Ideas

Great Ideas For Decorative Furniture Refinishing

Perhaps the toughest part of refinishing furniture is deciding on how you would like to finish it.  There are so many options that it can be difficult to decide on what you would like to try first.  The best way to choose a technique is to think about function of the room you will be placing it into and what style you prefer.  Television programs, magazines, and the internet are filled with thousands of ideas to get your creativity started.

Custom Staining

On hardwood and veneer, stain or lacquer shows the grain and patterns in the natural wood beautifully.  The many colors available today give you endless options to suit your tastes and add to the beauty of your space.  Using several colors of stain, paints, and even pictures allow you to personalize your piece and make it a one-of-a-kind work of art.

one of a kind work of art

Patterns and borders can be added with different colors of stain.  This gives your furniture a pattern, but it still lets the wood grain show through.  After the base stain has dried, you can either use a stencil or cover the area you would like to stain an alternative color with tape.  Then, gently use a sharp craft knife to score the pattern into the grain carefully and accurately.  Once the pattern has been completely cut into the surface, it is time to add the stain.  Gel stain works the best type to use for this as it will not bleed or run under the stencil.  Once you have finished the pattern, allow it to dry before moving the tape or stencil.  You can then coat it with clear lacquer or varnish to finish it off.

Pretty as a Picture

Once you have prepared the surface of your work piece, coat the surface with your base stain.  Once it dries, it is time to add the fine details.  Magazines have some of the best pictures available without have to go out to take your own and it is a shame to see them go to waste.  Cut it out and use a thin layer of wood glue on the back.  Set the picture into place and very gently seal the picture down by starting at the center and working towards the outside to eliminate air bubbles.  You can then coat over top with a heavy clear coat to seal and protect the surface

draw. colour. flash

Craft paint can also be applied after the stain has dried thoroughly.  Draw out your design lightly with a pencil and start painting.  This really is not as scary as it sounds, just practice on a practice piece first.  Simple painting techniques such as one-stroke painting are simple and easy for anyone to use.  Favorite quotes can be made using different fonts on your word processor.  Then, you can trace out the letters and paint it on.  If you are unhappy with the results, just sand it off, reapply the stain, and start over.  Then, clear coat as usual.

Adding Alternative Mediums

Other items can be added under the lacquer to add interest to your furniture.  Almost anything can be added under the lacquer.  You just want to keep in mind that bulkier items make the surface rough and hard to clean.

Things such as glitter and confetti can be mixed into the lacquer before applying it to the surface.  You can also sprinkle it onto the surface and lacquer over top.  Just keep in mind that if you are brushing on the clear coat, the little pieces will stick in the brush and get into the can.  To avoid this, pour it into a tray rather than dipping the brush into the can.  Spray lacquer works best for this purpose and leave the finish smooth when it is applied properly.

wood furnishings

Stickers, wallpaper cut outs, and scrap booking die cuts are great for children’s furniture.  Simply stick them on the table and lacquer over them.  For a more sophisticated look, try thin ribbons or natural items such as pressed flowers or leaves.

Strings of beads are great when added to a finished piece.  They can be used around the edge of your project, or “looped” making a scalloped like shape around the bottom of a side table, for instance.  Simply use glue or furniture tacks to keep them in place,
Painting And Faux Finishing

Paint works wonders for furniture made of materials such as plastic, metal, MDF, and even plywood.  The paint is thick enough to cover marks in the surface and give your furniture a bold look.  The secret to using paint is to use the right kind for your project.  House paint works well on real wood and wood products while rust proof paint such as Tremclad works best on metal.  For hard plastic, several products such as Krylon have been developed to give the finish durability and good coverage.

Instead of a basic single color coat, faux finishes can add an extra boost to the piece’s interest.  Although these special paint finishes are usually reserved for walls and ceilings, they work great on smaller areas too.  Sponges, plastic bags, and even dry brushing make your piece come to life.  For large surfaces, there has even been special paint rollers made to create these looks quickly and easily.

Accenting With Fabric

When refinishing items such as kitchen chairs, buffets, and side tables, fabric can be used to further enhance the beauty of your furniture item.  Cushions with cording, tassels, or lace are great to make wood chairs stand out and more comfortable to sit on.  Runners and scarves add color to tables and stands.  They also prevent the surface from being scratched or damaged by setting hard items on top of them.

Cording or strings of tassels, available from the local craft store, can also come in handy when personalizing furniture.  After you know the distance that you want to add the cording to, buy twice the length you need.  Furniture tacks with fancy heads can then be used to tack it into place.  Just be sure to loop the cording the same distance all the way around and tack it at the same interval.

Several items and materials can be used to give your project that little extra something.  When choosing what you would like to use, consider the function of the piece as well as the style you would like the piece to have.  Keep in mind that some items such as cording, beads, and lace can be difficult to clean and are easily damaged.  These materials are best used on items that are more decorative rather than for something that will be used all of the time.  Many of these ideas can also be combined to make your furniture perfectly suit your tastes.

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