If you’re ready to give your home a makeover, consider upcycling your furniture instead of replacing it. Upcycling furniture is a great way to save money, and it will help you to achieve a unique and original style. It is also a lot easier than most people think!

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If you are new to customising furniture, here is the beginner’s guide to upcycling furniture.

Finding Furniture

The first thing that you need to do is choose a piece of furniture that you would like to upcycle. Maybe you already own an old pine cupboard that you hate, but if not, you can check out antique fairs or car boot sales. Popular options include chests of drawers, mirrors, chairs and tables. Look out for items that have unique features, such as detailed woodwork or turned legs. It can also be useful to take a paint chart with you when you go shopping to provide you with ideas and inspiration.

Painting Furniture

Once you’ve chosen a piece of furniture, the next step is painting it. According to the Traditional Painter, chalk paint is an excellent choice, as you don’t need to prepare the wood by sanding it first – you can simply paint straight on to any surface. Most people buy two colours, and then they paint them on separately before sanding the edges. For instance, you could paint the furniture pink and then purple, and then when you sand the corners of the painted furniture the pink will show through.

You can also use modern accessories to create a striking look. For example, an upcycled bedside table will look fantastic with a modern table lamp. Find modern accessories at websites such as https://myhomerocksltd.co.uk/.

Stencilling Furniture

Now your furniture is ready, but you can personalise it even more by adding stencils. Stencilling is easy and cheap, and it will make your furniture even more beautiful. You can also use stencils to add a painted effect; you can try an acanthus scroll on a wardrobe for a vintage look, or you can use a smaller pattern on chairs and tables for a feminine feel.

You can buy stencils online, or you can make your own using cardboard and a craft knife. Once you’ve finished stencilling on the piece of furniture, make sure to add a layer of wax or varnish to protect the design.