by Dian 1 Comment

Furniture Repair And Upcycling Project Tips

Have you heard of “upcycling”?  It’s become quite popular in the last few years as people are trying to save older previously loved pieces through furniture repair or furniture refurbishing.  Now it’s called “Upcycling”.  I have seen some of the cutest upcycled furniture ideas that I would have never thought of!  People can be so clever!

My DD is one who can find a piece that needs furniture repair or refurbishing and she can make it look like new!  She takes on upcycling projects all the time, she has even been able to make her own business with all of her upcycling ideas!

Upcycling is a great way to cut down on our budget for household items.  Click here to get your own free printable Monthly Budget Worksheet.

DIY Upcycling can seem like a huge task.  We’ve all seen those beaten-up pieces of furniture that were made with so much character and craftsmanship, and thought to ourselves, “With a little bit of work, that could look great!”.  Yet, more often than not, when we get down to it, we get cold feet.  We start talking ourselves out of it by asking the following questions:

• Where do I start?
• What materials do I need?
• How long is the whole process going to take?

All these questions and more make us talk ourselves out of it before we’ve even begun the furniture repair.  Well, here’s where Modernize can help!  They have some tips to help turn your old dust catcher into a modern furniture refurbishing masterpiece!

Here are a few upcycled furniture ideas and tips that will get you started:

Start Small

Not all upcycling projects are created equal, so be wise when choosing where to begin.  Pieces in need of furniture repair that have simple lines, minimal detail work, and no upholstery are going to be far easier to learn on than your great grandmother’s 18th century Louis XIV throne chair. It would be a great help if you did some quick research on your new upcycling projects to make sure that they aren’t priceless antique and that the value won’t be lost if you start working on them. Otherwise, just choose a piece that needs furniture refurbishing that will fill a need in your home—and whose bones you love—and you can’t go wrong!

Go Bold!

Now that you have chosen your next masterpiece, it’s time to get creative. Let your mind wander through all the colors and shades you might like, as well as any artistic accents you might be drawn to, such as decoupage or stencils.  This is an important step before you decide on your final upcycling ideas. Don’t be afraid to choose a bold color or pattern, or even some fun or eclectic hardware! If you go too bold and hate it, you can always tone it down later. Chances are, though, that you’ll grow to love your daring artistic choices.

Materials Matter

Now that the planning stages are done, it’s time to get started. Of course depending on the job you have chosen the list of supplies will vary. However most upcycling project will require:  

• 220 grit sandpaper
• primer
• paint
• brushes
• cleaning rags and solutions
• either varnish or wax.

Although there are some things in your upcycling projects where you can save money, make sure to check out the quality of your choices of paint, brushes, and/or varnish/wax. By opting for quality products, you save yourself time and frustration while ensuring your hard work is protected from dings and chips.

Most DIY upcycling projects can be finished in a weekend, giving you no excuse for not starting now. Come Sunday, you’ll have a show-stopping masterpiece you can be proud of and enough experience and excitement to get you planning your next upcycled furniture ideas!