Not all furniture we find is attractive. It might be picked up from an online listing or passed on from relatives. Over the years we've spent a great deal of time focusing on these shabby pieces in efforts to make them chic once again. Check out these 30 tips, tricks and ideas for your next furniture flip!
Some of our favorite tricks of the trade are listed below along with some great questions that we've addressed over the years. If you're looking for a specific piece of furniture, make sure to check out archives as they're packed to the gills with ideas to make your restoration and makeovers go smoothly.
Items pictured above are bolded below.
RESTORATION HOW TO IDEAS
• How To: Restore A Fiberglass Shell Chair
• How To Cover Up Dings in Wooden Furniture
• Glue it Right: The Secret to Super Strong Wood Glue
• Use Coffee Grinds To Cover Furniture Scratches
• Touch-Up Wood Markers by Sharpie
• How To Get Mouse Pee Out Of Particle Board
• Fresh Start: DIY Dressers & Side Tables
• 10 Ways to Customize Ikea Furniture
• How To: Restore Thrift Store Furniture
GOOD QUESTIONS
• Good Questions: How To "Firm Up" a Couch?
• Good Questions: Sofa Button Repair Tips?
• How Do I Repair a Tear in My Leather Sofa?
• Good Questions: Do Leather Repair Kits Work?
• Good Questions: How To Remove Mold From Wood Furniture?
• Good Questions: How To Repair Broken Dresser Handle?
• Good Questions: Could I Reupholster an Eames Lounge, Too?
• Good Questions: Restore Grandma's Chair or Let It Go?
• Good Questions: Auto Body Paint Job for Furniture?
• Good Questions: How to Safely Refinish an Enamel Topped Table?
BEFORE & AFTER FURNITURE INSPIRATION
• Before & After: The Pretty Painted Sofa Makeover
• Repair & Refresh: Fixing Up a Washstand
• Before & After: Vintage Metal Furniture Rescued
• Before & After: Painted Upholstery Chair Makeover
• From Start to Finish: Accent Chair Makeover in a Weekend
• Before & After: Denese's Sunny Table Makeover
• Before & After: My Dramatic Table Overhaul
• Blissful Blue Magic Makeovers From Style North
• Before & Afters by Eddie Ross
• Before & After: Mid-Century Dresser Repainted
• Before & After: Chalkboard Table
Images: Jason Loper, The Good Mod, Plum Life, Nick Siemaska, Mike Lieberman, Sarah
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I would like to add mine. I discovered that shoe polish (brown) worked to diniminish the scratches and dings on the Ikea particle board items i was trying to sell on CL. It was pretty amazing!
A comment for the one about taking furniture to be painted at the auto body shop. If you have a metal bed that you want done, this is totally the way to go. I had my antique metal bed powder coated (Don't freak out antique purists, it survived a house fire, but was in bad shape. Had to be done) and it is beautiful 5 years down the road. My sister did hers with spray paint, and it has rubbed off where the pillows hit the head board and where the blankets rub against the footboard.
@xtina
How much did the powder-coating run you? (Queen size?)
I just purchased this cart from cb2 http://www.cb2.com/accent-tables/furniture/go-cart-camo-two-shelf-table-media-cart/f6297?fromLocation=search
and when my boyfriend was putting it together the top was scratched in a few places. The cart is steel with a powdercoat finish in a dark green. I would love to get the scratches out or at least mask them as best I can. If anyone has any tips I would really appreciate them. Thanks!
I have a very old metal bench swing type outdoor piece that needs some TLC. Has some serious rust out places. What can I use to fill in those areas and spruce it up? What is the best paint to use on it?
These are very cute ideas and since my sister is going to work in Houston for a year, I think it's about time that I spruce up our apartment. This is so exciting! Although, my problem now is where and how to store all her stuff. Currently, I am looking at Sydney Cheap Storage (http://sydneycheapstorage.com.au/) but I just need her permission first if I can touch her things or not! Hahahaha..