What do we do when we decide to change the environment? We start flipping through fashion magazines in search of photos of ultra-modern furniture and ask our friends, trying to find an interesting creative idea. And we completely forget that you already have comfortable, completely free and stylish furniture, you just have to put a little imagination and your own efforts - to restore it. We will try to figure out how to update an old wardrobe with our own hands: photos of restored wardrobes, wardrobes and wardrobes will serve as an excellent incentive for a creative impulse.
Modern furniture from leading manufacturers is certainly comfortable and attractive. You go to your friend's living room - and she has a new headset from a famous Italian company. A beautiful natural oak façade, gilded fittings, softly gleaming frosted glass with a sandblasted pattern. However, what can magnificent expensive wardrobes say about a person, except that he lives in abundance? Perhaps we can draw conclusions about its good taste.
A great alternative to a modern headset for the hall or hallway
And an old but updated piece of furniture is a completely different level. This is a whole story full of interesting events and secrets. This is greetings from the past, and perhaps from the century before last, when our ancestors did not even know about the existence of convenient drawers on rollers, but in the same way they appreciated the naturalness of the material and the creative approach to design. The things inherited were valued much more than the remake, and the antique shops were always full of visitors.
Modern design with elements of antique painting
To breathe new life into an old wardrobe or bookcase, there are many ways to decorate furniture with your own hands: from simple sanding followed by varnishing to using a complex patina technique. The choice of the method depends on the taste of the owner of the rare furniture and the ability to apply the rules of decorative technique in practice.
Pasting with bright wallpaper is an effective way to highlight accents
Several cans of acrylic paint, half a roll of inexpensive paper wallpaper, a tube of wood glue, a set of brushes - and instead of an inconspicuous double-leaf cabinet, you get a unique masterpiece of your own making.
Old furniture as an element of a stylish interior
It is a mistake to think that the old wardrobe "will not fit" into the framework of a certain style. By choosing the right color and decoration technique, you can create a model that fully meets the overall design concept. If you wish, you can remove or replace some elements in order to give the piece of furniture a certain shape - more strict or laconic.
Truly feminine linen cabinet decor
Let's go back to the "grandmother's" wardrobes. The modern generation of grandparents are witnesses to the heyday of the Soviet era, when there was no such variety of furniture sets, and walls from abroad were considered the highest reward for patience. The style of both domestic and imported (Polish and Czech) furniture is simple, uncomplicated and laconic.
But for decorators, furniture from the Soviet era is a real treasure. Just look at what the old cabinet looks like in the photo after restoration with your own hands: you don't even need a master class to grind and paint all the details white.
Amazing transformation of the "Soviet" buffet
Who doesn't remember the polished brown and reddish cherry facades from our childhood? It is very easy to update them with the same sandpaper and paint. Pay attention to the decorative elements - light gilding or bronze on a white background looks just great.
Photo comparison of the wardrobe before and after the update
Those who inherited the Soviet wall were incredibly lucky. It can be divided into separate modules and create a first-class modern headset for a child's room or summer cottage. The only thing left is to decide on the color and choose the appropriate decorating technique!
Why do I choose restoration?
It is easy to understand why many people choose new furniture - it is prestigious, beautiful and fashionable. I chose a model, made an order, and in a maximum of a month the bedroom is decorated with glossy black splendor. Or an airy snow-white headset - that's what anyone likes. Let's try to figure out what makes some people pick up brushes and paints. Moreover - sometimes to stroll through the nearby landfills.
Stylishly
What are the guides of people who are slightly aging even a new thing? Style! If Provence or a 100% ecological country style reigns in your kitchen, then it is customary to stylize even new furniture a little. And not just rub the protruding places with sandpaper, but elegantly and skillfully apply a special technique, otherwise the desired effect will not work. The photo shows an example of how to paint an old cabinet with your own hands semi-antique.
Delicate beauty of Provence
Manufacturers of paints and varnishes compete in the production of special decorative products that, after application, steal from your furniture for at least a hundred years.
Fashionable
It is curious that not only the possession of restored furniture is becoming fashionable, but also the ability to personally transform old things, masterfully turn unnecessary junk into works of art. If you are not yet familiar with the creative activity of the designer and decorator Marat Ka, we recommend that you turn to her - you will learn a lot about restoration and modern decoration techniques.
DIY painting as a way to update old headsets
Surprisingly, the fashion for the restoration of worn-out interior items has lasted for centuries. Moreover, along with new technologies for making furniture, super-fashionable decorating and aging techniques appear.
Exclusively
If you buy a wardrobe in a store, it is immediately clear that the factory model has more than one hundred twin brothers. Modules ordered in furniture stores also do not differ in originality, since the same materials are used for the manufacture of facades. But a piece of furniture updated with your own hands is one hundred percent exclusive. Not only is the design "ancient", but also the design will be special, because paint, wallpaper and fabric are used as decorative elements.
An original technique in which furniture and walls "merge"
Conveniently, for stylization, you can choose a color that fully corresponds to the interior palette: neutral, bright or matched according to the principle of contrast.
Practical
Owning a new stylish thing completely free or almost free is the highest level of practicality and economy. Calculate how much a roll of sandpaper, a can of paint and a set of accessories cost, and then compare with the prices for the most common classic wardrobe. The cost difference is enormous. An example of how to decorate an old cabinet with your own hands is in the next photo.
Unique interior, more like an expensive design masterpiece than a budget project
Do not forget that decorating is a pleasant process and, in fact, a type of recreation, therefore, additional savings.
Master class: how to decorate an old wardrobe
As an example, we will tell you in detail how to update old polished furniture with your own hands, namely, an old wardrobe that has long settled in the country.
Three-door wardrobe with drawers and mirror
It makes no sense to throw away a solid, conscientiously assembled piece of furniture, in addition, there are many techniques with the help of which it is easy to restore its beauty and youth. The idea belongs to Maria Talmacheva.
Finding the right model
Craftsmen and craftswomen who are happy owners of old furniture find it easier - they already have the main object for the embodiment of creative ideas. What to do for those who live surrounded by new wardrobes and cupboards that they don't want to say goodbye to? There are several options:
- ask if friends and acquaintances have a wardrobe "for throwing away" and, if the answer is positive, help them get rid of the junk;
- buy old unnecessary furniture on one of the many sites (for example, on Avito) at a symbolic price;
- nevertheless, take the risk and remake the current model, which is not very old, but has already served for 10-15 years.
And do not forget to think about where the new "resident" of your apartment or house will be installed.
Choosing a way to decorate
To make the design object look fresh and extraordinary, you should choose one of the popular techniques, in this case - decoupage to update the cabinet facade. You will need thin napkins with an original pattern or ornament. Perhaps it will be pink peonies or birds of paradise, in any case, the facade after finishing will become unrecognizable. We will show you how to restore an old cabinet with your own hands using paper napkins with a beautiful pattern, which is dominated by austere blue.
Napkins matched to the handles
Newbie tip: Napkins can be purchased at a hardware store or a special hand-made section of the supermarket.
Remembering the nuances of technology
To brush up on your skills, you can practice decorating the inside of a cabinet or drawer. The exercises are especially useful for those who first encountered the decoupage technique. The main thing is to comply with all stages of work and their sequence.
For interior decoration, the choice fell on a bright finish
For training, you can choose other interior elements, for example, an old stool or chair. Decorative wall decorations made of wood or plastic are also suitable.
Cooking tools and materials
The advantage of decoupage is that it does not require expensive or hard-to-find materials. You will find some of the items at home, the rest you can buy in the supermarket at a low price. The most expensive purchase is the purchase of paintwork materials, but to decorate a small cabinet, you can use the remains of paint from previous repairs. A small photo gallery of the necessary things:
Paper napkins with a beautiful pattern
Paint brush set - wide and narrow
Paint roller with tray to squeeze out excess paint
PVA glue for paper or construction work
Acrylic paints in your favorite shades
In addition to the listed items and materials, you will need:
- transparent fixing varnish;
- paraffin (an ordinary white candle is suitable);
- sandpaper (with minimal grit);
- primer for preparing the base for pasting and painting;
- a container with a spray bottle filled with clean water;
- masking paper tape or tape.
If you want to decoupage furniture with your own hands using fabric or wallpaper, use appropriate materials instead of napkins.
We clean the surface and prime the base
Cleaning should be done with a sander or by hand using fine-grained emery paper. We carefully grind all external surfaces. It is better to use a power tool to remove the polish, otherwise the process will be delayed. When you achieve perfect smoothness and uniformity of the surface, you need to apply a layer of primer. If you follow the instructions and know exactly the time of drying, then you can use your free time usefully.
Try to remember all the stages of work, because the skills of decorating old furniture with your own hands can be useful in the future.
Apply 1 coat of paint and cover with paraffin
As soon as the primer is completely dry, proceed to painting the facade and walls. First, select a background shade and apply it. In the future, it is possible to add stripes, shapes, borders of a different color. Places that cannot be stained are covered with masking tape. In the photo - a wardrobe, painted in 1 layer:
The main color is lilac of moderate intensity
Acrylic paint dries quickly, so after 20-25 minutes we start rubbing the surfaces with paraffin. We touch only those surfaces that we plan to age.
A candle is a great tool for creating a layer of paraffin wax.
Paraffin-covered areas are easy to style and make them more colorful. The next layer of paint comes off them perfectly, as a result of which the frayed places seem to be aged. In our case, a lilac background or woody texture will be visible on the treated areas.
Apply 2 coat of paint
Having waxed individual places, we proceed to re-staining. Prerequisite: the second layer of paint should be lighter by 1-2 tones.
To comply with the clear boundaries of the painted areas, do not forget to use masking tape
Use a narrow brush to paint small parts.
The transverse elements and the middle of the doors can be painted in a different color - blue, gray or turquoise.
Some bright strokes won't hurt
Having made the last smear, we wait for complete drying.
We decorate using decoupage technique
We use decoupage to decorate the end parts and the front side of the boxes. The process of fixing the napkin on a vertical surface is very simple. First, we apply a piece of napkin (or all) to the end of the cabinet, evenly moisten it with water from a spray bottle, then take a brush and carefully smooth the napkin, being careful not to damage the edges.
Smoothing napkins is one of the important stages of decoupage
Wetting helps the paper piece to align
Having achieved perfect smoothness, apply a layer of PVA glue on top of the napkin, it dries in about 20-30 minutes. Places covered with masking tape are painted in a different color.
We age and varnish
It remains to age the pre-selected places, in this case these are the corners and transverse slats. We take fine sandpaper and lightly remove the top layer of paint. Under it should show through the bottom layer, painted in a brighter color.
Aged places are clearly visible in the photo.
The interior of the cabinet is painted in one color.
The finishing touch is varnish. For durability, we recommend applying the protection 2-3 times, each time waiting for complete drying.
Installing new fittings
The chiffonier is ready, it remains to install the fittings - the design of the lock and decorative handles. If the store did not find fittings suitable in style or color, ordinary silver or gold parts will do.
The handle is decorated in the style of decoration
Don't forget about drawer handles
After spending just a few hours, instead of an old boring wardrobe, we got a new piece of furniture, stylish and unique.
Elegant wardrobe for the country interior
Video instructions for decorating old furniture
How to quickly paint an old cabinet:
How to remove old paint and apply new paint carefully:
Video: DIY workshop on the restoration of old furniture:
You have met just one episode of a successful furniture update. As you can see, it is not difficult to update an old wardrobe with your own hands: it is enough to purchase material for decoration and arm yourself with a brush. There are more sophisticated ways to decorate, but coloring and decoupage are simple and effective methods that are available even to amateur designers.
The restoration of old furniture is an interesting option to update the interior elements and show your creativity. You don't have to go to a furniture store or factory and buy new furniture. Having shown imagination, you can give tables, chairs, shelves an attractive look and a special zest. The simplest and most economical option, how to update an old cabinet, is to paint the furniture using decorative paints and varnishes.
Also, for restoration, you can use wallpapering, decoupage, photo printing, photo wallpaper and decorative plaster. But which way to choose?
The easiest and most inexpensive way to update a wardrobe that has lost its attractiveness is to paste over with wallpaper or photo wallpaper... This decoration is suitable for the restoration of a wardrobe, wardrobe, chest of drawers and bedside tables, which are installed in dry rooms.
The most suitable are non-woven and vinyl wallpapers or photo wallpapers that are sold in hardware stores.
The pasting is carried out partially or completely. How to update old furniture:
- Wallpaper used for restoration should have a different pattern from those that pasted over the walls in the room, but have a common style and color scheme;
- If the walls of the room are pasted over with light canvases, bright wallpaper is chosen to update the old cabinet. When the interior has wallpaper with a pattern or pattern, the furniture is pasted over with plain wallpaper;
- Interior shelves and exterior facades can be designed in different combinations. Additionally, new fittings are used. It is convenient to decorate furniture with self-adhesive wallpaper;
- For work, you will need a brush, PVA glue, a construction knife, decorative wallpaper. It is easier to glue paper canvases, but vinyl and non-woven ones are more durable;
- The product is measured, the wallpaper is cut into strips of the required length, the glue is evenly distributed over the surface, the wallpaper is glued, and the coating is carefully smoothed.
Before gluing the wallpaper, the surfaces are degreased with alcohol, acetone or gasoline. Self-adhesive is applied to the cabinet elements and smoothed so that air bubbles do not form.
Volumetric drawings
Decorative plastering and stencil painting is an interesting way to restore an old cabinet. Such a design will ennoble the furniture and give the surfaces a voluminous decor.
Suitable for decorating not only wardrobes and dressers, but also for the restoration of kitchen furniture (sideboard, cupboard).
The paint will reliably protect products from temperature extremes and moisture. For work, use decorative plaster, acrylic paint, varnish, a stencil with the desired pattern, a spatula, masking tape, sandpaper, brushes. Do-it-yourself painting of the cabinet requires adherence to the exact algorithm of work:
- Fittings are removed from the furniture.
- Remove the old coating layer.
- Processed with sandpaper.
- Cracks and chips are sealed with putty.
- The stencil is fixed with masking tape.
- Prepare the plaster according to the instructions.
- Apply the material with a flat spatula.
- The stencil is removed, the pattern is corrected with a knife.
- After drying, the drawing is sanded with sandpaper.
- Paint is applied to the renewed base.
- To fix the effect, they are varnished.
In the same way, the old cabinet is painted under a stencil, but without decorative plaster. Against the background of patterns, fittings, painted with a gold or silver tint, look spectacular.
To get a contrasting pattern, the product is covered with white paint. After the layer has dried, a stencil is attached and spray paint is sprayed on it (shake it first) of the desired shade - the decorative coating is ready, and the furniture takes on an interesting appearance.
So that the paint evenly covers the furniture and does not flake off, cabinets, bedside tables, dressers, wardrobes are prepared for painting, removing dust, dirt, greasy stains.
Any shade can be used as a basic background, but the drawing looks most impressive when the stencil cabinet is painted white.
Painting polished furniture
Interior items made of natural wood and covered with a polished layer can be given an unusual look using cabinet paint. An old product refined in a modern design will become the centerpiece of the room and give the room a special charm.
How to paint a wardrobe or refine a wardrobe:
- For work, use acrylic paint with a matte effect.
- Acetone or white spirit is used to degrease the base.
- You need brushes to apply paint, and new pens for decoration.
- Old fittings are removed from the cabinet, shelves and drawers are taken out.
- All surfaces are processed with a grinder.
- For the tool, select coarse and fine-grained sandpaper.
- If there are large chips on the surface, they need to be putty.
- The furniture is treated with white spirit or acetone, dried.
- How to paint a cabinet - apply a thin base coat of paint.
- After drying, rub with fine-grained paper.
- Remove dust with a dry cloth, apply the next layer, dry.
- Rub again and apply another layer until the desired effect is obtained.
Using this method, you can transform an old polished wardrobe into original vintage furniture that will adorn a classic interior. The fittings are screwed into place.
For exclusive work, you can use not full painting, but spot painting - a pattern is applied to the facades of furniture with a marker and the drawing is drawn with acrylic paint.
Refurbishment of chipboard cabinets
Furniture made from chipboard loses its attractiveness over time, no matter how carefully it is used. You can restore a beautiful appearance to products and add fresh colors to the interior by painting old chipboard cabinets.
It should be noted that chipboard does not absorb paint well, since the furniture is covered with a moisture-repellent laminated layer.
In addition, if the condition of the cabinet fasteners is unsatisfactory, it is recommended to replace the hardware and reinforce it additionally. How to paint an old chipboard cabinet:
- All removable elements are removed from the furniture so that an empty frame remains for painting.
- Using coarse sandpaper, remove the layer of old paint (if any) and varnish.
- Rub the surfaces carefully so as not to damage the base. The cabinet is swept with a dry dust-free cloth.
- Corners, edges, joints and protruding elements are processed with fine-grained emery paper.
- Water-based acrylic paint is a better option than painting on chipboard. The color scheme is chosen according to your taste.
- Before painting, the chipboard cabinet must be primed so that the paint is less absorbed into the material.
- The primer is applied in a thin uniform layer and allowed to dry out - usually acrylic primers dry no more than 12 hours.
- Apply several layers of paint with a roller or brush (more practical with a brush), each time drying the coating before painting.
- When the furniture is painted to securely fix the coating after complete drying, the chipboard cabinet is varnished, the product is assembled using new fittings.
For painting furniture, only high-quality tools are chosen that do not leave pile on the painted surface. The more layers of paint are applied, the richer the color of the decorative coating will turn out. You need to repaint with a brush in one direction - from top to bottom, apply the paint with a roller in a crosswise motion.
In the video: detailed instructions for updating an old chipboard cabinet.
How to upgrade kitchen cabinets
The kitchen is a damp and frequently used space. Furniture in this room is exposed to temperature, steam, moisture and mechanical stress, so kitchen cabinets tend to lose their original appearance than furniture for a living room or bedroom. You can restore an old cabinet in the kitchen by painting or finishing products with rattan cloth.
What paint to paint? An acrylic moisture-resistant compound or alkyd enamel is suitable. The updated cabinet with a glossy shine looks spectacular.
The procedure for staining kitchen cabinets is as follows:
- Furniture preparation- the doors are removed from their hinges, thoroughly cleaned of dirt, degreased, washed with soda to remove all impurities;
- Removing the old coating- all surfaces of the kitchen cabinet are treated first with coarse-grained, and then with fine-grained sandpaper, wiped from dust with a dry cloth;
- Apply an acrylic or alkyd primer with a roller or brush- depends on the selected paint and varnish material. The primer is allowed to dry;
- How do I repaint my wardrobe? Apply the first coat of paint thinly using brushes or rollers. After drying, apply the second layer with a paint pad with longitudinal and transverse strokes;
- When the front side is dry, you can paint the edges of the furniture pieces and the interior. When working, do not press on the pad so that there are no drips;
If the obtained color in terms of saturation and brightness does not correspond to the desired shade, the product is painted again. The use of white is suitable for any kitchen interior. Furniture is assembled using new fasteners and decorative fittings (handles, rails, moldings).
If you have difficulty unscrewing the fasteners when disassembling the cabinet, you may drip some oil on the screws. You can also lubricate the doors so that they do not creak.
Wardrobes, chests of drawers, bedside tables are painted in the same way, but it is not necessary to use water-repellent paint for them - you can use oil, acrylic and alkyd compounds for interior work.
To give an old wardrobe an unusual look, they use not only staining, but also upholstery with fabric, decoupage, vinyl stickers, stained glass and other decoration techniques. In what cases they can be used to restore an old cabinet with your own hands:
- Closet. It usually has mirrored or glass doors. You can decorate your furniture with stained glass or vinyl stickers. The decor is glued to the doors of the wardrobe.
- Old wooden furniture made of plywood and fiberboard will transform if you use decoupage or artificial aging for renovation, decorating furniture in a retro style.
- An antique cupboard can be refined by applying decorative plastering techniques or by repainting furniture completely white using a bleaching paste.
- Wardrobe in the children's room. The child is suitable for "cheerful", bright furniture, which is repainted on their own using spot painting with children's stories.
- Wardrobe in the living room. Furniture decorated with a collage of photographs looks unique. Beautiful pictures are pasted on the cabinet in whole or in some places and covered with colorless varnish.
Using your own imagination and creativity, you can update an old wardrobe and make it a highlight of the interior. The furniture will sparkle with new colors and become the centerpiece of the room. The most unusual techniques are used for decoration, the choice of which will satisfy any artistic taste.
Master classes from specialists (2 videos)
New life of old cabinets (33 photos)
Szafa pomalowana na bialo i oklejona powiekszonymi fotografiami. Wykonanie i aranzacja: Malgorzata Szczepanska 
How to upgrade an old cabinet? Surely many people had a similar question, because over time, every interior becomes boring and nondescript. In this case, it is completely unnecessary to spend money on new furniture. Even an old wardrobe is easy to transform with your own hands, "rewarding" it with a more attractive appearance. For this, you can use both professional materials and improvised means.
If you are no longer attracted to your own wardrobe, kitchen or bookcase, then you should definitely take the time to read this article. In it you will find a lot of useful and interesting information related to the reconstruction of furniture at home.
We update the old wardrobe with our own hands
As mentioned earlier, almost any material will do to update an old cabinet with your own hands. Various stickers and photographs are even suitable for this purpose. For a better transformation of furniture, you can use the following accessories:
- photowall-paper;
- paint;
- stained glass film (self-adhesive);
- textured decorative plaster;
- vinyl stickers;
- photo printing;
- any fabric;
- broken tiles, etc.
We will describe the use of these materials in the table below.
Affiliation | Step-by-step instruction |
wallpaper | Compared to photo printing, wallpaper is a more affordable and economical decorative element. Usually they are used to decorate the mirrored doors of the wardrobe. Before gluing such wallpaper, the surface must be washed and wiped dry, and so that in the future the pattern can be replaced with another at any time, glue the material with glue, which includes starch. |
vinyl stickers | With the help of these self-adhesive items, you can update absolutely any cabinet: wooden, lacquered, polished, etc. To use the vinyl stickers, you just need to separate them from the base and stick them in the right place, for example, on a mirror or on a wardrobe door. Such decorative elements are also removed very easily. If necessary, they can always be replaced with another decoration. |
regular wallpaper | If you have a roll of unused wallpaper after the repair, do not throw it away. With the help of such paper, you can beautifully update an old wardrobe. For this, the surface of the wardrobe must first be degreased. This can be done both with regular alcohol and with acetone and gasoline. After gluing, the sheet of wallpaper must be leveled with a dry cloth so that later on the surface there are no bumps with air. |
decorative plaster | With a similar mixture and stencil, it is easy to transform even the oldest cabinet. This method is recommended when renovating wood surfaces. If the furniture is covered with paint, then it must be cleaned. Before applying decorative plaster, the wardrobe should be wiped and cleaned from fatty deposits, if any. If there are cracks, cover them with putty. After that, start decorating the furniture. To do this, attach a stencil to the surface (you can use adhesive tape). Then fill all the holes in it with prepared plaster. Without waiting for the mixture to harden, remove the stencil device, and correct the resulting patterns, if necessary. When the plaster dries well, sand it, and then cover the entire wardrobe with acrylic paint. The final layer will be varnish. It turns out very nice and stylish. |
broken tiles | You can also beautifully update the wardrobe with the help of broken tiles. To do this, you just need to glue it to the surface of the wardrobe in the form of a mosaic. This option is especially suitable for kitchen and wardrobe furniture. |
Often, hostesses use ordinary beautiful fabric to decorate the wardrobe. As a rule, only the doors of the object are covered with it, after having pre-edged them with foam rubber or padding polyester. For fastening the material, it is allowed to use both liquid nails and a special stapler for furniture. This method is convenient in that the fabric can be removed at any time and, if necessary, replaced with another one if the interior of the room has changed. |
In addition, there are many more ways to update the cabinet with your own hands. For example, from its doors you can make a popular slate board (see photo). To do this, it is enough to purchase only a special coating with a blackboard effect (paint, film, etc.). This option is ideal for a children's bedroom. In other rooms, furniture can be decorated with various rivets and other similar elements. Thus, it is possible to transform both an ordinary wardrobe and a corner and built-in one.
What do you need to know?
What else do you need to know if you decide to start updating your wardrobe? Almost all old furniture, in addition to changing its appearance, requires careful restoration, which can be done with either one surface treatment or a complete replacement of the wood. Follow this principle.
- If the structure of the cabinet begins to deteriorate in places, then it is recommended to walk around the cabinet with a hard washcloth before decorating it. This will help remove the tainted top coat. After processing, the areas must be washed from dust and dried in the fresh air.
- In the presence of various defects on the furniture (holes, scratches), a thin layer of putty should be applied to the surface, and then allowed to dry completely.
- If any metal parts in the cabinet have begun to rust, then you can stop this process and remove the dirt with the help of special anti-rust agents.
- When painting furniture, it is best to use acrylic paint. However, if you prefer enamel, then it is desirable that it be alkyd, since such paint is primarily of high quality.
- If you want the cabinet to be lacquered, it is recommended to use spray varnishes to renovate it. In this form, they process the surface more thoroughly.
You now have the necessary knowledge of the correct technique for renovating an old cabinet. We hope you will take them into account and use them as soon as necessary. Give your old furniture a new life!
To restore an old cabinet, it is not at all necessary to contact a specialist. You can update the furniture with your own hands at home. Before restoring an old cabinet, it must be thoroughly wiped clean. There should be no dirt on the surface of the furniture. Then you need to get rid of the top coat. The next step is to seal cracks and chips. Only after that do they start decorating. The restoration is completed with the application of a protective composition. 
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What can be done with an old cabinet
The old wardrobe can be repainted or decorated with fabric, decoupage or special plaster. First, you need to remove the accessories from it. Experts also recommend pulling out the boxes. The furniture frame is not disassembled. If desired, only the doors can be removed.
After the preparatory stage, you need to move on to working with the surface of the furniture. Do-it-yourself restoration of an old cabinet is carried out taking into account the material from which it is made and the type of top coating.
You will need an eccentric sander to work with wood. With its help, the top layer is sanded. If there is no sander, then it will be possible to get rid of the coating using a wash. After applying a similar composition, the surface is covered with a film. This will enhance the action of the wash. The loose coating is removed from the tree with a spatula.
To seal defects in the form of chips and cracks, putty, furniture sealant or wax are used. A sanded solid wood cabinet is impregnated with oil or coated with wood protective compounds.
Soviet chipboard furniture is being updated in a similar way. The main problem during its reconstruction is a thick layer of paintwork. It is recommended to get rid of it with sanding. There is also a technology for painting polished furniture on top of the paint layer.
The easiest way to remodel an old polished cabinet is to paint it without sanding. For this you will need:
- Otex alkyd adhesion primer (or other similar composition for problematic and previously painted substrates);
- alkyd paint;
- White Spirit;
- brushes or foam roller;
- covering film;
- rag.
Work order:
- Cover the area around the furniture with a covering film.
- Wipe down the cabinet, remove the handles, and remove the drawers.
- Degrease the surface with white spirit.
- Apply primer evenly. Let the product dry. Cover the furniture with a second coat of primer.
- Apply paint. For an even coating, staining is done in 2 layers with each of them completely drying.
- Varnish your furniture.
Alkyd-based products have a pungent unpleasant odor. Therefore, during restoration work, the room should be well ventilated.
New fittings
An important stage in the reconstruction of old furniture is the replacement of fittings. First of all, you should pay attention to the condition of the loops. They must be replaced if they are rusty or damaged. The location of the loops is changed if pieces of material are torn out at the points of their attachment. The resulting holes are sealed with putty or sawdust mixed with PVA glue.
It is also necessary to check the condition of the rails in the cabinets. If necessary, they can be exchanged for better quality fittings. The extension system can be roller or ball. The second type of guides is considered to be more reliable. They provide silent pull-out of the drawers.
The last step is to replace the handles. They should be chosen taking into account the design of the furniture. Handles can be completely metal or combined - with ceramic or glass elements. For antique furniture, bronze fittings are suitable.
Refurbishment of chipboard cabinets
Acrylic paints are also used for restoration. Surface preparation in this case will be done a little differently. Sanding is the first stage of repair (they make a rough surface from chipboard with their own hands so that the acrylic paint fits better). Reconstruction will require:
- coarse sandpaper;
- acrylic paints;
- brushes or roller;
- covering film;
- respirator;
- rag.
Work progress:
- Cover the floor around the cabinet with plastic wrap.
- Sand the surface of the furniture with sandpaper. Work must be carried out in a respirator. The resulting dust is swept away with a rag.
- Apply several coats of paint.
- Varnish your furniture.
For restoration, you can use acrylic paint in spray cans. In this case, it is better to work outdoors in order not to stain foreign objects.
Decor
Furniture is painted in one or more colors. Another decor option is patterns. They are applied through a stencil or with masking tape. An interesting effect is created with lace. It is fixed to the surface of furniture and then sprayed on.
Many different materials are used to decorate old furniture. It will be possible to decorate the wardrobe with the help of self-adhesive film, decoupage cards, fabric, decorative plaster. Wallpaper is also used to update furniture.
Film wrapping takes the least amount of time. Another advantage of this decoration method is the large assortment of designs. The film can imitate the texture of wood or be produced in the form of a panel. Experts recommend buying a material with a protective layer, since it will last longer. The film is glued not only to the cabinet body - it is often used to decorate the interior space and drawers.
Master class on cabinet restoration with self-adhesive film:
- Remove all dirt and loose material.
- Degrease the cabinet surface with mineral spirits.
- Cut the film with a 2 cm margin.
- Gently glue the sheets to the furniture surface from top to bottom. Pull the backing paper slowly and firmly to avoid wrinkling.
- The bubbles resulting from the gluing process must be pierced with a needle, and then straightened.
Furniture decor is considered to be a creative activity that must be done slowly. Many household items look unattractive after a long service. Many may be damaged. How to upgrade an old cabinet? To do this, you can use one of the proven ideas, in which improvised means are used.
Is every cabinet suitable for renewal?
Various lockers are found in many houses. Over time, they lose their relevance and aesthetic appearance. Please note that the update is not suitable for every product. For example, when working with MDF and chipboard, positive results cannot be achieved, and a lot of money will be spent on updating.
If the furniture is solid, for example, made of natural wood, then improving its appearance will cost less than buying a new one. The decor of the old cabinet can be done independently without using the services of specialists. You just need to choose the most suitable method.
Types of decor
How to upgrade an old cabinet? For this, original ideas and various techniques are used. Some types of work can be performed without special skills. But there are options for restoring the appearance of furniture, for the execution of which you need to learn a little.
A wardrobe or crockery can be upgraded using the following methods:
- Photo printing or wallpaper.
- Colored stained glass film and vinyl stickers.
- Frosted glass or mirrors.
- Vinyl or plain wallpaper.
- Decorative plaster.
- Renewal with cloth.
- Restoration and painting.
Each of these methods has its own pros and cons. But if you do the job correctly, then the cabinet will take on an original look, and then you will not need to buy a new one.
Photo printing or wallpaper?
This method is used to decorate wardrobes. Large format printing has long been used in interior design. Specialists use a printer to apply a pattern to paper or other surface. The disadvantage is that it is expensive. Decorative panels with photo printing on glass are called "skinned".
How to upgrade an old cabinet with a more affordable method? To do this, you can choose a wallpaper. These should be purchased from hardware stores. The price is approximately 300 rubles. The theme of photowall-paper can be different - landscapes, flowers, animals. For gluing, glue with starch is used, since using it, it will later be possible to remove the old pattern by replacing it with a new one.
Applying stained glass film or vinyl sticker
How to update an old cabinet with these tools? They are simply glued to the surface to make the product presentable. are considered fashionable now. They can be purchased at specialized stores.
In addition to the beautiful decor, the film protects the cabinet from damage. Removing stickers is easy. The cost of such a decoration is relatively low. The self-adhesive base can be changed frequently as it can be easily fixed and removed.
Frosted glass and mirrors
You can update the old cabinet with your own hands using matting. The method is suitable for glass and mirror structures. In industrial matting, the top layer of the mirror or glass is removed. You can get a multi-level three-dimensional product.
Matting glass or mirrors on your own will be done using a special paste. For work, you need a stencil or rubber spatula. Place the stencil on the surface, apply the paste to it with a spatula. Then everything must be left for the period specified in the instructions. If a paste with an abrasive is used, then you need to rub along the lines for about an hour. Remains of the paste are removed with water.
Application of vinyl and regular wallpaper
A wardrobe or crockery can be made new by covering it with wallpaper. This decor option is suitable for old wooden or "Soviet" furniture. Such products will last a very long time. Classic paper wallpapers are great because they are easy to glue and stick on. And at a cost they are cheaper than vinyl. But simple wallpapers have disadvantages: they are of poor quality, and the drawing on them is too simple.
Vinyl wallpaper can have a paper or non-woven backing. They are considered heavier than simple ones. By the way, vinyl with a paper base sticks easier if you use starch glue. Before gluing the wallpaper, the surface must be degreased. This is done with alcohol, gasoline, acetone. The wallpaper should be straightened with a rag so that the paper does not go in waves. Then you get a neat job.
Decorative plaster
This method of decoration is called stenciling. The use of decorative plaster and stencil allows you to achieve volumetric original details. They are repainted in any color, gilded.
In work they use:
- Stencil.
- Decorative plaster.
- With a flat spatula.
- Masking tape.
- Acrylic paint.
- Varnish.
- Sandpaper.
If there is old paint on the surface, then it is processed with sandpaper so that the wooden base becomes visible. If the furniture is not painted, then it is necessary to remove the top layer, clean it of dirt. Cracks must be covered with putty. You should take a stencil created from cardboard, which is attached to the door
Then you need to take a flat trowel, apply a solution of decorative plaster to the stencil, filling in the recesses. Before the plaster dries, it is necessary to remove the stencil, and remove the defects with a knife. After drying, the cabinet is treated with acrylic paint, which has a protective effect. Then varnish is required.
Cloth renewal
The use of fabric to update the cabinet looks beautiful. How to remodel an old cabinet with it? Furniture is covered with material. In this way, you can decorate the cabinet doors by placing foam rubber or synthetic winterizer under the material. The fabric on the back is secured with a furniture stapler or liquid nails.
It is advisable to choose the material for the upholstery in the color of the wallpaper or other interior elements. It is advisable to purchase dense fabrics so that they stretch easily and do not deform over time. This decoration can be changed at any time using a different option.
Features of restoration and painting
Restoration of an old cabinet is often required to improve its appearance. In order for the furniture to serve for a long time, during this work, you must use the following tips:
- In some places, decayed wood is treated with a metal brush. This removes the dead tissue. Fine dust must be washed off with a jet of water.
- Before painting, the cabinet is dried, which takes 1-2 days.
- If there are holes from nails, scratches and other imperfections, the surface is treated with a spatula. All layers must dry thoroughly.
- If there are parts with rust in the furniture, they are treated with a special solution.
- For painting, it is better to choose acrylic. If you use enamel, then it is better to purchase alkyd, since it is of the highest quality. It is more convenient to work with a roller and a sponge, since the paint penetrates so deeper.
- The varnish is matte, glossy and silky. It is better to spray the furniture.
These tips will help you get the job done well. The restoration of an old cabinet helps to renew its appearance. It is necessary to choose a suitable idea, and you can begin to implement it. After that, the furniture will delight you with its original look. In addition, a successful self-renewal of furniture will definitely raise not only your mood, but also your self-esteem. The main thing is to understand that there is nothing difficult in the options proposed above!