Updating furniture finishes is a great way to refresh the look of your old furniture that is too old or out of date. This finishing process can also be used to salvage furniture you got from a thrift store or someone else's gift, and give it a fresh new look. Keep reading to find out how.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Selecting and Preparing Furniture
Step 1. Choose the right furniture
Not all furniture is good for updating its finishing. For example, valuable antique furniture, refinishing it must be done by a professional, because the refinishing process can reduce its value if you are not careful. To choose the furniture to be updated, look at the following points:
- Furniture made of sturdy wood. Furniture made from perishable wood, particle board, or other non-sturdy woods may not get a good refinish.
- Furniture with too much paint. Peeling off old paint one layer at a time may not be worth the time spent.
- Furniture with a smooth and flat surface. If this is your first time updating a finish, avoid furniture with intricate carvings and tortuous legs.
Step 2. Create a finishing plan
Take a look at the furniture you've selected for an updated finish and make a plan to turn it into the perfect piece of furniture for your dining room, front porch or kitchen. You may consider the following questions:
- What is needed to change the finish? If the old paint finish, you will need a paint peeler; if the length of the varnish finish you need thinner.
- What kind of new look do you want? Do you want a new color? Or do you want to expose the natural wood grain? You may not know the answer until you know what the original wood grain looked like under the old finish.
- You can visit furniture stores, the internet, and consult with experts to get ideas for creating the look you want.
Step 3. Purchase finishing kits
Once you have a plan, you'll need the equipment to work on it:
- Security equipment. You will need a ventilator (especially if you are working in an enclosed space), protective eyewear, chemical-resistant gloves, and an apron. To protect your floors, use a chemical-resistant covering too.
- Peel paint and/or other finishing remover. If the furniture is painted, you will need a thick peeler to remove the paint. If it's not painted you just need thinner.
- Brush for applying exfoliating liquid and exfoliating tool.
- Sandpaper and/or sanding machine, plus sandpaper for finishing.
- Wood stain with your choice of color.
- Polyurethane coating to coat and protect the dye.
Step 4. Get rid of all the hardware on the furniture
Remove the buttons, handles, hinges and other metal fittings so that the furniture is ready to be refinished. The device can be damaged by the chemicals used to peel off the furniture.
- Put the hardware in a plastic bag that is labeled so you remember what the device is for when putting all the pieces together again.
- Include in the plan to polish the hardware so that it matches the refurbished furniture. Or you can buy a new one to further enhance the furniture that has been refinished.
Method 2 of 3: Peeling off Old Paint and Finish
Step 1. Prepare the work area
These peeling and finishing chemicals are highly toxic, so it is very important to prepare a work area with good ventilation. You can use a garage, work shed, or outdoor area.
- It's best not to work in one of the main rooms in your home. It's also best not to be in the basement because of the lack of ventilation.
- Remove the floor covering and arrange your supplies, paint remover, brush for applying the peeler, and the peeler you need on top.
- Put on a ventilator (if you work indoors), gloves, an apron and protective eyewear.
Step 2. Apply paint peeler liquid
Dip the brush in the exfoliating liquid and start applying it to the furniture. If the furniture you are working on is large. Peel the paint off one by one, not all of it. As you apply, the exfoliating liquid will blend into the paint, separating the paint from the wood.
Step 3. Scrub to remove paint
Use a steel wool and other scrubbing tool to remove the paint that has been treated with the exfoliating liquid. The paint will peel off in large pieces.
- Apply the same amount of exfoliating fluid to each piece of furniture. The peeling process affects the wood at the base, so you'll want to make sure each piece gets the same treatment to make it an even, not streaky finish.
- If the furniture has multiple layers, you may need to repeat the peeling process more than once.
Step 4. Peel off the old finish
Once the paint has peeled off, the finish underneath should also be removed. Use a paint brush to apply thinner, then clean with steel wool. All furniture must be completely dry.
- Once the original wood is visible, rub it in the direction of the wood grain, not in the opposite direction because it can damage it.
- If most of the finishing seems to have been peeled off by the paint peeler, you still need to give the furniture a rinse exfoliant to make sure all of the old finish is gone. Rinse the furniture with rubbing alcohol or spirit, then allow it to dry.
Step 5. Sand the furniture
Use an emery machine or furniture sandpaper thoroughly. Sand it evenly and spend the same amount of time on each section so that the result is even. Use a finer sandpaper and sand the entire surface again for a perfectly smooth surface. Wipe off the dust with a cloth, now your furniture is ready to be given a new finish.
Method 3 of 3: Varnishing and Finishing
Step 1. Apply varnish to the furniture
Use the brush to produce an even coat of your choice of varnish. Do not brush brushes overlapping each other as this will result in an uneven color.
- You can test the varnish on the underside of the furniture to practice the right strokes and pressures to get the color you want.
- Adjust your stroke of varnish so that it doesn't accumulate in the gaps and make the color of the gap darker than the rest of the furniture.
- Follow the instructions for wiping off the varnish after it has been in the wood for some time with a soft cloth. Leaving the varnish on the wood longer will make the color darker.
Step 2. Apply the cover layer
Use a brush to apply the upholstery of your choice to the furniture, brushing evenly. Once done, let it dry completely.
- Use an old cloth or t-shirt to spread the cover and rub it evenly on the furniture.
- Make sure you apply a very thin layer; a thick layer will produce a gloomy, not glossy look.
Step 3. Sand the furniture
Use fine sandpaper to sand the furniture evenly after the cover has dried. Spend the same amount of time sanding each section until the entire surface is even. Repeat until the finishing of the furniture looks complete.
Step 4. Reinstall the hardware
Reinstall buttons, handles, hinges and other devices on the finished, dry furniture.
