How to renovate old kitchen furniture? And we are building a house
What will you learn from the article?
When is it worth renovating old furniture?
Renovation of furniture may be dictated by the necessity or the desire to change the appearance of the apartment. Trendy Scandinavian or rustic style? You don't have to buy new equipment. Skilful renovation of furniture will make your interior reflect your favorite trends.
It is worth considering renovating your furniture if:
The degree of deterioration of the furniture should be taken into account. If the cupboard or chest of drawers is not the most expensive, and you do not like to do DIY and renovation, better buy a new piece of furniture.
Renovation is worth taking care of when we have designer furnishings from the 1960s at home - stylish chests of drawers on round legs are currently in vogue. The purchase of a new chest of drawers in this style is an expense of up to several thousand zlotys. If you have such a "gem" at home, then invest in tools and paints for furniture renovation.
Kitchen cabinets are among the most frequently renovated home furnishings. Water vapor and grease destroy the surface of the cabinets: especially when they are made of MDF - the top layer sticks out unsightly under the influence of moisture.
Renovation of wooden kitchen furniture - before and after effects. (photo V33)What materials and tools should I use to renovate furniture?
Both the renovation of kitchen furniture and other furniture requires appropriate preparation. You will need different tools to work. You will not always use them all - it depends on the degree of damage to the furniture.
When renovating furniture, it is worth having:
The renovation of old wooden furniture requires the use of special paint. (photo V33)If you do not have the right tools, such as a heat gun or sander, you can easily rent them from a tool rental shop for a small fee.
What are the techniques for restoring furniture?
Furniture renovation can be done in several different ways. The basic division is manual or machine refurbishment.
The second way to refurbish is only structural repair, which includes replacing broken hinges, slats, legs, filling in wood defects, repairing joints and maintaining the top surface.
Another solution is a complete renovation: from thorough cleaning, through structural repair, to applying paint and varnish. For decoupage furniture, the method of wiping varnished surfaces is used. This type of furniture will work well in rustic, boho, English or rural interiors.
Renovating vintage furniture or antique antiques? Here it will be necessary to preserve the original appearance and supplement the missing pieces of furniture with those that are as visually similar as possible.
You can also go overboard with restoring furniture. Furniture that is too stylized does not look good, and even in some cases kitschy.
You can also choose to:
Painting cabinets is a popular way of renovating old furniture. (photo: © BELCHONOCK / Depositphotos)What do you need to remember before starting a renovation?
Before starting to renovate furniture, take into account the degree of damage and the level of difficulty of the renovation. In addition, all materials and tools must be gathered.
If you are going to use different paints and varnishes, you should also take care of good ventilation. Renovated furniture looks great, but needs to dry thoroughly - choose renovation in summer or spring.
How to carry out a renovation step by step?
Paints for furniture renovation alone are not enough. Renovation will be easier when you complete a renovation with a dozen or so steps:
- Prepare the necessary materials and tools.
- Disassemble the furniture: disassemble the fronts of the cabinets, take out the drawers and all movable elements.
- Dismantle broken hinges and remove old slats. Don't forget to unscrew the knobs and handles.
- Secure the place where you will renovate furniture with foil or newspapers.
- Wash the furniture with detergent, cloth and sponge. Wipe dry.
- Apply the putty on the cavities in the wood.
- Renovating kitchen furniture takes time. Wait for the putty to dry and only then start sanding the furniture. By the way, you will remove the excess putty: the entire surface will be smooth and even, and the restored cavity will not be distinguishable from the rest of the furniture surface.
- Use sandpaper or an orbital sander for sanding. Remember about safety glasses.
- Apply a primer or primer to the furniture - it must be applied before painting.
- Use paint for restoring wooden furniture: acrylic, chalk or phthalic. For the MDF board, use a different paint intended for painting the chipboard.
- Instead of paint, you can use a stain varnish, which will change the color of the wood, refresh it and provide protection against harmful factors.
- Secure the finished, painted cabinet with varnish.
- When the furniture is dry, screw in new hinges, knobs or handles and mount the doors and cabinet fronts.
- Leave kitchen cupboards or dresser doors open for some time. If possible, make a draft in the house or apartment.
WARNING! Casein paint is not intended for the renovation of kitchen cabinets! Perfect for the renovation of the PRL chest of drawers, a stylish bedside table.
You will find special renovation paints for sale. If in doubt, ask the seller whether the preparation is suitable for renovating kitchen furniture.
Renovation paints for rooms with high humidity are resistant not only to scrubbing and abrasion, but also perfectly cope with water vapor.
How much does furniture renovation cost?
The cost of restoring furniture depends on many factors. The more complicated the renovation, the more money you will spend on it. For a large project, you need many materials, not only paints for renovation of furniture, but also varnishes, putty and other accessories.
When restoring old wooden furniture, look for small holes on the surface. This may mean that pests are established. Then there are two options: have the furniture restored to professionals or the use of strong chemicals for wooden surfaces.
Renovation of furniture is not only about cabinets and chests of drawers. If you want to renew your upholstered furniture, you need to have some practice. For kitchen cabinets, the advice in the article above and the online tutorial videos are enough.
The average cost of renovation is about PLN 500, but it all depends on the level of difficulty and the size of the surface. For a small renovation, all you need is: sandpaper, renovation paint, paint roller and brushes, paint mixing container, varnish and protective foil.
When you paint your kitchen cabinets, you can buy new cupboard handles - this simple procedure gives your kitchen a new look. Also, don't forget to reserve some time off: renovating kitchen furniture can be a laborious activity.
Prepared by: Martyna Nowak-Ciupa
opening photo: Lange Łukaszuk
