2017 Spring Home & Garden
Video Magazine

Turning that tired piece of furniture into something new and exciting
By Nila Smith

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[October 09, 2017]  For some folks the idea of taking on a furniture refinishing project can be intimidating, but it doesn’t need to be. Refinishing a piece can give the piece a new look and add interest in a room.

Before you start a project, do your homework and decide for certain what you would like as the final outcome.

Turning an old dresser into a painted piece for a kid’s room can be fun. Repurposing a straight back chair into a towel rack for the bathroom can add interest in the room, and will impress your family and friends with how creative you are!

Before you begin a project, there are a few things to consider.

Be aware of the value of the piece you are thinking about refinishing. For example, while it is your furniture to do with as you wish, you could greatly deplete the value of your great grandmothers Hoosier Cabinet if you strip it and paint it pink!

Be cautious of the space you have available for working. If you plan to use a paint stripping product, fumes can be a big issue. Make sure you are working in an area that is well ventilated, and where you won’t have lingering fumes carrying throughout the house to family members and pets.

Don’t skip steps in the process. If you are using a stripping product, be sure that you remove all of the goo and allow the piece time to dry before moving on to the next step. If you are using sandpaper to smooth the surfaces, be sure to clean afterward with a tack cloth.

Many polyurethane finishes adhere better, look nicer, and last longer when you follow the instructions to apply, dry, lightly sand, then move on to the next or final coat.

Here are two videos that are really great tutorials on how to strip furniture using a stripping product.

This one talks about the materials you need in order to be successful.

Stripping chest of drawers part one

This one talks about the actual “how to.”

Furniture stripping tutorial | How to strip wood furniture

Once the piece is stripped of its old finish, how do you go about giving the piece a new look? You have options, stain and then ‘layer finish’ with oil, or paint. Here are some tips to help you decide.

What kind of finish should you use? | Wood finishing basics

If you choose to stain and layer finish, the following video could be helpful:

How to finish wood in three easy steps | Just ask Bruce

This video will give you tips on an oil finish.

How to apply pure tung oil to wood (the right way)

Looking for tips on painting furniture? Here ya go!

How to paint furniture

Note, on this video the piece is not stripped. The key to success is to sand the finish and use a primer so the paint will last. After all, there is no need in doing all this if the paint is going to chip off!

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On the other hand, maybe you want the piece to look “chippy.” Having a chipped paint look on vintage pieces can add a lot of interest and eye appeal, and you can do that on purpose. Watch the following video on using “milk paint.”

How to | Get a chippy finish with milk paint

If chippy isn’t your style but you still don’t want a finish that is shiny or even semi-gloss, you may want to consider using a ‘chalk paint.’ Check out this ‘how to’ on getting an ultra-smooth finish with chalk-type paint.

How to paint furniture: Getting an ultra smooth finish with chalk-type paints

 

Of course you can also paint with regular paint. In this video, the paint is Sherwin Williams Cashmere. The film shows not only the painting, but how to finish a painted project without brush strokes, something that most of the time we don’t want to see is where our brush has been!

How to eliminate brush strokes on painted furniture

Finally, it was mentioned earlier that one can turn a straight back chair into a towel rack for the bathroom. There are lots of old chairs hanging around. You can find them in resale and thrift shops and garage sales. A few dollars invested in the chair, a few in the paint and supplies, and you can have something great.

Check out this pictorial video of fun things to do with old chairs!

Recycled old chair projects – DIY ideas

The products used in these videos can be found locally at retailers such as Sherwin Williams and Ace Hardware in Lincoln.
 

Read all the articles in our new
2017 Fall Home & Garden Video Magazine

Title
CLICK ON TITLES TO GO TO PAGES
Page
Trellises and Arches for your yard and garden 4
Getting your vegetable and flower gardens ready for winter 8
Best methods for bringing down a tree 11
Simple steps for pouring a concrete walk and pad DIY 15
New windows for your old house 18
How to re-roof your house 22
To dream the impossible dream: The quest for alternative energy 25
Turning that tired piece of furniture into something new and exciting 30
Backyard Chickens 33
Backyard beekeeping 38

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