Find out how to restore antique furniture on your own and how to bring back the life in old, forgotten pieces of furniture.
The first step is to find such pieces of furniture, so the best place to look is in an old house which has a rich history. You might find antique items forgotten in an old attic, or a dark basement, in a storage room or even in the garage. If you find some pieces of furniture that have been passed down through generations, this could mean that you found something that could be of great value.
Of course, there are lots of places you can find antique tables and furniture other than your home. A simple visit to a garage sale, at a flea market, in secondhand stores or household auctions could turn out to be very productive. Also, you could look for one online, as there numerous websites who sell antique furniture, especially auction sites.
You could also go to an antique store for furniture, but these are usually expensive and you won’t have the pleasure to restore the pieces you find on your own.
Before you start the restoration process, take a minute to assess the furniture’s value and origin. Look for labels and marks which tell who the manufacturer is; if he is a master craftsman, the value of the piece could increase significantly. Take pictures of these labels, or note them down on a piece of paper, and consult a professional. This will help you know exactly if the piece is a real antique. Do not try to remove the labels, because if it does turn out to be a collectible item, removing the label will take all of its value away.
When beginning the actual restoration, try not to be put off by the bad shape of the object, like busted legs, water marks or scratches. With a little work, these will disappear in no time. However, you should understand that a restoration is not the same thing as refinishing. Refinishing means that you need to change the surface, while restoration is much more intensive because your will put some work to restore the furniture and bring it back to its original look and condition, so it can be used again.
You could start by cleaning and repairing the object, following the precise instructions of a professional. The cleaning should be done with an organic soap, preferable vegetable-based oil soap, a sponge and warm water. The repairing, on the other hand, could be more expensive if you need to buy antique parts, but, at the same time, you might just need to tighten a few screws, so check the piece thoroughly.
After you cleaned it, it’s time to begin refinishing it, or painting it. Taking off the old finish needs a lot of work and care, but be aware that removing a collectible’s antique finish could lessen its value, so be extra careful when refinishing your piece of furniture.
This may look like a complicated and difficult job, but in the end, when you will take a look at the new restored piece of furniture, where it is a antique coffee table, end table, an old armchair or a vintage cabinet, you’ll come to the conclusion that it is all worth it.