Design solutions for old furniture. Ideas on how to make old furniture look better than any new one

After the repair in the apartment, it is pleasant to the eye, and it is easier to breathe. But returning old furniture to its original place can spoil the impression of a fresh renovation. If getting rid of ancient interior items is not included in your plans, reworking old furniture can fix the situation - be it a closet, shelves, or even updating an entire kitchen set.

A little imagination and effort will help to update your interior at low material costs. The main thing, Before starting work, decide what you want to do:

Choose a style.
Sketch out a sketch.
Make a list of required materials.

And, of course, study the technology of remaking those interior items that you decide to change with your own hands. Remodeling furniture that has lost its appearance with your own hands is not as difficult as it might seem.

For work tools required:

screwdriver or screwdriver;
sandpaper;
putty for wood;
brushes or rollers;
glue;
paint for wood;
furniture varnish.

Preparatory work

Regardless of which style of remodeling is used, old furniture will need to be given time for preparatory work. For example, if the object of alteration is old wardrobe, it will be necessary to dismantle it. For the cleaning:

remove all doors;
take out drawers and shelves;
unscrew the fittings;
remove decorative elements.

If the case does not need repair, the cabinet does not have to be completely disassembled by hand. It is wiped with a damp sponge with a solution laundry soap. After that, the cabinet is wiped from moisture and allowed to dry.

Getting rid of excess

Next milestone preparatory work- removal of old varnish. Things will go faster if you use a grinder.

Rare furniture should be cleaned of varnish with more gentle means. To do this, use special washes. It is more convenient when the surfaces to which such gels are applied are in a vertical position.

You can remove a layer of varnish from furniture with an ordinary sandpaper. To make it more convenient to hold it in your hand, a bar is wrapped in a sheet. An old cabinet based on chipboard must not only be sanded, but also degreased.

If necessary, change the old rusty bolts and screws. Small cracks are coated with wood glue. More significant faults are masked with putty to match the wood.

Painting old furniture: one-color classic or two-tone modern?

The easiest way to give old furniture more modern look by refreshing the surface with new paint. for closet good choice will be acrylic. Among its advantages:

lack of smell;
having thickened, it is simply diluted with water;
you can adjust the shade by mixing color;
easy to rinse if necessary;
dries quickly.

Before painting furniture, the surface must be primed. The primer is applied in a thin layer. To do this, use a roller.

The paint is applied in 2-3 layers. The next one is applied only after the previous one becomes completely dry. Brush movements on the surface are made in one direction.

When painting a cabinet for the first time with your own hands, for starters, you can stop at one color of paint. Monochrome design in ivory or natural wood tones will look organic in any interior.

If plain furniture seems boring to you when the main color is applied, individual details can be emphasized by others. Having chosen a pattern, sticky paper tape is glued to the cabinet along its contour. So you will avoid irregularities and errors while painting details.

Alteration will not be completed if the product is not varnished. It dries quickly, forming a transparent film. Such a kitchen cabinet can be washed with warm water and mild soap. It remains only to add accessories.

Exquisite shabby chic

A popular trend in furniture design today is shabby chic. This original style combines objects in pastel color scheme with a touch of antiquity, artificial wear and cracks. It is used in the interior of bedrooms, children's rooms, kitchens.

It is not difficult to create an exclusive thing with your own hands in this style. Especially if you are going to experiment on old furniture.

Surface aging

To redo the kitchen cabinet with your own hands in the style of shabby chic, you will need:

PVA glue;
varnish for one-step crackle;
sandpaper;
paraffin candle;
dark acrylic paint;

Paint to create the effect of artificial wear is applied to the cabinet with a special technique:

One coat of paint is applied to the surface.
When the product dries, you need to walk on it with fine sandpaper.
The next layer is applied across the previous one.
This procedure is repeated 3-4 more times.
To achieve a texture with the effect of scuffs and cracks, dark paint is applied to these places.
From above, such spots are varnished for one-step craquelure.
Varnish can be replaced with PVA glue, which is applied in a thick layer on a dark spot.
When the glue dries a little, apply the main tone and immediately dry it with a hairdryer.

Rubbing the surface paraffin candle, you can create the effect of "old surface"

It is easy to achieve the effect of antiquity with your own hands in another non-standard way. For this place with dark paint, rub with a paraffin candle where you want to see cracks. After full painting and drying these areas rub with sandpaper. The light tone will be removed, and dark cracks will break through it.

Decoupage of old furniture: floral motif

Decoupage decoration is the best way to design furniture in the shabby chic style. To do this, use paper napkins with patterns of flowers:

Separate the top layer of the napkin with the picture.
Carefully cut off the pattern along the contour. If you use scissors, sharp transitions of the cut edges will be visible on the surface.
Apply a napkin front side to the office file.
Humidify with salted water from a spray bottle.
Apply a file with a wet napkin to the surface of the furniture.
Straighten the pattern through polyethylene with a rag.
The file is removed, and after 1-3 minutes the napkin is smeared with PVA glue.

Decoupage chest of drawers in shabby chic style (video instruction)

If the drawing looks too bright, it is easy to age it with a hard-bristled brush and base paint. The brush with paint should be blotted with paper and with light movements go over the drawing. When the strokes dry, the pattern is rubbed with fine sandpaper.

Coating the work with varnish

The final touch of the work will be varnishing the product. If the cabinet will stand in the kitchen, it is better to choose a waterproof one. Parquet can be used for furniture in other rooms.

It is important to take into account that different varnishes create a different effect on surfaces. They can be glossy and matte, silky. For a shabby chic style, the coating should not give a strong shine.

It is more convenient to work with varnish in a spray bottle. It is applied several times in a thin layer. Drips and bumps are easily removed with moistened fine sandpaper.

Conclusion

As you can see, reworking furniture is not only a saved budget, but also very an exciting activity. Look at your old closet from a new angle. Surely you will see in it a wide scope for creativity, which will be limited only by your imagination.

Alteration of old furniture will warm the soul of the master and delight his relatives. Recently, a familiar couple asked the woodworker to re-draw simple such, Soviet chairs. He painted the wood either with special paint or varnish in a rich emerald hue. I chose avant-garde upholstery - green in silver apples ...

What a miracle! There was rubbish, natural decay, and now it's new stylish furniture, and semi-antique, and a unique thing. No one else has one like this. And what a savings!

I offer you ideas for reworking old furniture that can lead to an interesting transformation. Why not paint dinner table acrylic paints? Moreover, the table is already 20 years old, and you have artistic talent.

Furniture refurbishment

Inspirational Examples

Super idea for sofa stain protection and masking those that have already appeared on the upholstery. The pockets on this bedspread are simply made for storing useful household trifles!
There was a real misfortune: this sofa was clearly shone with a dump.

They painted it, sewed new pillows, and here he is, a hand-written handsome man!
What a cover! If you know how to crochet, then not tying such a wonderful bedspread on a sofa is a crime. An angel-white sofa, lush, like a fresh bun, and updated! I didn’t overtighten or paint anything, but the sofa was transformed.
A sofa bench can become a full-fledged sofa if you pick up a bedspread. By experimenting with fabrics, you can achieve unexpectedly pleasant results!
To simple cheap furniture looked chic in the interior, you need to follow fairly simple principles: the right combination of colors and harmony of style ...
That's how old table ik can be entered into a new interior!
Unremarkable, wretched table!

But fate smiled at him, now it's nice to look ...
A nonentity from which it was time to get rid of!

decent and practical table, its forms allude to robust design and capacity...
How the furniture looked before the alteration. I want to forget this dull look ...

There is no comparison! Brilliant, bravo, amazing!
Why not cover a battered sofa with something unusual? Looks amazing.
Ethnic motifs, richness of patterns, brightness, beauty, from which the eyes run wide. Interesting idea- use carpets instead of bedspreads and capes.
Such a piece of furniture is unlikely to impress anyone.

A converted bookcase is 100 times better!
Unattractive, boring table.

It turned out great! Very tender.
This poor thing needs a chance at a second life...

Great result! Is this the same chair?
Horror, horror. He looks terrible...

And now - the royal chair!
The table played in a completely different way!
I want a coverlet like this... It's a lazy makeover, yes. One new bedspread will change both the furniture and the room!
How do you like this option? You can add fur to any piece of furniture on which they sit.
I want to throw this chair away. Cry over it, regret it again and throw it away.

After the renovation, he commands respect!
Nice chair turned out!
Great Design - Bound with my own hands cover for an old chair.
That's how new upholstery can transform a sofa!
Acrylic paints and furniture are made for each other!
And one last idea... Well, how can you not admire the magic and start creating!

Seems, DIY refurbishment of old furniture- not such a difficult task. Perhaps I’ll go to study, there will be enough inspiration ... And you

Do-it-yourself furniture remodeling is about providing old furniture with a second life. Even when old, peeling furniture from the Soviet era spoils the entire renovated interior of the apartment, you should not rush to take it to a landfill. There are many ideas and ways to update the old environment.

Do-it-yourself alteration of old furniture (the photo illustrates the process) allows you to create stunning compositions in which it is difficult to recognize junk. Old furniture had an important advantage - natural wood was used in it and it was made "for centuries", i.e. with a large margin of safety. By applying your own or borrowed imagination, you can optimally use all the features of furniture sets and individual items.

Don't rush to throw away old furniture.

Furniture produced in Soviet time, and at one time did not differ in particular grace, but it served regularly for many years and is able to serve for no less time. Its main disadvantages: lack of originality, i.e. color standard and appearance; almost complete absence of decorating elements.

good example alterations of the old sideboard

In addition, signs of aging should be added and mechanical damage. As a result, sufficiently strong tables, cabinets, chests of drawers have turned into junk that does not fit into the modern apartment.

An example of remodeling an old wardrobe

At the same time, it should be recalled that such styles as country, Provencal are currently very popular, in which elements of antiquity, and even those made of natural wood, become the basis of the whole composition.

Photo of the updated Provence style kitchen

In view of the foregoing, a logical question arises as to whether it is possible to remake the old Soviet furniture with your own hands, and so that it looks like new and is original. In other words, there is a need to preserve antiquity, but so that the neighbors do not have the same. It turns out that such a task is quite feasible, and reworking furniture with your own hands is available to many people.

An example of reworking IKEA furniture

In not very a wide range walls were considered a special chic of Soviet furniture. And in our time, when the alteration of furniture is started with their own hands, the old Soviet wall is first of all taken for processing.

In general, it is worth thinking about the restoration of any items from natural wood- such furniture will never go out of fashion, but you need to apply maximum imagination to ennoble the appearance. Great opportunities also promise to remake IKEA furniture with your own hands, because. the products of this Swedish company have always been a success, but to give them more modern shade have to.

Furniture will never go out of style

What principles can be used

The method of restoration depends on the degree of wear of the furniture. The easiest way to improve it is to paint and hang elegant fittings. It is fittings that can give any product certain style and originality, and the range of its choice on the market is huge, plus the possibility of individual creativity should not be discounted.

Decoupage - decorating furniture surfaces with multi-colored napkins

Do-it-yourself furniture alteration (the photo clearly demonstrates the possibilities) is based on the following basic methods:

Painting. Diversity color solutions when using acrylic paint, it makes it possible to provide any style. Even imitation of gilding, silvering, bronze casting, etc. is available, which can give furniture a rococo or baroque touch.
Varnish coating. Modern varnishes have numerous shades and are able to show the wooden texture very well.
Decoupage - decorating furniture surfaces with multi-colored napkins (most often paper), on top of which a layer of varnish is applied. The possibilities of this method are huge and allow you to express your personal attitude to decoration.
Craquelure is a technique for artificially aging a paint or varnish layer. Currently, this method of decorating the interior is very popular. In practice, imitation of a network of cracks is provided by applying a special craquelure varnish.
Sticking a film (self-adhesive film) or wallpaper. considered to be very common and simple method. Alteration kitchen furniture do-it-yourself quite often based on the use of self-adhesive film different color and drawing, but imitation of wood is most in demand.
Hanging fittings and decorative elements. This method is necessary for any technology of furniture restoration.

Preparatory activities

Before starting work, first of all, it should be understood that reworking Soviet furniture with your own hands only makes sense if it is made of natural wood.

Sander for furniture renovation

Important! An attempt to restore objects from chipboard is a waste of time, because. the durability of this material is not so high, and the service life is often already exhausted .

In order to apply any of the above methods of updating furniture, it is necessary to carry out preparations, which are common to all cases.

Chisel essential tool working with wood

They include the following works:

Removing obsolete fittings and decor, cleaning surfaces from contamination. Next, you need to remove the old layer of varnish (paint). To this end, the surface is first treated with an emery cloth or with a grinder, and then a solvent liquid is applied to it - an aqueous ammonia solution.
If there are noticeable cracks, they are grouted using a special composition. After grouting, the treated area is carefully polished.
Surface primer. With any surface quality of old furniture, various dents and microscopic cracks form on it, which in the future may violate the integrity of the new coating. To eliminate any irregularities, it is recommended to prime the facade surface of old furniture. After drying, the primer is carefully polished.

To carry out the preparatory work, the following tool should be prepared in advance: Grinder, chisel, screwdriver, hammer, spatula, paint brush.

Hammer necessary for the restoration of old furniture

Features of reworking the wall

The old Soviet wall does not fit into the modern interior due to its overly typical appearance, not to mention its aging, scratches, etc. This furniture set was executed in a modest style with rather discreet colors, without decor. All this does not allow it to be included in any single designer style.

An example of reworking an old Soviet wall

The most common way of reworking an old Soviet (and not only Soviet) wall is pasting the facade with a film (wallpaper) of bright colors, as well as installing original fittings and decorating elements. As an example, one of the options used can be given: on the doors there is a self-adhesive film in the color of "cream" with a matte surface; on glass elements - a matte film of a translucent type; edging is done with a film under chrome.

Such an alteration of old furniture with your own hands is carried out in the following order:

Carrying out standard preparatory work.
The prepared surface is treated with dishwashing detergent, which is then washed off with a weak vinegar solution and dried.
The film is cut in such a way that it has a margin of 5-8 mm.
The surface of the wall is sprayed with water from a spray bottle, because. the film is much easier to apply on the wet side, with the possibility of a slight shift.
A self-adhesive film is carefully glued with smoothing of air bubbles.
On top of the film, ironing is carried out with a slightly heated iron through the fabric.
Chrome imitation edging strips are glued.
Fittings and decorating elements of the selected design style are installed.

Similarly, you can paste over the facade of the wall not with a film, but with non-woven wallpaper. PVA is used as glue.

How can you recycle other items

Do-it-yourself furniture alteration can successfully touch other items.

Old chest of drawers can be turned into an elegant modern piece of furniture

For some reason, an old chest of drawers most often ends up in a landfill, but in vain. It can be turned into an elegant modern piece of furniture after such events:

Carrying out preparatory work.
Fastening polyurethane moldings, while not striving for large elements - their width is not recommended to be more than 3-4 cm (it is important to combine them very accurately in the corners so that it turns out without gaps).
Primer application: one of the composition options is an aqueous solution of PVA (50%).
Painting with acrylic paint. The color of coffee with milk looks very impressive.
Decoration can be done with wallpaper with a silkscreen element.
The final coating is provided by varnish.

How can you transform old bedside table? One option is to decoupage the door. In this case, after the preparatory work outer side doors are painted first acrylic paint. Then a paper sheet with a beautiful pattern or ornament is glued onto it. The plot and colors are completely dependent on the taste of the owner. If there is more drawer, then a drawing in the same style is pasted on its front side. A semi-gloss acrylic-based varnish is applied over the paper. Important element- beautiful and original pens.

On the surface of the tabletop, you can stick paper with a pattern in one sheet or collect abstract pattern from paper pieces

You can also turn an old coffee table into an elegant thing. After preparation, the table must be painted, and light colors look modern. The next step is to decoupage the countertop. On the surface, you can stick paper with a pattern in one sheet or assemble an abstract pattern from paper pieces. PVA glue is used. After gluing on the countertop, it is advisable to walk with a roller to remove defects. The surface of the table should be as smooth as possible. The final coating is formed by two layers of varnish.

What can be done from an old closet? No need to rush to throw away or give away. Let's take a closer look at some of the options with ideas for using the closet.

Desktop

From the walls of the cabinet, you can design a desktop for children. And from the shelves to make closed drawers for the table. Then carefully connect everything and clean it with sandpaper. Next, apply several coats of wood varnish.

Important! Let the first coat of varnish dry well before applying the second.

Cabinet

Make a versatile nightstand out of an old closet. Such a new piece of furniture will always come in handy. After all, you can put any accessories that will always be at hand in it. The originality of the cabinet will give drawings with patterns. And to make the cabinet look more comfortable, put it on top flower plant in a pot.

Wrapping or painting a cabinet

Updating an old wardrobe and giving it a second life is very simple. The main thing is to choose the right material for gluing. Self-adhesive wallpaper will do.

Reference! Before pasting, you need to unscrew the handles of the cabinet for a while, then you will get a striking effect.

If you have chosen to paint a part, then choose a varnish or special paint to match the color of your apartment interior. The assortment in hardware stores has a wide selection for every color and taste.

Important! The style is given by two types of painting. Recommended for example in black and white, etc.

Shelf in the garage

Depending on the size of the old cabinet, you can make a shelf of any size in the garage with your own hands. Since there are almost always a lot of different tools scattered in the corners in the garage, a shelf is required for them. Assembly of the shelf takes less than an hour.

Sideboard

The sideboard is done in several stages:

Make an ordinary rectangular bedside table and fasten a light back half from the cabinet to the back on both sides. And for more beauty, add a mirror with holders along the edges of the contour.
In cabinet with inside attach two slats for shelves.

Floor stand for flowers

The stand can be made in any shape. The ideological version in the form of a square pyramid. Much more can fit on this stand. flower pots. geometric shapes fashion trend of the 21st century. Originality without repetition. In the store, such a stand is unlikely to be found and purchased.

Important! The bottom square needs to be stronger and more stable because the main weight of the flower pots and pyramidal subsequent structures will push down.

Potato box

Most fast way to make such a box from an old cabinet is suitable for large volumes of potato storage. Just put the cabinet on the back wall, open the door and pour in the potatoes. If you need a much smaller size, then disassemble the old cabinet and assemble a regular box from the walls. To add beauty, you can design a cover for a lock or a latch.

Soft ottomans for the hallway

Remove the shelves and connect them together to make a square. On the upper part put foam rubber in size and sheathe it with a cloth. The walls of the ottoman can be painted in any suitable color.