Trash to treasure
Dated and daggy furniture doesn’t have to end up at the tip, with a bit of imagination and a tin or two of paint, you can create a unique piece for your home.
Antique vanity
Add old world charm to your bathroom by turning an old hall table into a vanity. Start by painting the legs and frame in white. To create the antique look, use a black crackle effects spray paint over that. In just a few minutes the look will appear before your eyes! Paint the top of the table black then give the whole unit a couple of coats of clear varnish to protect it from moisture. Get your plumber to connect up a countertop basin and you’re done!
Stencil heaven
Spice up an old chest of drawers with a Moroccan-inspired pattern. Search the Internet for an easy pattern and enlarge it to suit the size of your unit. Transfer the design to stencil plastic and cut it out with a craft knife. After sanding the old drawers, tape the stencil to it and use a stipple brush to paint the pattern on. Move the stencil around as you complete each section. Finish off with a coating of Carnauba wax to protect the surface.
Update with a stain
You don’t have to completely cover old timber furniture to make a change. Why not work with the material and use stains to create colourful highlights? To freshen up the unit and make the stain stand out, start by sanding back the unit. Undercoat then paint with white semi-gloss enamel. Also paint around the edges of the drawers. Now the fun part – the staining! Apply different colours and washes to the front panel of the drawers. Try out the stains on the inside of the unit to see how they’ll look. Finish off your makeover with modern, shiny knobs.
Go with the flow
If your furniture piece has a particular feature or decoration, don’t try and hide it, use it as inspiration. The decorative timber fretwork on this unit is a great example. Complement them by cutting similar designs into panels of thin plywood to go on the doors. To make them stand out, use a metallic gold spray paint on both the fretwork your new designs. Glue them back onto the unit, which has been painted in light blue. Another great trick is to paint the legs in black so the body of the unit appears to float.
