When it comes to making your interior décor your own, there are a lot of factors at play. There is the type of furniture available and the inordinate pricing for home decorating necessities, not to mention your own desire to create something truly and exceptionally you. One way to circumvent all these issues is by creating your own unique furniture pieces out of antiques. Upcycling furniture, though rewarding, can be intimidating for first-timers. Fortunately, our tips for upcycling antique furniture are here to help.
Picking the Perfect Piece
Have a Clear Vision
It’s easy to scoop up any old piece of furniture in a fit of creative frenzy when you first start upcycling. However, a wise DIYer doesn’t go into a project without a clear vision. When you do, you end up purchasing pieces that you ultimately can’t use. Before buying a piece, don’t just decide what you want the transformation to look like, but how you want to do it. What will it take to make your vision a reality? Is it really feasible with this piece? If the answer is yes, then go for it!
Check Condition
The beauty of upcycling is that it doesn’t require a piece to be perfectly functional. With just a bit of work, a legless chair can become a shelf, a broken drawer can become a flower planter, and an old trunk can become an entryway bench. Still, if you do choose to use a broken piece, you need to make sure that it is structurally sound. This is especially true for upcycling antique furniture. Keep an eye out for signs of woodworm and other damages that may mar your project later on.
Pretty With Paint
One of the easiest ways to transform an old piece is with paint. You can simply paint the whole thing a single color or get even more creative by painting different parts with different colors, using stencils or designs, or doing a distressed paint job. However you decide to paint the furniture, it’s essential that you sand it first. Sanding a piece and removing old, peeling paint will help the paint adhere to the surface of the piece, making it last longer. It will also ensure a smoother paint job.
Upcycle With Upholstery
Have you ever looked at an old sofa or armchair and sighed because it would make such a good addition to your room if not for the horrific pattern on it? With a little DIY magic, you can make that sofa like new again. Upholstering a sofa requires a little more patience and know-how than painting, mostly because you need sewing skills. However, because it allows you to choose the pattern for your armchair, it enables you to make a piece that perfectly matches the rest of your décor.