Vintage interiors are filled with life and atmosphere of the past. We have already told you what finishes and colors will help prepare the basis for vintage in the first part of the article:. However, the main elements in vintage style there will be furniture and decor.

Vintage broadcasts an entire era, looking into neighboring ones, which is why it is so multifaceted and rarely exists in its pure form. There is vintage, very close to the classics, there is a trend towards modernism, there are also simpler interpretations in rustic style. As a result, the furniture can be completely different styles past eras. It is impossible to name clear characteristics of such furniture: vintage is more of a feeling of cozy, slightly shabby, but high-quality antiquity than a specific style.

Nowadays it’s fashionable to give an industrial interior a vintage mood; the result is something like an old loft. This style is typical for furniture simple shapes made of pipes, metal combined with wood. Metal or wooden chairs with straight legs, minimum decorative elements, plain and rough upholstery on upholstered furniture made of linen or leather. Lamps in the form of movie spotlights are often a decorative accent in vintage lofts.

Furniture

Ideal furniture for a vintage interior includes items purchased from antique stores, found at auctions, attics and flea markets, real pieces from the 1880s to 1980s, and older pieces as accent pieces. This pleasure is extremely expensive. If you are not a true collector, then it is better to buy stylizations or make old furniture with your own hands.

Furniture rarely comes from one set; this creates eclecticism. When choosing furnishings for rooms, be guided first of all by the uniqueness and appearance of each individual item, and secondly, assemble them into a single whole in the mood you are striving for. The most characteristic vintage items are pot-bellied chests of drawers and dressing tables, chests, long armchairs wooden legs, heavy leather chairs and sofas, wrought iron beds.

Materials that perfectly convey the mood: rumpled brown leather, a combination of black or copper metal with wood, gray or beige natural fabrics, burgundy velvet. The wood is predominantly dark, but you can also use light wood or mix shades of wood within the same interior.

Decor

Accessories in vintage interiors really a lot. You can hang all the walls and make all the shelves with them, but it won’t seem unnecessary. Every item should have its own story, so it's good to buy trinkets at flea markets or attic sales.

Black and white photographs or graphic illustrations, maps, mechanical watches and mirrors in a variety of interesting frames are well suited for wall decoration. The frames should be old and shabby, but it is not necessary to match each other in color or shape.

All kinds of figurines, dishes, porcelain dolls, globes, candlesticks, vases and boxes will find their place on the shelves. Choose items according to the dictates of your soul, the main thing is that they do not look new. Books with shabby covers play a very important role in vintage interiors. Good decision will create a false fireplace in the interior and use it as a shelf.

As floor decoration you can choose a floor lamp with a voluminous lampshade, a full-length mirror or a mannequin from a tailor’s workshop. Stacked old suitcases can replace bedside tables. More ideas about this theme: .

A characteristic image associated with vintage style is a birdcage. It can serve its intended purpose or be a candlestick, mirror or interior object. How else can you adapt a birdcage, read.

The interior is also decorated with fabrics: lace or knitted for an elegant style, tapestries, velvet and leather for a weighty aristocratic style, cotton and linen for a simplified one.

Quartblog Digest

Let's look at the differences between two styles of the last century that have returned to fashion.

Basic principles for implementing vintage style in a modern interior.

The owner of this apartment is top floor small Madrid house - Maria Lopez Montero - blogs about interior design. In the house where she lives with her husband and their two children, she has tried to collect everything that attracts her in this field. The interior turned out to be modern, but full of treasures from yesteryear.

If you add sleight of hand and a little imagination to nostalgia for childhood, you get graceful element decor.

What if you made a massive vintage chest the center of your living room and built the entire interior around it?

Photos: consejosgratis.com, inmyinterior.com, decobizz.com, myworldapart.com, miss-design.com, ducrx.com, decotall.com, nijihomedesign.com, decorcology.com

Do you like retro items, but the prices in stores are not at all pleasing? Learn how to make vintage with your own hands - update furniture or create elegant decor. And we will teach you how easy it is to do it.

In this set of master classes you will learn:

• 4 ways to turn the most ordinary wardrobe, stool or chest of drawers into vintage furniture;
• 6 easy ways to add a retro look to familiar little things you already have in your home.

So let's begin.

1. Wardrobe with French “windows”.

Do you have an old, shabby cabinet with glass inserts on the doors? Before you send it to the dacha, remember that these are the things that are especially valued by vintage fans. Update it in just a couple of minutes with elegant fabric appliqués.

Making such a cabinet is as easy as shelling pears. The most difficult thing here is to choose the fabric in the right style. You can choose a solid color material, floral patterns or, like the author, a pastoral scene in the “ruyi” style.

Measure pieces of fabric to fit the width of the “window”, and then glue them with double-sided tape. That's it, your locker self made ready in vintage style!

2. Elegant retro stool.

This piece of furniture is found in almost every home. Is the stool pretty worn out, but still suitable for sitting? Amazing! For a vintage piece this is an excellent base.

First, sand the wood and then coat it with a dark gray primer. When dry, apply a second coat - white. Once dry, rub it thoroughly with sandpaper until the gray begins to show through.

Then make a seat from foam rubber and suitable fabric, secure it and get an elegant piece of furniture with a retro touch.

3. Chest of drawers with patina.

Do you have an old wooden chest of drawers? Perfect! Even if its condition leaves much to be desired, or you are not happy with the color, it doesn’t matter. On the contrary, this is a chance to turn it into elegant vintage furniture - much cheaper than in showrooms. Pair simple steps, and this chest of drawers will become your favorite.

Sand the surface of the chest of drawers with sandpaper, then apply blue acrylic paint (pink, but in muted tones will do) and wait until dry. Rub some areas with a sponge so that the paint appears unevenly applied, sand with sandpaper so that the wood shows through.

All that remains is to screw on the handles (by the way, they don’t have to be the same) - and admire the exclusive handmade item.

For more information, see our selection of master classes on this topic.

4. Wardrobe with vintage draperies.

Old wardrobe with glass doors can also be turned into retro furniture. You will need a piece of cotton with a floral or checkered pattern, the length of the fabric is equal to the height of the doors, the width is approximately 4 times the width of the glass insert on 1 door.

Cut the fabric into 2 pieces, fold the edges at the top and bottom, and then sew, leaving room for threading the fishing line. Thread a fishing line (or elastic) inside and make a drapery (gather approximately one to two). Repeat this with the bottom. Make a loop from each free edge of the fishing line.

Remove the glass. WITH reverse side Attach furniture nails to the doors (4 for each door) so that the head protrudes slightly. Put on the finished draperies, hooking the loops onto the studs.

What else can be decorated this way? More than 60 photo ideas for inspiration - (in our special issue on this topic).

Now look how easy it is to give a vintage look to familiar things or create retro-style accessories yourself.

5. Vase in a knitted case.

If you know how to knit, you can easily make such a cute decor for an ordinary glass vase. If not, sew a knitted cover from an old openwork jumper, maybe even a child’s one. It looks especially impressive if the product is knitted from cotton.

For one vase you will only need one sleeve (the second one can be used for another vase, including painting it a different color). If there is a cuff, it must be cut off, being careful not to unravel the sleeve itself.

Cut the sleeve slightly longer than the height of the vase, remove all the cut threads and finish the top edge so that the fabric does not unravel. Unravel the threads from the remaining part of the sleeve and twist them into about a dozen flagella with a knot at the end. Sew the finished flagella to the top edge of the cover and put the cover on the vase.

If you want to enhance the retro charm, find a white jumper and color the finished cover with tea, coffee or cocoa. The result is a delightful, truly vintage shade - ecru or ash pink.

6. A charming tray for the romantics.

Surely you have seen movie characters who have everything “in style” - even a simple tray. What's worse about you? You too can make such an accessory - and believe me, it’s very simple. All you need is a small metal tray.

Find a suitable vintage picture and print it on plain paper. Or select any photo, and then in a graphics editor like Photoshop, set it to “grayscale” or “sepia” mode, and then print it.

Attach the tray, trace, cut, glue - and admire! Perfect option for storing beads and pendants, as well as your favorite perfume - on the dressing table.

If you want to use this tray for serving, cover the picture with varnish.

7. Vintage jewelry display.

Making such a holder for bijou is also easy. Will need a wide wooden frame for a picture (old or new), a piece of plywood to fit the frame (for internal insert) and the remains of wallpaper with plant motifs.

The frame can be pre-painted in a dark, rich color (blue, green, burgundy, eggplant), and then sanded a little over the paint to give it a “patina of time.”

Paste the wallpaper onto the plywood and secure the finished piece to the back of the frame. WITH outside mark several points for hooks (in rows or randomly). Attach small hooks or furniture nails so that they stick tightly to the plywood.

Hang your decorations and place the display on your dresser (or hang it on the wall with a picture holder).

- in our other selection of master classes.

8. Plate with a vintage rose.

You will need a simple white plate without a pattern (porcelain, ceramics) and paints for glass-porcelain tableware in the form of felt-tip pens.

Draw sketchy lines representing a rose with a stem. Don’t worry about the lack of artistic talent - in this case, it is this slightly “naive” look that is valued (as in children’s drawings).

Important: even if this plate was previously suitable for use in the microwave, now (after applying the design) it cannot be placed there.

9. Candlestick made from an egg holder.

And here you don’t need to do anything at all. All you have to do is find an egg cup made of silver, glass or painted porcelain in a cupboard (or at a flea market).

Turn it over, insert a tall candle, place the composition on beautiful tray- and enjoy the detail of the retro-style serving.

10. “Blooming” watering can-vase.

Take a metal watering can as a base and paint it white. And then glue the napkins with floral motifs on the sides and spout of the watering can.

Any flowers are suitable for a vintage style, but spring flowers are best: lilacs, tulips, lilies of the valley. It is advisable to secure the design on top with transparent varnish.

Important: this decor will not last long on outdoors, so use the watering can only for watering indoor plants or as a flower vase.

__________________________

Now you know how easy it is to create a vintage interior with your own hands. Let your creativity bring joy and admiration to your guests!

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Fashionable antique furniture does not have to cost big money

With simple skills, each of us can create with my own hands beautiful and stylish vintage interior items.

Today in many furniture stores you can find tables, classic wardrobes, sofas and chests of drawers declared the latest trend, freshly brought from the factory, but looking as if they had stood for several decades in a cozy grandmother’s living room.

“Recently, such pieces of furniture have become extremely popular. Many lovers stylish decor residential premises prefer these peeling corners and chipped edges, scratches and tarnished paint, since they give the apartment a special charm and individuality,” says Alexander Yakovenko, a leading specialist in decorating houses and apartments at one of the elite Moscow furniture studios.

But why spend money on new expensive furniture? Perhaps each of us, looking around our room, will be able to find a bedside table covered with a tablecloth and several nondescript chairs, which everyone in the household has long since stopped paying attention to. However, a few simple manipulations - and these objects, artificially “aged” and at the same time ennobled, can become the most fashionable and attention-grabbing elements of room decor.

The discreet charm of patina

To achieve the so-called antique effect and properly age furniture, manufacturers or restorers who work with interior items made of wood usually use patina - a special solution that today anyone can purchase in a specialized store or order online. The cost of one liter jar of antique patina on the Moscow market today is about 2,000 rubles. There are more budget resources for the noble aging of modern products furniture factories: lime, glaze and varnish with a cracked pattern. “When using patina, the wood becomes darker,” explains Alexander Yakovenko. - At the same time, the typical structure of the wood remains visible, and the outlines tree rings become clearer. All this gives the furniture a noble, antique look. .

Photo from bolenio.ru

Stain - and no magic!

Often at home, to create vintage furniture, they use another, relatively inexpensive, but very effective remedy- stain, a special impregnation that is applied to wood products to change the color of the latter. High-quality stain also has protective properties, which allows the wood to maintain its attractive appearance longer and not be damaged. This impregnation seems to melt into the structure of the wood, preserving its pattern and surface properties. Shades of stains are usually made to match the color natural wood ranging from the palest pine to the darkest mahogany. Thus, thanks to the stain, old furniture made of cheap wood can be presented as a product from valuable species.

The stain can be purchased in the form of a ready-made liquid or a powdered product that must be dissolved in hot water and use immediately after cooling. When working with stain, you should never use metal containers or objects, since contact with metal may cause the impregnation to lose its coloring properties. It is best to use plastic or ceramic containers. There should also be no metal clips on the brush.
To achieve the desired effect, the impregnation distributed over the entire surface of the piece of furniture must penetrate deep into the wood layer. Therefore, this surface should be treated in advance by removing dust, dirt and adhering grease from it. Furniture made from soft wood is usually treated with alkali. It is necessary to carefully ensure that there are no stains left on the surface, especially difficult to remove ink marks (in this case, the impregnation will lie unevenly). The stain is usually applied using a brush or brush, and excess liquid is then removed with a sponge.

Work with protective coating wooden furniture. Before staining, all dirt and grease must be removed from the surface.
Photo from nmit.edu.au

When the impregnation dries, the wood fibers begin to swell and appear on the surface. To smooth them, you need to stock up on paper sandpaper or fleece. It should be remembered that stain is not protective agent for wood. If you want something made by your own hands fashion furniture served for many years, its surface must be coated with clear varnish.

Dough, paint and glaze

In order for the paint to ordinary furniture seemed “antique”, the pores of the wood are filled with lime paste, which is made on a wax base. It can be purchased at finished form in the most ordinary hardware store. Today the most popular are white and pastel shades. Lime paste can only be used when working with furniture made of solid wood (if it is not covered with plywood). First you need to open the pores of the wood surface. This is done using a simple copper wire brush. Then rough linen fabric lime paste is rubbed into the pores. When it hardens, the surface should be thoroughly wiped to remove excess white coating. Additional protection no wood is required: it is provided by the wax contained in the dough.

Photo from diynews.ru

A similar antique effect is achieved by white paint, intended for working with interior details, and applied thin layer glaze on furniture. 20 to 30 percent of water by volume is added to interior paint and applied to the surface of the wood using a sponge. The furniture is thoroughly dried and then covered with a thin layer of glaze, which has a chestnut or mahogany shade. White paint appears through the varnish, giving the item a treasured vintage look.

Photo from the site pokupkamebeli11.ru

Stylish lacquer cracks

Varnish with a cracked pattern, which is the most affordable among all “aging” products, will make it easy to imitate the noble dents that appear on furniture over time. Experts recommend first trying to apply this product on a separate board to evaluate the result. In principle, this aging method is usually used only for small areas of furniture. First, the wood surfaces are coated with a regular primer varnish. Only after it has dried should you pick up a jar with a special solution selected close to color scheme processed item. The cracked pattern will gradually begin to appear, and you will get the desired effect. old paint.

Transfiguration old furniture into fashionable vintage interior items, like any creative work, requires not only a flight of fancy, but also a serious approach to business. You will certainly have to stock up on all the necessary tools and a lot of patience, but as they say, nothing is more valuable than things made with love with your own hands.

Photo from the website street-mebel.ru

Do you want to create unique interior without extra costs?

Old furniture will help you with this, photos of the conversion of which you can find here. There are many ways to transform old, familiar objects.

The choice of method depends on the purpose of using the furniture and the type of coating, as well as its condition at the time of repair.

You can find a step-by-step photo master class on making furniture with your own hands from old interior items on our website. The process of updating furniture includes two main stages:

• repair;
• decoration.

Let's take a closer look at what you should focus on.

Table repair

Tables are classified according to functionality into desks, dining tables, kitchen tables and coffee tables. Depending on their purpose, their structure and, consequently, the restoration process also differ. Usually, dining tables consist of 4 legs, a bow and a table top. They can be solid or folding. When remodeling such furniture, it is worth paying attention Special attention the condition of all elements, as well as their fastening. The legs must be identical, without damage. If necessary, they can be replaced.

The tabletop, in turn, is the main part of the table. Its surface should be smooth, without grooves, cracks and corrosion. If necessary, wood putty can be used to achieve the desired effect. With its help, you can easily and quickly eliminate all surface imperfections. If necessary, it can also be used to repair legs. The same scheme is used when repairing coffee tables.

Kitchen tables have their own characteristics. Before starting repairs, it is necessary to conduct a full inspection of this piece of furniture. The strength of the countertop plays an important role. It must withstand heavy loads and physical impact. In this regard, the base on which it is installed must also be strong.

An example of using wood putty, which will help correct all the unevenness of an old countertop

Note! Kitchen tables are not only a place to work, but are also used to store kitchen utensils. To do this, they have built-in drawers, shelves and doors. They deserve special attention.

If the table is equipped with shelves, then you should pay attention to their fasteners. If necessary, you can purchase special caps made of wood or plastic at a furniture store; thin, durable ones can also be used as fastenings for shelves. metal corner. Pay attention to the condition of the canopies that secure the door. It is best to replace them with new ones, since with frequent use this part is subject to the greatest wear.

Natural wood is given freshness by special polishing agents, which can be found in any hardware or furniture store.

If the table is equipped with drawers, check how firmly their walls and bottom are connected. To make them easier to use, you can replace the fittings with which the drawers are pulled out. You can buy it at a furniture store. You can also buy it there various types comfortable handles.

Advice! When replacing awnings, choose ones that are designed for furniture. They will ensure more convenient and reliable operation of the doors.

During repairs desk It is worth paying attention to all of the above. After watching a detailed master class on remaking old furniture with your own hands, you can repeat it yourself.

Repair of cabinets and bedside tables

Every home has furniture that is designed for storage. Typically this is different types and size of cabinets and cabinets. They can be different in height, depth, and capacity. Moreover, each of them can become a real decoration for your apartment. To do this, see how to restore old furniture with your own hands below.

A rather extravagant and extraordinary element of the interior is a bedside table made from an old suitcase.

First of all, you should inspect all the shelf fastenings and, if necessary, replace them with new ones. You can also replace the drawer fastenings with more functional and modern ones.

Depending on the size, door fastening methods may vary. Canopies are used for cabinets and small cabinets. They wear out quickly, so when carrying out repairs, it is best to replace them with new ones.

If you are remodeling a large wardrobe and it has moving doors, then over time its fittings may wear out. In a furniture store you can find special fastening rollers for sliding doors closet

How impressive restored old furniture looks in this case, see below in the photo.

Chair repair

It’s hard to imagine any home without chairs. Today it is such a commonplace item that few people pay attention to it. This can happen in two cases - either when the chair is properly designed as an interior item, or when it breaks. We will look at how to get from the second option to the first.

An option for restoring old armchairs with covers in a vintage style

The chair consists of three main elements:

• legs;
• seats;
• backrests

All of them can fail sooner or later. If the breakage is caused by the legs, then they must be firmly secured, as otherwise the use of the chair becomes dangerous. If the seat is broken, it can be replaced by cutting out a corresponding piece from plywood or fiberboard. The same can be done with the back. You can also make the stool soft if desired. To do this, you need to attach it to the seat and backrest. soft upholstery based on foam rubber.

Advice! If you decide to install or replace the upholstery on a chair, it is best to use fabric stitched to the foam. You can find one in a textile store, and you should attach it using a construction stapler.

Old furniture: photos of design options using painting

As you know, any piece of furniture should be not only functional, but also attractive. Therefore, when old furniture is updated, a photo of which you can see below, it is necessary to divide the work into several stages. The first stage is surface preparation.

It is necessary to clean the furniture from traces of old paint, varnish, and dirt. After this, it is necessary to fill the cracks, if any, and then apply a primer. Next you can apply the base. To do this, you need to choose paint of the appropriate color.

New life for the frame of an old bed made of natural wood - painting it in delicate turquoise

Advice! It is best to use acrylic paint on water based. It does not contain toxic substances, does not emit a strong odor and dries quickly. At the same time, the surface takes on a glossy, attractive appearance. But if you are good with an aerosol can, then this will do.

Decoration

Restoration of old furniture, photos of which are presented below, includes decor. you can use various techniques and combine them. The most common is decoupage. To do this you will need the following:

• the required image printed on paper;
• PVA glue;
• glue brush;
• varnish, preferably water-based acrylic;
• brush for applying varnish.

Decoupage is a fascinating activity, and furniture made using this technique looks very delicate and unusual.

Advice! It is best to use large colored napkins with appropriate motifs as images.

Lubricate the surface with glue, carefully apply and smooth the picture. Let everything dry a little, then open it with varnish. It is worth noting that there is no doubt about the effectiveness of using this method when restoring old furniture with your own hands.

Another equally interesting decoration method is applying patterns using lace. For this you will need:

• lace;
• paint of the appropriate color;
• scotch.

Take a piece of lace and apply it to the place you plan to decorate. Secure the ends with tape. It is advisable to cover the remaining area with paper or film. Apply paint with a brush or use aerosol cans. Let the product dry. Remove the tape, paper and lace.

Advice! If you want to decorate large area, then it is best to use a piece of guipure of the appropriate size.

Both of the above methods are quite effective. Instead of lace and guipure, you can use paper templates. As a rule, often when decoupage and restoration of old furniture, wallpaper left over after renovation is used.

Upholstery of upholstered furniture

Over time, the upholstery of sofas and armchairs not only loses its attractive appearance, but can also sag significantly and become not as soft as before. But if you don’t want to throw away your favorite piece of furniture or don’t have the funds to buy a new one, you can reupholster it at home.

Renovated shabby chic dining room

Detailed master class How to remake furniture with your own hands, and photo examples are presented on our website. You need to purchase the appropriate fabric from which it will be made. new upholstery. It could be:

• barrack;
• velours;
• leatherette;
• crepe;
• Alcantara;
• leather, etc.

The choice of upholstery material depends on your financial opportunities. You can purchase it either in a textile store or in a specialized furniture store. You will also need construction stapler and staples for it.

From old upholstery best to get rid of it. It can be secured with glue. In this case you will need construction knife or (if staples are attached) you will have to use a flathead screwdriver. After removing the old trim, begin installing the new one.

A small master class on replacing the upholstery of an old pouf

Cut the required piece of upholstery, place it so that the edges overlap where the old one ends, and attach it with a stapler. You can carry out such manipulations both with the soft part and with the back and sides.

If upholstered furniture has lost its volume and softness, they can be returned by replacing foam rubber. It must be secured with special small nails. If you are afraid that such manipulations are beyond your power, then you can stick foam rubber on top of the old upholstery and cover it with new one. But it is worth considering that the furniture should not lose its functionality.

Adding new volume to the seat of an old chair

You can add any volume to your product. To do this, you need to choose foam rubber of the appropriate thickness. If present folding mechanism, then after reupholstering it should function as before.

Advice! If you need to replace the upholstery and restore its volume, it is advisable to use fabric stitched to the foam rubber. You can purchase it at a specialized store or sew both materials yourself.

Decorating upholstery of upholstered furniture

If you change both layers of upholstery, you can apply different types of decoration options that will give your furniture more aesthetic appearance. There are lots of ways to do this. We will look at the two most common:

1. The fabric used for covering can be sewn using patterned seams. This will create a special decorative effect.
2. Buy buttons or textile clips and use them to tighten the fabric and foam, connecting them together.

Updating upholstered furniture with a cover

More economical and in a simple way To hide stains is to sew covers. To do this, you can choose any fabric you like. It is important that it is durable. Most often used for this purpose:

• barrack;
• velours;
• velvet;
• jeans;
• calico;
• and others.

Having taken measurements according to the size of the sofa, you can sew a cover that will cover the back, seat and, if necessary, the side of your sofa.

A small master class on sewing a replacement cover for a pouf

When making a case, you can use various techniques decor. You can place embroidery in a certain place. If desired, you can sew on an applique. To do this, fragments of the design are cut out from pieces of fabric and sewn to the base, forming a single picture.

You can also use patchwork, which is popular today - the art of making products from scraps. In this case, you can use pieces of old unnecessary things to make a cover.

Renewing the existing building using plywood

Scuffs, stains and even torn upholstery can be hidden using a special lining. To make it you will need:

• plywood;
• small metal corners;
• the smallest furniture screws.

You can cut the plywood yourself or seek help from specialists where you will purchase it. You will need 5 pieces according to the size of your animal. The cover should cover its outer, inner, back, front and top parts. After taking measurements, simply make 5 corresponding rectangles and fasten them from the inside of the structure using corners and self-tapping screws.

Next, you just need to put the structure on the frame. It can not only serve as decor, but also be quite functional. You can use the overlay as a mini table. If necessary, apply paint or decorate it in any way convenient for you.

Advice! After making the plywood trim, sand it on both sides with sandpaper.

There are timeless values ​​in human life. One of them is antique furniture. She is dear not only to her own unique design, but also by the unfading soul of the master, which sounds in every bend of the wooden silhouette, and by time, frozen in lines unusual for modern times.

Before carrying out restoration work, furniture must be thoroughly cleaned and washed. Use a soap solution and warm water for this.

But no furniture, no matter how long it pleases the eye, lasts forever. This does not mean at all that you need to part with her as soon as possible. Refinishing antique furniture with your own hands is a great way to extend the life of an old rocking chair or grandma's chest of drawers that brings back fond memories.

Moreover, creative people there is a chance to make old furniture not only an exhibit of a small home museum, but also to harmoniously fit it into the interior modern apartment, giving the home a special flavor. Moreover, this is not so difficult to do - you just need to apply a little patience and creativity, select the right tools and comply with a number of technical requirements.

Materials and tools

To give your antique furniture the meticulous care it deserves, you may need the following:

Tools for furniture restoration: self-adhesive film, furniture layout, iron, knife, scissors.

• plane;
• drill, wood drills;
• mallet;
• hammer;
• chisels;
• Screwdriver Set;
• jigsaw (manual or electric);
• assembly knife;
• ruler, square;
• pliers, round nose pliers;
• household hair dryer;
• self-tapping screws;
• metal brush;
• paints;
• varnishes;
• stencils for drawing;
• sandpaper (medium grit);
• set of brushes;
• two-layer sponge;
• rags, tampons.

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Types of restoration and alteration

Experienced craftsmen who make and repair furniture with their own hands know several options for restoring it and changing its appearance to suit modern stylistic needs.

Painting antique furniture includes: determining the style, purchasing paints and brushes, and hard work on its implementation.

All these options can be reduced to the following list:

• painting various colors on metal or wood;
• production of decoupage;
• applying veneer to objects or laminating facades;
• pasting with a special film;
• varnishing and processing wooden surfaces stain;
• craquelure;
• brushing.

Separately from each other, these restoration methods are used quite rarely when significantly updating furniture rarities. Most often they are used in a complex, combining depending on the purpose.

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Application of paints and drawings

You can, for example, in two simple ways - painting with paints or a technique called decoupage. In both cases, the choice of colors and images depends solely on the aesthetic tastes of the artist.

Acrylic-based paint is best suited for painting antique furniture.

In order to transform an aged stool into an elegant chair with the help of paints, it must first be cleaned of dirt and degreased with a soda solution. Then the surfaces of the object are cleaned with sandpaper. If dents and potholes cannot be smoothed out using sandpaper, they are puttied. Prepared surfaces are primed before painting.

After the paint is applied, the panel must dry completely. The surface thus obtained can be left simply painted in new color, or you can apply various designs to the new base. Those who cannot boast of artistic talents can use suitable stencils.

Another way to apply images to furniture surfaces is decoupage. Using this technology you can quite easily transform old wardrobe into the bright modern wall, and turn an unsightly table that has stood in the kitchen for many years into a miniature lawn overgrown with flowers.

To do this, it is enough to paste over the indicated items with pre-cut pictures, all kinds of pieces of fabric, napkins, etc. Then this entire unique appliqué, carefully leveled and smoothed, is carefully varnished.

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Veneering and film coating

The next two types of restoration of outdated furniture come down to pasting with special additional coatings that hide defects of old surfaces.

Veneer, familiar to many craftsmen, is thin sheet wood material thickness 0.5-3 mm. It can take the form of a wide variety of wood species, including particularly valuable ones, so applying it to worn, worn panels gives the furniture the attractive appearance of a new set. Veneering, which requires a special press, is carried out using cold and hot methods. The simplest option for hot veneering is using a heated iron.

First, veneer fragments of appropriate sizes are cut out for the surfaces to be treated, the veneer itself and the furniture are impregnated with PVA glue, after which the finish is applied to the furniture parts. The pasted and aligned sheets, previously covered with paper to protect the decorative layer, are smoothed with a hot iron (press). Adjacent veneer fragments are glued slightly overlapping and the hot pressing process is repeated. The remaining veneer is carefully cut off with a knife and sanded.

Covering old furniture with a special vinyl film that has an adhesive backing is even easier. But there is one feature here - the surface of the furniture must be almost perfectly flat and smooth. Otherwise, all existing irregularities will very quickly make themselves felt.

In addition, it is best to entrust the filming of various curves and relief decorative elements to a specialist. In this case, vinyl film, which can look like valuable wood, granite, marble, etc. will be completely invisible and will perfectly hide an aged object.

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Varnish coating

Updating the furnishings of an apartment sometimes comes down to classic technology - removing the old top coat of paint and applying new layers of paint and varnish. Typically, surfaces that have lost their original visual appeal over time are treated in this way.

First with relevant tools and special chemicals To remove polish from the surface of furniture, remove a layer of paint and a layer of varnish. Then all imperfections are carefully puttied, primed and sanded, after which new paint (or stain) is applied to the panels. After drying, the painted surface is coated with colorless varnish.

Automotive varnishes are ideal for furniture restoration, as they are practical to use and reliable.

The first layer of varnish should dry within 1-2 days (depending on the degree of fat content). The next step is to sand the restored part with sandpaper. The cleaned surface is then wiped with a damp cloth. A layer of varnish is applied again, it again goes through the drying stage. And so on until 4 layers of varnish are applied to the furniture.

Sometimes complete replacement no paint coating required. This happens when the varnished surface, although in generally good condition, encounters individual defects, for example, deep scratches. In this case, the damaged area should be covered with a layer of plain varnish, then wait until it dries and finally polish it with a soft cloth.

If during restoration lacquered furniture If a stain is detected, it is advisable to determine its origin. But most often it is impossible to do this, especially on old furniture that is many years old. In this case, you should first wipe the stained area with a cloth soaked in purified gasoline.

If the stain cannot be completely eliminated immediately, then after drying the operation is repeated until it completely disappears. Wipe the cleaned surface with a dry cloth. If, as a result of removing a stain with gasoline, the polishing was damaged, it is restored with a mixture linseed oil and alcohol.

You can also restore polished furniture with your own hands if its surface has been damaged by a hot iron or other hot object, which does not happen very rarely. Remove an old stain from a kettle or pan using a swab soaked in denatured alcohol. Alcohol mixed with drying oil is also used in cases where the stain from a hot object is too severe. The area thus cleaned is wiped with a rag soaked pure alcohol, and finally polished.