Today, many people have old furniture in their homes. It seems like a shame to throw it away, but it also spoils the look. In reality, a simple restoration needs to be done. How to do it? Let's find out in this article.
Work process
Let's say we have a closet like this. After the update it will be in the hallway. You could say, welcoming guests. First you need to remove everything you can. This is primarily the door. The mezzanine should be below. It will be convenient to store shoes here. Bars are placed under it along the edges, which are screwed with self-tapping screws.
The top of the cabinet must be divided using a partition. Usually any board of appropriate dimensions will do.
A crossbar should be placed on one side. It is perfect for coats and other clothes. On the other side you need to put 2-3 shelves. Again, boards will do.
In this photo you can see the switch. But it is possible to simply cut a small hole for it.
The bottom of the furniture became the top. Umbrellas and hats can be stored here. As a rule, old furniture is not very attractive. But this is easy to change. It is enough just to repaint it in White color. It is almost universal. Such a miniature mezzanine will fit perfectly into the distance that exists between the main cabinet and the wall. Self-tapping screws and corners are used for fastening.
First you need to sand the entire surface. Everything is covered with putty before painting. Cover everything thoroughly with paint. Afterwards, treat the surface with varnish for durability.
The doors are painted the same color. You can use patterns from an old cabinet. Just be sure to treat them with gold paint.
Due to the fact that the door from another cabinet was small, I had to use a special insert. There are many decorative solutions. But you can additionally screw on the handles you like.
The shelves can be covered with film, and the rest can be processed acrylic enamel, which is odorless. On the left side you can make a special decorative cutout. Look how cool it looks.
As you can see, carrying out such a restoration is quite simple. This does not require a lot of money and time. Almost anyone can do this. This way you can treat almost any furniture. Naturally, you can make some of your own adjustments. Just use your imagination.
To restore an old cabinet, it is not at all necessary to contact specialists. You can update your furniture yourself at home. Before you restore old wardrobe, it must be thoroughly wiped. There should be no dirt on the surface of the furniture. Then you need to get rid of the top coating. Next stage– sealing cracks and chips. Only after this do they move on to decorating. The restoration is completed by applying a protective composition.
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What can you do with an old wardrobe?
An old cabinet can be repainted or decorated using fabric, decoupage or special plaster. First, you need to remove the fittings from it. Experts also recommend removing drawers. The frame of the furniture is not disassembled. If desired, only the doors can be removed.
After preparatory stage you need to move on to working with the surface of the furniture. Do-it-yourself restoration of an old cabinet is carried out taking into account the material from which it is made and the type of top covering.
To work with wood you will need an eccentric sander. With its help it is sanded upper layer. If you don’t have a sander, you can get rid of the coating using a remover. After applying this composition, the surface is covered with a film. This will enhance the effect of the wash. The peeled coating is removed from the tree using a spatula.
To seal defects in the form of chips and cracks, putty, furniture sealant or wax are used. A sanded solid wood cabinet is impregnated with oil or coated protective compounds for wood.
Soviet furniture made from chipboard is updated in a similar way. the main problem during its reconstruction - a thick layer paint coating. It is recommended to get rid of it by sanding. There is also a technology for painting polished furniture over a paint layer.
The easiest way to remodel an old polished cabinet is to paint without sanding. For this you will need:
- Otex adhesive primer on alkyd based(or another similar composition for problematic and previously painted bases);
- alkyd paint;
- White Spirit;
- brushes or foam roller;
- covering film;
- rag.
Work order:
- Cover the area around the furniture with covering film.
- Wipe down the cabinet, remove handles and remove drawers.
- Degrease the surface with white spirit.
- Apply primer evenly. Let the product dry. Apply a second coat of primer to the furniture.
- Apply paint. For uniform coverage, painting is done in 2 layers, allowing each layer to dry completely.
- Varnish the furniture.
Alkyd-based products have a sharp bad smell. Therefore, during restoration work the room should be well ventilated.
New fittings
An important stage of reconstruction old furniture- replacement of accessories. First of all, you should pay attention to the condition of the hinges. They need to be replaced if they are rusty or damaged. The location of the hinges is changed if pieces of material are torn out at the places where they are attached. The resulting holes are sealed using putty or sawdust mixed with PVA glue.
It is also necessary to check the condition of the guides in the cabinets. If necessary, they can be changed to more quality options accessories. The extension system can be roller or ball. The second type of guides is considered more reliable. They ensure silent drawer opening.
The last stage is replacing the handles. They should be chosen taking into account the design of the furniture. Handles can be completely metal or combined - with ceramic or glass elements. For antique furniture, bronze fittings are suitable.
Updating chipboard cabinets
Acrylic paints are also used to restore chipboard cabinets. Surface preparation in this case will be carried out a little differently. Sanding is the first stage of repair (they make a rough surface from chipboard with their own hands so that acrylic paint adheres better). For reconstruction you will need:
- coarse sandpaper;
- acrylic paints;
- brushes or roller;
- covering film;
- respirator;
- rag.
Work progress:
- Cover the floor around the cabinet with film.
- Sand the surface of the furniture with sandpaper. Work must be carried out wearing a respirator. The resulting dust is swept away with a rag.
- Apply several layers of paint.
- Varnish the furniture.
For restoration you can use acrylic paint in cans. In this case, it is better to carry out work outdoors so as not to stain foreign objects.
Decor
Furniture is painted in one or more colors. Another decor option is patterns. They are applied using a stencil or masking tape. An interesting effect is created using lace. It is fixed on the surface of the furniture and then covered with spray paint.
Many are used to decorate old furniture. different materials. You can decorate the closet using self-adhesive film, decoupage cards, fabric, and decorative plaster. Wallpaper is also used to update furniture.
Pasting with film takes the least time. Another advantage of this method of decoration is a large assortment designs. The film can imitate the texture of wood or be produced in the form of panels. Experts recommend buying material from protective layer, because it will last longer. The film is not only glued to the cabinet body - it is often used to decorate inner space and boxes.
Master class on cabinet restoration using self-adhesive film:
- Remove all dirt and loose elements.
- Degrease the cabinet surface with white spirit.
- Cut the film with a margin of 2 cm.
- Carefully glue the sheets to the surface of the furniture, moving from top to bottom. The backing paper should be pulled slowly with tension to avoid wrinkles.
- The bubbles resulting from the gluing process must be pierced with a needle and then straightened out.
Sooner or later, each of us will be faced with the question of how to restore an old cabinet. This will be especially true for Soviet-style furniture, which is made from real strong wood, not its sawdust. Therefore, you should not rush to throw away such antique items or give them to someone else.
All large chips, dents and cracks on the surface must be filled.
Or a wardrobe is not at all difficult if you do everything slowly and competently.
There are many restoration options today, let’s consider general rules repair and two options decorative design restored wardrobe.
Basic set of tools
Old paint and varnish are removed from the surface of the cabinet using sandpaper.
So, now let’s look at the process of restoring a cabinet with your own hands. Restoration of cabinets is done in two stages. The first stage is general, which is the same for all types of restoration - repair. It will include preparatory and renovation work furniture. And the second stage will differ depending on the type of cabinet decoration. For the first stage of restoration you will need the following materials and tools:
- sandpaper;
- hammer and nails;
- wood primer;
- several brushes;
- screwdriver and set of screws;
- wood putty;
- putty knife;
- wood glue;
- set of self-tapping screws;
- dowels;
- metal corners and loops;
- masking tape;
- pencil for marking.
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Repair and preparation work
Parts that should not be painted are covered masking tape.
Now let's get to work. First, the cabinet repair is done. Empty the closet of all things and place it in the middle of the room so that you have access from all sides. Then we check the cabinet for strength. If some connections or fasteners have become unusable, they need to be replaced. If possible, screws should be screwed in in other places, and old holes should be sealed with putty. It is additionally better to immediately secure new nails with dowels and wood glue. And replace unusable metal corners and hinges with new ones.
After this, handles and other decorative elements are removed from the cabinet. Now it's time to eliminate surface defects. But before that, you need to wipe the cabinet on all sides with a damp cloth, and after that, after letting it dry, begin dismantling the old coating. To do this use sandpaper varying degrees of grain. After you remove the old coating, wipe off the dust from the cabinet and treat its surface well with a primer. Once the primer has soaked in, begin cleaning out cracks and potholes.
Cover large recesses layer by layer with putty, and small scratches are well masked with a special furniture wax. In this case, colorless wax will be optimal. If you suddenly notice places on the tree that have been eaten away by a beetle, then before applying putty, treat this area with a special antiseptic composition. Now wait until the putty and wax dry, and then sand the entire surface evenly. After sanding, prime the cabinet again and let it dry. The restoration of the cabinet has been completed. And only then can you move on to the most enjoyable stage - decorating.
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Decorating a cabinet using decoupage method
The first type of cabinet decoration that will be considered is decoupage. This is original and beautiful way finishing after renovation that will look great in the bedroom or living room. To work, you must prepare:
- clear varnish;
- several brushes;
- PVA glue;
- acrylic paint of the main color;
- a bowl of warm water;
- transparent cellophane;
- a small soft sponge;
- napkins for decoupage with your favorite design.
After purchasing the materials, the cabinet is directly restored. First, use masking tape to protect nearby cabinet elements that will not be updated, if any. After this, shake the paint and apply carefully onto the pre-primed surface. Try to apply thin layers of paint in one direction. Now wait until the paint is completely dry.
Figure 1. It is better to apply varnish on a decoupage napkin in two layers.
After this, prepare the pictures by cutting them out of napkins. Attach the pictures to the surfaces to be decorated and trace their outlines with a pencil, so that later you don’t forget where and how they should be located. When this is done, pour into a small bowl warm water and dip the pictures there so that they are soaked. They need to be kept in water for 30 to 60 seconds, depending on the thickness of the paper.
For thin napkins, 30 seconds is usually enough. Now remove the napkins from the water and place them on a transparent plastic bag. In the meantime, apply PVA glue to the gluing area. So, glue each picture in the right place one by one, leveling it with light touches of a sponge or fingers to remove any bubbles that have formed. When all the pictures are pasted, let them set and dry. After this, shake the colorless varnish and apply in even, even layers to the surface of the entire painted cabinet, focusing Special attention places where decoupage was made. After one layer has dried, you can apply another one. thin layer varnish, after drying you can put the furniture in place and safely use it - the restoration of the cabinet is completed. The decoupage looks quite clear and beautiful (Figure 1).
Design interior decoration thought out, but the old cabinet does not fit into the concept? Update your furniture using modern materials. In this article we will look at popular options for restoring an old cabinet; you will learn how to remake it in an interesting way.
Hobby and craft store shelves offer a variety of materials for restoring old furniture, and photos for inspiration can be found on the Internet. This is stained glass film, decorative wallpaper, multi-colored enamels. When choosing the design of a new cabinet, be guided by the color scheme of the room. Professionally selected wall decorations, accessories and furniture complement each other. Before starting work, it is worth drawing up a project that will help you choose execution techniques and materials. Remodeling an old closet is sure to inspire you to new beginnings.
The most popular method is painting. Modern furniture will help you restore your closet, giving it a new, unique look. paints and varnishes. They are able to radically transform furniture, adding elaborate originality to the interior.
Selecting paint and materials
Innovations in the chemical industry offer many odorless paint options. They are ideal for indoor work without causing discomfort.
There are several types of paint for cabinet restoration:
- Acrylic - made on the basis of water, one of the safest for humans, has a rich color palette.
- Latex – resistant to sunlight, tends to dry quickly.
- Water-dispersed - produced on the basis of water, has only a white color. By adding coloring pigments you can create a unique color.
ATTENTION! A surface painted with water-dispersion paint will have a muted, pastel shade. To achieve bright color scheme, you should pay attention to latex or acrylic paints.
To create a rich color, apply two or three layers. Before the next application, the previous layer must be dried.
To apply paint evenly, use a spray gun. The surface of the cabinet will acquire interesting view, if you use regular brushes. Aerosol paint, does not require additional accessories. It lays down in an even layer and creates an evenly painted smooth surface.
ADVICE! To new wardrobe reflected the glare of sunlight from a shiny surface, cover it with varnish. This will keep the furniture from fading and protect it from scratches.
Technology and painting options
Execution technology:
There are many painting options. This could be a gradient transition, dot painting, stylization for a certain era, or you can take ready stencil, apply it to the façade and paint individual elements.
Updating an outdated closet with decorative wallpaper will not take much time and will not require large financial expenses. Construction stores offer wide choose color palette and many texture options. Choose wallpaper that matches the interior of the room and begin restoration, following a few rules:
- Before purchasing, measure the area of the furniture to purchase required amount material.
- Cut the wallpaper into the required pieces, apply a layer of glue to the cabinet, and smooth it well.
ADVICE! To make the updated closet happy for a long time, choose wallpaper that is easy to clean.
An exclusive design project will become a harmonious addition to the interior, and will make you proud of your own creation.
One of the options for transforming old furniture is the use of modern large-format printing. Using the Internet, you can choose any illustration you like and order it printed at a printing house. There can be just one photograph, or you can create a whole collage of perfectly selected illustrations or thematic photographs.
ATTENTION! When choosing a photo, pay attention to its quality. A printed illustration at low resolution will have blurry outlines.
Photo restoration technology:
- Clean the surface from old paint Using sanding, prime the surface.
- Apply wallpaper glue to the cabinet, glue the fabric and smooth it well.
- Cover with a layer clear varnish to add shine and protect against mechanical damage and pollution. This picture will last forever.
A new way to update furniture is to use fabric. It will give a feeling of comfort and soften the outline. The material will help create perfect harmony between interior items in the house. The result will be ideal if you follow the restoration technology:
- Prepare necessary tools: glue, furniture stapler, padding polyester or thin foam rubber, upholstery material.
- Glue the padding polyester to the surface of the cabinet.
- Distribute the fabric evenly and attach it with furniture stapler. Make sure the fabric is evenly tensioned to avoid distortions.
This method is universal. You can change the fabric without additional training furniture surfaces.
Mirrors expand the space by reflecting sunlight. Renovating the facade with their help will be great solution. When getting started, remember:
ATTENTION! A mirror is a heavy object. Only glue or liquid nails will not hold it, so you should carefully consider the fastening system, for example, by creating an additional frame to evenly distribute the load.
The method is suitable for decorating polished furniture. He doesn't require additional processing surfaces. Even a novice restorer can do the following:
- Using a marker, draw a dotted outline of the image. You can come up with a layout yourself, or take any plot you like as a basis.
- Do the work with acrylic paint and a thin brush.
Dot painting is suitable for creating story-based illustrations and will look great in the interior of a children’s room.
Restoring an old cabinet with your own hands - non-standard ideas
Recently, simple, but at the same time, popular non-standard methods Scenery.
Stained glass film – a good option for restoration. Its application is not difficult:
Original vinyl stickers will dilute a boring interior. Working with them is very simple: just degrease the surface and glue a new picture.
If you can’t find a suitable sticker, make it yourself. For this you will need film and stained glass paints. Use a black outline to mark the boundaries of the drawing and paint with multi-colored paints. Wait until completely dry and stick to the cabinet. The stained glass pattern will be translucent.
Decorative plaster is quite expensive, but original way decor. The following equipment is required for operation:
Remove old paint from the cabinet body and fill the cracks. Attach the stencil with tape, and use a spatula to apply decorative plaster. After finishing the work, remove the stencil and correct the errant pattern, dry the surface. Paint the surface in a color that matches the design. You can coat it with varnish. The method allows you to create an original three-dimensional drawing.
Those who like to collect puzzles can use the assembled paintings to decorate their closet. Glue with reverse side and you can secure them to the surface using double-sided tape.
Do children like to draw on furniture and wallpaper? Create a chalkboard-effect closet for them. To do this, you can use a special film for chalk painting, or paint the cabinet with dark paint.
Furniture in the interior of a living space has great importance. It fills the house with coziness and creates a feeling of comfort. An updated closet will not only serve as storage, but will also become a real work of art.
Many of us wonder whether it is possible to paint antique furniture. After all, most city dwellers have an unnecessary closet or chest of drawers, which it would be a pity to throw away, but they also don’t want to leave it, because it looks frankly out of place in the apartment.
Painting the cabinet
If you want to rejuvenate your decor, but don't know how to paint an old cabinet with your own hands, we will provide step by step instructions all upcoming operations.
IN general outline The upcoming work is as follows:
- We remove handles and other fittings from furniture, remove drawers, mirrors, hooks, etc.
- Then we disassemble the cabinet itself, if possible, to the very foundation.
- And finally, let's paint the cabinet.
Preparation
Let's take a closer look at how to repaint an old lacquered cabinet.
The first thing to do is inspect it carefully.
- If there was an old varnish layer on its surface, then the polishing can be removed either with a special solution, or with acetone or turpentine, taking all precautions.
- If the furniture has been painted before, then we treat the surface with sandpaper until wooden base. This is, of course, quite painstaking and labor-intensive process. Wood must be processed very carefully so as not to disturb its fibers and structure.
- With an unpainted cabinet, everything is much simpler - use sandpaper to remove the top layer, on which grease and dirt have accumulated over the years. If the surface is very dirty, it can be washed simply with soapy water. If there were cracks on the furniture, then it is advisable to cover them with putty using. And after drying, sand it down.
If you want to transform your interior into classic style, then for this you need to know how to paint an antique cabinet:
- You can use special chalk paints. They have a large palette of shades, both blurred and faded.
- We can recommend the brands "Autentico" or "AnniSloan". If you can't find them, you can experiment with ordinary paints on water based, for example, for .
Antique AnniSloan paint
Aging the wardrobe
We suggest you use the so-called “aging” - a deliberate emphasis on the “antiquity” of an object, deliberately emphasizing the duration of its use. Why “age” an already old thing?
If you simply paint an old cabinet, you will end up with a completely faceless, freshly repainted old piece of furniture that belongs in the garage or on the balcony. But a stylish rarity, which emanates from antiquity, can become a true decoration of the interior.
Advice. We use only matte shades.
Gloss is in no way suitable for the effect of antiquity.
Before starting “aging”, prime the surface with a special primer (primer). It will prevent wood oils from penetrating into finished surface, and will also contribute to good adhesion of the paint and the wooden base.
What you use to paint an old cabinet also plays an important role – I mean the tool.
You can paint the surface:
- With a brush. Try to choose good and high-quality brushes; it is advisable to buy brushes of different sizes.
- Roller
- Foam rubber
- Aerosol
Painting an old cabinet with your own hands - process labor-intensive, but you can get complete satisfaction when you see the end result of your work.
Below - detailed instructions, How can I do that.
- It’s better to start painting from an inconspicuous side of the cabinet in order to get your hands on a little and feel how much paint to take on a roller or brush, and maybe change the shade of paint a little if you don’t like it (it’s possible to combine colors, for example, to highlight some decorative parts different color).
- Then you can move to the front wall of the cabinet, where everything will be visible to the naked eye. The second layer, if necessary, is applied after the first layer has completely dried. Drying time depends on many factors and is approximately two to three hours.
Paint and protect the surface
Aging can be done in several ways:
- The first method is called “worn or shabby.” It consists in the following. We apply the paint, let it dry, then sand it with three sandpapers in places where furniture wear is typical, for example, on corners or handles, etc. You can scrub down to the primer or to the wood itself.
- The second method is called the “old paint bleed through effect.” Here you will need to paint the product in two layers. Apply paint of a different color with a dry brush in the right places. We do this with light, almost airy movements. This technique is called “dry brush”.
- Another antique technique is called the “effect of a surface contaminated by time.” To achieve this effect, apply dark wax unevenly in places where the furniture is touched by a person’s hand.
- Good and original technique- “the effect of several layers of paint applied on top of each other.” For example, let's apply green paint to a cleaned and primed surface. The next layer can be applied either bronze or gold. And, for example, the final layer can also be applied green.
After the paint has dried, take some coarse sandpaper and scrub the surface of the cabinet. One paint should show through the other. Then use finer sandpaper.
Having obtained a certain result, apply a thin layer of white diluted with water to the surface. Then cover with a craquelure varnishing composition. Now you can admire the result and make a photon memory. And by watching the video in this article, you can learn something interesting for yourself.
Protection coating
- We protect the paint with special wax for wood.
It is usually sold in two types - dark or transparent.
- We apply it with an ordinary clean rag or foam sponge. Rub it and wait about fifteen minutes until it dries.
- Transparent wax does not change the color of the product, but dark wax gets into deep places, holes, cutouts and gives an inimitable antique effect.
- If the entire surface is covered with dark wax instead of transparent, the cabinet will take on a darker shade.
