Over the past few years, upcycling furniture became a new favourite hobby for many. Good furniture can be revitalised through upcycling, and it’s remarkable how a little furniture paint can drastically change the look of an old chair, chest of drawers, or table.
This blog will explore what should and shouldn’t be done while upcycling bedroom furniture, and when is best to simply invest in new.
Upcycling is a type of recycling that concentrates on turning waste materials or objects into high-quality, attractive, and sometimes valuable products. It might be an old piece of furniture that you disassemble and paint to create a unique piece out of something that would have otherwise ended up in the bin.
The potential of upcycling to create such distinctive pieces is without a doubt one of the reasons why more and more people are giving it a try. So, how do you upcycle furniture? Read on to find out our top tips.
When working with old or used pieces of furniture, it’s likely that the exterior has been treated with some form of protection. When upcycling, any furniture treatments can and will contaminate new paints or varnishes, causing a reaction.
To counteract this, use a primer to prepare the surface. It may not always be necessary to use a primer, depending on the paint you use and the surface you are painting on, but at least a light sanding is generally advised. Just keep in mind to use a moist cloth to clean all surfaces before you get to work.
Take the following factors into consideration before starting your upcycling project.
- Intended use – what is the purpose of this piece? Will it be used more every day? If so it will need to withstand a lot of wear and tear. Make alterations to fit its new purpose.
- Condition – does it need any preparation? Will it need decoration to hide any marks or bumps?
- Best prep – what preparation is best suited to this piece of furniture? What’s it made of and how has it been finished?
- Design – what room will it be in? plan the way you decorate your piece accordingly. Does the room need some colour? Or do you want a more understated look?
Cheap brushes are less durable and may leave bristles on your painted surfaces. This is especially true when working with chalk paint, as it is much more prone to brush strokes. So, make sure to use brushes of high quality and take care of them so they may be reused repeatedly. After painting or waxing, wrap brushes in tin foil to keep them moist in between layers, and clean them right away once you’ve finished painting for the day.
It’s important to be prepared when upcycling. Make sure you have the following tools at the ready.
- Drop cloth, plastic bowl with water, cloths
- Wood filler
- Primer
- Paint
- Sealer
- Brushes
- Screwdrivers
- Degreaser if removing wax
One of the worst surprises to come across when upcycling is woodworm. It’s important that you act accordingly when finding woodworm as it needs to be treated correctly. This involves removing any paint or varnish and stripping a piece back to raw wood in order to treat it with a woodworm solution.
Consider the state your furniture is in. A severe case of woodworm where the wood is falling apart will be better off abandoned.
Don’t attempt to take on a difficult task the first time. It won’t just appear difficult; you’ll also be more prone to give up halfway through. Start small and take pride in the fact that you made it your own, no matter how small.
Furniture upcycling is a form of art and creation. It’s meant to be fun! So don’t stress too much about how your first few finished pieces will look, as practice makes perfect. It might feel like a bit of a chore If you aren’t inspired to work on the pieces you have, you probably won’t get great results. Go to places like Pinterest for some upcycled furniture ideas if you are lacking.
It’s tough to properly upcycle items you purchase if you can’t quickly fix them yourself. Those experienced in upcycling are always on the lookout for pieces made of high-quality materials. If your furniture is beyond fixable, it might be best to invest in new.
It can be easy to get carried away when collecting pieces to upcycle but doing this will just add clutter to your home and will make you feel overwhelmed. Try to be pickier with what you purchase to upcycle. it’s important that you know the purpose of the piece to allow for inspiration.
Upcycling bedroom furniture is a great way to give old furniture new life. However, sometimes your pieces can be past the point of restoration. If that’s the case for you, then take a look at our wide range of top-quality bedroom furniture pieces.
