We've all been there; dreaming of new furniture but not having the budget to go on a spending spree.
But what if we told you there was another way - a way in which you could breathe new life into tired and battered old furniture without breaking the bank.
Upcycling your furniture is a sure-fire way to make you fall in love with your home all over again.
Whether it's tables and chairs the kids have destroyed, or maybe you just want to revamp old furniture for the new baby, we've got you covered.
And the added bonus is that upcycling is better for the environment, so it's a win-win.
7 tips for upcycling old furniture
Here are our top 7 tips for upcycling old furniture.
- Get tooled up: What you'll need depends on the project but a good start would be masking tape, a dust sheet, a dust mask, a paint brush, sandpaper, metal paint, furniture paint, a sponge, primer, a dust brush, and a roller and tray.
- Prep well: Depending on what piece of furniture you're upcycling, you might need to remove hardware, shelves, legs of a table, knobs and door handles for example. You'll then have to wash the furniture with a bucket of soapy water and a sponge to remove any dirt and oils.
- Sanding: The next step is to sand the item and remove all dust with a brush and damp cloth. Make sure the dust is completely gone, otherwise you'll be left with uneven paintwork.
- Primer: Use a 2” brush to apply primer to any areas a roller would not get to. A great primer to choose is the Sherwin-Williams Multi-purpose primer. You can then use a mini roller to apply the primer to the rest of the remaining areas. You'll have to pause then to let it dry.
- Paint: Once your primer is dry, lightly sand the surfaces again and then apply an undercoat of your chosen colour. When the undercoat has dried, paint another coat. Once that coat has dried, you can assess how many coats you'll need overall. A good option to use here is the Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel which gives cabinets, tables and doors a smooth, luxurious finish. It's water-based so won't yellow like traditional oil-based coatings and it creates a hard, durable finish that withstands the wear and tear of frequently cleaned and used areas. And that's what all moms want to hear!
- Personal touch: If you’re adding detail with a second colour, mask off the areas that could get splashed with paint. You can paint smaller areas with a brush and larger areas with a roller to save time.
- Special effects: You might think a repaint just isn't enough so you could choose options like fading your new coat of paint with sandpaper. Or, if it was an expensive piece of furniture, you could use finishing products such as waxes and varnishes. Using spray paint is also a great way to transform metal furniture and it’s quicker than traditional painting. If you do choose this option, make sure to wear a mask and remove any rust and chipped paint with a wire brush before sanding.
Sale time
What's even better is that Sherwin-Williams have a sale until November 30.
You can enjoy 40% off paints and stains including Kool Seal *Roof Coating.
Prices start at TT$204.21
Happy shopping!
