version these paints require serious preparation of the painted surface. However, if you mix any of these compounds with warm water; chalk, plaster or building plaster, you get the so-called chalk paint. She does not require preliminary stripping and primers - you only need to remove fat from the object being processed.

Painting furniture with chalk paint to give products an unusual look

Restoration of an old chair with staining

Speaking of original ways staining, milk paint should be mentioned, which gives the furniture a vintage look. And, of course, the use of a variety of stencils that allow you to get on restored products interesting drawing. For simple geometric ornaments, it is not even necessary to cut out a special stencil - you can use masking tape. It sticks to fragments that are not supposed to be painted, and then easily peels off without leaving any traces.

original chair in vintage style after painting and decorating

Alteration in decoupage technique

We update the old chest of drawers using decoupage technique for a new interior

This is another good way to effectively update your furniture. Decoupage is the decoration of objects with the help of images and ornaments from napkins, wallpapers, fabrics. The image of your choice is fixed in the right place with the help of varnish. The description of the technique sounds simple, but it has certain nuances.

How to create a new piece of decor from an old stool?

To make it clearer how to apply the above techniques in practice, consider their use on the example of an old stool.

  • Coloring in two colors

Updating old chairs with staining

A simple and fashionable transformation method is to paint the lower part of the legs of a chair or stool in a contrasting light color. This creates a visual effect of ease of construction. Looks very conceptual. The upper unpainted part in this case is usually covered with a glossy varnish.

  • colorful stripes

Do-it-yourself striped openwork stool

Another one new trend, obtained with the help of bright colors and masking tape. Such stripes are applied both to the legs of the stool and to its seat. Just remember that the shades you choose must be supported by other elements of the room's design, otherwise the result of your creative work will not be in harmony with it.

  • Drawing a picture on the seat

Decorating kitchen stools using decoupage technique

Here, the decoupage technique described above is just very well suited. Although a stencil can also work in combination with a contrasting coloring composition.

How to make furniture in vintage style?

The list of things you can do with your old wall, chest of drawers or grandfather's table is only limited by your creativity. However, one of interesting options is to create the effect of a stylish and expensive antiquity. This is another possible answer to the question - how to update furniture. There are various approaches to this direction.

  • artificial patina

Antique wood furniture with patina

On the example of an old cabinet, this method looks like this: you need to enroll its walls sandpaper, apply acrylic paint muted shades of pink or blue. After drying, it is necessary to treat the plane with a hard sponge so that the walls look unevenly painted. The final step is to re-sand the walls with sandpaper so that the tree becomes visible. Combined with the right handles, your closet will take on a truly interesting look.

  • Glaze

Artificial aging of furniture to create certain style in the interior

This technique artificial aging material borrowed from painting. It consists in creating two levels - a translucent top and a bright bottom, translucent from under the top. This is achieved by applying a special varnish.

  • Spray

Spray technique for furniture decoration

Applying randomly scattered droplets to your piece of furniture allows you to get interesting object decor, suggesting a long history of its use.

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