How to refresh your furniture
Refreshing old furniture can be rewarding and allow you to express your personality. It’s easy on the hip pocket and challenges the consumerism mindset.
Plus, it’s on-trend.
“Refreshing old furniture aligns quite well with the bohemian trend that is gradually overtaking any other style in the world of interiors, but it can also be a very rewarding exercise, not just for yourself but for the planet too,” Twinkle and Whistle interior designer Nelly Reffet says.
She says it’s a perfect way of embracing “not-too-perfect-yet-perfect-for-me”.
Mixed with the new and glossy, refreshed furniture can soften a room.
Sadie Burton, who threw in her day job to start refurbishing business Fredericks Furniture, says upcycling and refurbishing gives a room a mellow, homely feel.
“There is something about wood — painted or not — that injects texture and of course a feeling of warmth, character and charm into your home,” she says. “It also tempers or tones down glossy surfaces which all contributes to an environment that is untamed and easy to live in.”
She says to never lose natural elegance and end up with something that looks like it is dressed-up for carnival.
BEFORE YOU START
Ms Burton says to ensure the piece you have in mind has integrity with good bones and is not in need of repair. She looks for solid wood (no MDF, laminate, chipboard or melamine) pieces which are, ideally, beautifully crafted.
Before committing to a total overhaul, Ms Reffet has a checklist for success. She says to ensure you have the time and space to undertake the work and have a clear plan.
Finally, Ms Reffet says to assess if the piece in mind really suits a re-do: “Some pieces of furniture ... go well beyond trends and are designed to be and remain graceful as they are for, well, ever.”
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WAYS AND MEANS
Here are Nelly Reffet’s tips on the many ways to rejuvenate a piece.
Paint: While white and duck blue have been popular for years, it's time to be bold, from vibrant red to leafy green. Also on-trend are organic tones of olive green, putty beige, light clay, warm grey and washed denim blue. Opt for a matt finish.
Wallpaper: Wallpaper can be used inside cabinet doors or on internal shelves. “You can really go crazy with the design: you will only see it when you open your doors, like revealing a present to yourself every time. Bingo!”
Reupholstering: Best leave this to the experts. “Finding the right upholsterer for your project is crucial, and the best upholsterers are often in high demand, but believe me, it's worth the wait.”
Knobs and handles: A huge array awaits online and offline, or make your own. Think leather, wooden spools, or a rope but remember it must be easily grabbed and cleaned.
Up-cycling cabinet doors: If a cabinet or wardrobe is in good condition, how about updating the doors instead of replacing the lot. If the cabinetry has glass inserts, Ms Reffet says this can be replaced with mesh or pressed tin.
Top work: To take an old timber sideboard to the next level add a stone off-cut to the top. Or cover an old round table with toughened white glass. A coffee table covered with penny round tiles and dark grout can be cute and easy maintenance. A big rectangular table, covered with encaustic tiles and minimal grout, gives a rustic look.
Repurpose: Using furniture in an unusual way can do the work for you. Weathered timber doors can work as a bedhead, vintage suitcases or an old timber chair as bedside tables, or an antique dresser as a bathroom vanity.
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