Upcycling is a great way to breathe new life into old furniture – and it’s amazing how just one coat of paint can completely transform an otherwise plain-looking chair or chest. Follow this helpful ‘upcycle your furniture guide with paint’ for some easy styling that’ll have you second hand pieces looking as good as fresh!
Buying used furniture
- Have a good idea of what type of furniture you need before heading to car boot sales and markets – and when you see something, picture where it would go in your home. This way, you’ll be less likely to buy pieces that aren’t particularly useful.
- Remember there’s a huge used furniture market online. Many people sell pieces at bargain prices, or even give them away for free on community threads and websites.
- It’s important to be flexible if you’re looking for a really unique piece. Some creative thinking can turn old doors into smaller cupboards, or crates into shelving. For inspiration, take a look at DIY and upcycling blogs online.
- If a piece looks shabby because of a bad or fading paint job, or it has surface scratches, you can easily transform it with a little sanding or painting.
- Make sure you check furniture is structurally sound for the way you’ll use it. If there are holes in older wooden furniture, it’s probably had woodworm.
How to revamp your furniture
- Gently sand the surfaces removing any rough edges.
- Remove excess dust using a dust brush.
- Prepare the surface thoroughly, so it’s as even as possible before you prime.
- Once the primer is dry, sand the surface again and remove excess dust.
- Before you begin painting, section off your first coloured stripes with masking tape, starting from the top and working towards your feet.
- Paint the first colour and wait until it’s dry before you put more masking tape on for the second colour.
- Remember to wait until your first coats are completely dry before painting second coats of each colour.