Every home still has furniture from the last century: everyone’s favorite wardrobes, which can hold quite a lot of things, and sideboards. The furniture looks boring, and has also lost its appearance. The houses or apartments of modern people should have stylish furniture. After all, what was fashionable 10-20 or even 30 years ago is now considered relics of the past.
We are not forcing you to get rid of your interior items, but we are presenting some tips that will help you transform your old furniture.
Ways to transform an old cabinet
There are many different ways to make your closet look modern. It all depends on the end goal and your taste. Let's look at the most popular methods of transformation.
Decoupage technique
An interesting decoration technique that does not require money or labor.
- First you need to choose napkins with a suitable pattern. These are sold in any store.
- Next, you need to apply a napkin or part of it to the surface and moisten it evenly with water.
- Then take a wide brush or roller and smooth the napkin well. There should be no bubbles or folds left.
- Next, you need to apply PVA glue to the napkins and wait until it dries completely.
- In order to secure the result for a long time, it is necessary to cover the surface with furniture varnish. This decor looks great on light-colored furniture.
Toning
Toning is used when they want to emphasize the beauty and structure of the wood from which the furniture is made. To use this method you will need:
- roller or brush;
- lint-free cloth;
- stain or other material for tinting.
Treated and even surfaces are treated with a special structuring tinting for wood.
Important! Before coating, the surface must be perfectly sanded. At the same time, it is important to remove all accumulated dust with a vacuum cleaner and not with a damp cloth, as this will lead to dust becoming clogged into the structure of the wood and, as a result, poor-quality tinting.
Using a brush or roller, cover the surface with the tinting material. Wipe off excess with a dry cloth. Leave until completely dry.
Choose a decorative tinting color darker than the original shade of the cabinet.
Note! The assessment of the final result depends on how well the surface dries. If the product has not dried enough, it may appear to be the wrong shade.
Varnish should be used to protect the surface. Most often, oil varnishes are used to treat the surface of furniture. Their main advantage is quick drying and a dense film formed on the surface. They are suitable for any type of wood. Also, acrylic varnishes are not far behind in quality and popularity. The advantage of this paint and varnish material is that it is safe for humans and has virtually no odor.
This treatment will completely transform the appearance of the product.
The varnish will give additional protection to the coating and also give a noble glossy shine.
Painting
When the question arises of how to update a cabinet, the first thing that comes to mind is painting. Here we are talking not only about refreshing coloring, but also about a global color change. A new color of furniture can achieve a radical change in the interior. The main thing is to decide on the shade of paint and its composition.
A cabinet that has gone out of fashion, but is still quite strong and will last for many years, can simply be repainted.
When choosing paint, pay attention to the composition. It is worth abandoning old oil paints and those made with solvents, since such paints are toxic and fire hazardous. The ideal option would be water-based paint. It is more environmentally friendly, fire resistant, and has a less pronounced odor.
In this simple way, a new design of cabinets, chests of drawers and any other old furniture is created.
Apply paint in several layers, allowing each layer to dry. At the end, do not forget to varnish the cabinet - this will extend the durability of the coating.
Painting is the most common option for updating an old item.
Important! Do not forget to ventilate the rooms in which you carry out painting work. Do not neglect personal protective equipment.
Craquelure method
The “craquelure” technique is based on the artificial aging of furniture and the creation of cracks in it. With this method you will need brushes, a roller, 2 shades of paint, and a special craquelure varnish.
Craquelure is a method of restoring facades made of wood or MDF.
A thick layer of regular paint must be applied to the previously prepared surface. Craquelure varnish is applied over the dried paint. But they don't let it dry completely. You can check this by touching it with your finger; if it sticks but does not stain, it means it’s ready. Next, the second type of paint is applied. In this case, cracks immediately appear. The thickness of the cracks can be adjusted by the density of the paint layer. A thicker layer means deeper cracks.
Craquelure gives products the appearance of an old surface cracked by time.
Advice! You can speed up the drying process by using a regular hairdryer.
Photo wallpaper or photo printing
Another original way to remodel a closet is photo wallpaper or photo printing. The selected image will be enlarged in the photo workshop and printed in the required size. Or you can buy your favorite photo wallpaper. After that, it's a matter of little things. The technology for gluing photo printing on a cabinet is no different from ordinary wallpapering. For better reliability, you can coat the surface with varnish.
A sliding wardrobe or just an old wardrobe can be greatly updated with photographs or photo wallpaper.
Stained glass film
The use of stained glass film in furniture restoration has many advantages: it is durable, attractive, has a wide variety of colors, is easy to care for, and protects the method from mechanical damage. Using this method, it is easy to refresh furniture, while spending a minimum amount of time and money. You will need film and sharp scissors.
Removing the film is very simple, and this decorative technique looks very impressive, because the imitation is as close as possible to real stained glass.
In order to avoid difficulties, you must use the following algorithm of actions:
- measure the dimensions of furniture;
- cut the film into pieces of the required sizes;
- before gluing, free the edge of the material by 10-15 cm from the protective coating;
- Place the edge with the adhesive side on the furniture and carefully smooth it off to remove the remaining film.
This will add presentability to old furniture. In addition to its decorative function, the film protects the glass from impact and scratches.
Remember! It is important to have a clean and smooth surface without flaws. Under the film, all the shortcomings will become obvious.
Restoring an old lacquered cabinet using fabric
An original method of decorating old cabinets using fabric. To do this you will need:
- textile;
- stapler for furniture;
- foam rubber or synthetic winterizer.
An unusual idea to update cabinet-type furniture using fabric.
The fabric is fixed with a stapler from the reverse side of the surface. Be sure to place a thin layer of padding under the fabric. Preference should be given to dense fabrics that do not deform after tension. An excellent solution for a nursery would be to decorate it with pieces of fabric using the patchwork technique.
The fabric is stretched over the surface of the body and secured with staples or liquid nails.
Replacement of accessories
Old, worn, sloppy fittings reveal the true age of the cabinet and make it unattractive. Well-chosen fittings will highlight all the advantages of the new design.
Modern minimalism goes well with discreet and laconic details. Provence style requires carved old handles. Classics love curves and carvings. Replacing accessories is not difficult. All you need is a screwdriver for this. Don't forget about old loose hinges; they should also be replaced.
Every designer knows that 40% of the success of any interior is details and accessories.
Decor using glass
Many people think about how to make a modern one out of an old cabinet. The most elegant way would be to decorate the closet with mirrors. To do this, you need to carefully measure the dimensions and order mirrors from a specialized workshop. The mirror surface is attached with liquid nails to a horizontal surface. To do this, you need to remove the doors from the cabinet.
Decorating old furniture with mirrors is very popular.
This solution will ideally hide all furniture defects and also visually expand the space.
Now, knowing what you can do from an old cabinet with your own hands, you can give it a new life and be able to surprise everyone with unique design solutions. At the same time, use minimal costs of money and time.
Give free rein to your imagination and everything will definitely work out.
New life for old furniture. From an old wardrobe to a new hallway wardrobe!
Hello again! For those who are interested in repurposing old furniture for themselves, this might be interesting. There was an old bulky wardrobe in the apartment, dark, gloomy, all rickety. with mezzanine.
And I decided to make a more necessary and attractive thing out of it. wardrobe in the hallway. “masterpiece”, in a word.
and the process began: I opened the doors and removed everything that could be removed.
The mezzanine was installed downwards and I decided that it would serve as a shoe cabinet. Under it I placed three bars 45cm long, 50x50 thick; two were screwed on the edges with self-tapping screws, one in the center. I installed everything level, of course. it makes it easier to work later.
The upper section of the closet was divided by a partition (my neighbors gave me their disassembled wall, which was very helpful).
Then, in one half of the closet, I adapted a crossbar for hangers, and in the other, I sawed out figured shelves for all sorts of needs.
In this photo you can see the switch, I had to cut a window for it.
The bottom of my wardrobe became the top, a shelf for hats and other headdresses.
Since the color of my neighbors’ furniture didn’t match mine, I decided to change it to a lighter, more noble white color. But more on that later.
I measured the distance between the cabinet and the wall and decided to add a mezzanine cabinet with doors.
I cut out the sides, bottom, and top according to the dimensions I needed and began assembling the cabinet, fastening it with corners and self-tapping screws.
All unnecessary holes were filled, sanded, and painted with white paint twice. When everything was dry, I coated it with varnish.
I also painted the doors white and decorated them the same way as they were on the old wardrobe, only I painted them “gold”.
Since the doors from someone else's furniture were small, I had to screw a small insert in the middle of the top cabinet so that the doors would close.
I covered the shelves with film, everything else was painted with white acrylic, odorless, environmentally friendly enamel (there is a small grandson in the house)
On the left side of the large closet, I made a curly cutout for beauty and convenience.
Don't pay attention to the front door. It will be restored. The boxes on top were placed for testing, there will be the same ones there, only probably white and with vintage decoupage.
Well, that’s probably all for the remake. Enjoy watching and every success to you all in your work. I will be glad if my MK is useful to you. I also expect comments and criticism from you, of course. Thanks a lot, everyone.
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Preparatory stage before decorating the cabinet
Before starting the transformation process, a number of resuscitation works are necessary:
- Parsing. Remove all doors from a piece of furniture, take out drawers and shelves. In a word, take it apart into its components. Further work will take place with each of them separately.
- Updating of fittings. Thoroughly clean all metal elements from dirt and rust, or even replace them with new ones, depending on their condition and your design ideas.
- Surface preparation. Completely clean the doors, shelves, and body of old coating and dirt using a spatula, sandpaper, brush, rag and water.
Then carefully inspect all surfaces looking for chips and cracks. Defects must be repaired. Use mastic to eliminate minor damage; for more serious damage, putty will be used.
After a course of restoration measures, you can begin decorating with your own hands.
REFERENCE ! Well-chosen fittings can become part of the decorative solution of a cabinet. Plastic, earthenware, copper, a huge variety of shapes and sizes - the choice is yours.
Choose an option
Of course, it is important that the future wardrobe is decorated in the general style of the room. It may well become a bright accent, but still should not stand out from the overall impression of the room. If the whole room is decorated in retro style, then you should not decorate the old cabinet in high-tech colors.
Cabinet Decor Paint
The most harmonious thing would be to focus on matching the tones of the room or those that are combined with it, and repeat the pattern or element somewhere on the surface of the cabinet. You can do the opposite: add some elements from a decorated piece of furniture around the room. In any case, the closet and the entire room must somehow intersect and combine.
Art Nouveau wardrobe decor
Wallpaper finishing
Updating an outdated wardrobe with decorative wallpaper will not take much time and will not require large financial expenses. Construction stores offer a wide selection of color palettes and many texture options. Choose wallpaper that matches the interior of the room and begin restoration, following a few rules:
- Before purchasing, measure the area of the furniture to purchase the required amount of material.
- Cut the wallpaper into the required pieces, apply a layer of glue to the cabinet, and smooth it well.
ADVICE! To make your updated wardrobe happy for a long time, choose wallpaper that is easy to clean.
An exclusive design project will become a harmonious addition to the interior, and will make you proud of your own creation.
How to wallpaper a closet, simple decorating methods
After renovation work, finishing materials often remain that are a pity to throw away. For example, wallpaper that is sold in large rolls and always remains. How to use them? You can paste them over cabinets, bedside tables, doors, and other furniture.
With this simple action you will immediately kill two birds with one stone, use the remains of the finishing material and decorate old, battered furniture. To carry out such work you do not need any special skills, and we will now tell you how to do this.
A bright accent in a calm kitchen
You've probably heard more than once that various interior items are decorated with wallpaper. How many master classes have you seen on TV from designers of all stripes, because each of them considers it their duty to give a second life to some household item.
This is most often done with high-quality vinyl or non-woven wallpaper, since it is extremely difficult to work with paper options, and you have to work hard to get at least a satisfactory result.
Therefore, if you still have wallpaper, before you get involved in pasting surrounding objects, make sure of the quality of the finishing material.
Our choice of color and texture is also limited, since we work with residual material, but if you want to buy a new roll for these purposes, then proceed from the general design of the room and your taste guidelines.
Decorating kitchen furniture with wallpaper
It is quite acceptable to cover the furniture in the room with canvases with the same pattern as on the walls. Such an interior will look quite harmonious and holistic. If you need to use a different type of wallpaper, then do not forget about the overall design concept of the room.
The use of simple design solutions will create a more harmonious interior. For example, if the room is decorated in light colors, then it is best to use dark or bright options for covering the cabinets. If the walls in the room are covered with wallpaper with ornaments, then in order to avoid overloading the interior, the furniture is covered with plain canvases. The interior decoration of the cabinet, made to match the walls of the room, will look very cool.
A good option for decorating cabinets is imitation of other finishing materials, wood, brick, leather, stone. Such vinyl wallpapers are often used to decorate various rooms and they naturally remain. In addition, such canvases have significant relief and a repeating pattern, which will help hide defects on the surface of the furniture.
Classic wardrobe decoration
In construction stores you can find special photo wallpapers designed for covering doors and cabinets. Usually these are paper versions that depict non-trivial scenes, less often a banal imitation of a wooden covering.
In fact, the easiest way to cover a wood-effect cabinet is with self-adhesive film, which comes in just these colors. German and Dutch film is more expensive and of better quality, Chinese film is cheaper, but the edges of this film often come off due to the poor quality of the adhesive composition.
Note that self-adhesive wallpaper can be plain or stained glass, if this option suits you, use it.
If you are going to wallpaper a kitchen cabinet or a nightstand in the hallway, it is advisable that the wallpaper be moisture-resistant for wet cleaning. You need to think about this in advance. Self-adhesive film has moisture-resistant qualities, like most vinyl wallpaper, but paper is weak.
Use of green and white colors that fit into the interior
If you only have paper scraps, in principle you can use them, but after pasting you will need to apply a layer of varnish to them, which will add gloss and protect the canvas from moisture.
How to choose suitable rolls?
It is necessary to pay attention to the pattern, color, texture. Materials can be vinyl, velor, embossed or smooth (what are the features of gluing vinyl wallpaper?). The colors come in light, dark and neutral tones. Before you start pasting over the selected furniture, choose a color. Usually the location of the windows, the lighting of the room, and the colors of the furniture are taken into account.
How can you update your closet? It could be:
- Self-adhesive film.
- Decorative plaster.
- Painting.
- Photo wallpaper.
- Plastic finishing panels.
If you are going to stick photo wallpaper, it is best to buy professional glue (read about how to glue photo wallpaper without joints here, and from this article you will learn how to make a picture from such material). The canvas should adhere firmly and tightly to the surface. It is important to inspect the entire surface of the furniture: it should not be damaged, because due to defects the coating will come off over time. Most often, paper materials are used for pasting. They are simple, have many different shades, reasonable prices, and good quality.
Alternative Methods
In addition to the methods already discussed for decorating and updating an old cabinet, there are other options that can also be used as independent ideas or in combination with other techniques.
These include:
- Screening. It involves applying decorative plaster using pre-prepared stencils;
- Installation of mirrors. Just like on regular walls, it can also be installed on cabinet fronts. We have already told you how to cut a mirror and what you can use to glue mirrors to different surfaces;
- In combination with mirrors, the sandblasting technique will look great;
- Using applications. Also an interesting and original method;
- Artistic painting. An analogue of simple painting, when you or a specialist paints something beautiful and unusual on the surface;
- Restoration with an aging effect. And this can be used when updating old cabinets.
As you can see, there are more than enough options. Decide for yourself which one to choose.
Have you ever updated old cabinets? What methods were used and what was achieved?
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Source: vmk-mebel.ru
Additional details
You need to carefully measure the front of the cabinet and order mirrors along with fastenings in the workshop.
The mirror can also be attached to liquid nails. The only thing is that it is better to apply them to objects in a horizontal position: that is, the cabinet will need to be disassembled.
Tip: do not apply liquid nails very close to the edge of the mirror. Very often, under the pressure of the mirror sheet, they end up outside of it, which looks ugly. It is best to apply the mixture to the middle of the mirror.
If dismantling the cabinet seems too unattractive, then you can buy hanging mounts for the mirror.
Also now many people buy a slate surface and attach it to an old cabinet door. First, the door should be removed and the slate board attached with liquid nails. This cabinet will fit harmoniously in the kitchen or children's room.
Wardrobe with slate doors
You can decorate an old cabinet with new handles. If the wardrobe itself still looks good, but the handles are no longer so good, then you should buy new ones: this way the entire product will look better.
