Buying new furniture is quite a difficult task. On the one hand, you do not want to spend all your life savings just to get a piece of furniture. On the other hand, you need to find something that will suit your tastes and will not fall apart in two months. And so, you can spend long days looking for a set of dining room chairs or a new coffee table without finding anything that you really like. It gets even worse when you are thinking about refurnishing your entire home.
But what if, instead of buying new furniture, you could use the wood that you already have and make it look brand new? It is easier than you think, and it will save you a lot of money. There are two ways to go about this. First, you could refurbish your old furniture and turn it into something new and modern. Second, you could use unused wood and create brand-new furniture from scratch. Let’s have a look at both of these methods and see what would be the best for you!
Refurbishing Your Old Furniture
This may not apply to every single piece of furniture you have, but if you are thinking about updating your old coffee table or bedframe, it is definitely worth considering. Before you start, check the wood type and its overall condition. Plywood and particleboard are not the best materials for such a project since they are not particularly sturdy after initial sanding. The same goes for damaged or chipped wood – it will be hard to make it look good without spending a lot of time fixing it.
Preparing the Surface
Once you know that your furniture is suitable for refurbishing, it is time to start working. First, you will need to remove the old paint or varnish using a paint stripper. After that, you can sand the wood using sandpaper with different grit levels. Once you are done, you can apply a new coat of paint, varnish, or stain and let it dry.
Adding New Features
Why not add something extra to your furniture? For example, you could add new handles or knobs to your dresser or replace the old glass top of your coffee table with a new one. You can also add extra shelves to your bookcase or change the shape of your tabletop with the help of a wood CNC machine 4×8.
Do Not Forget About the Legs
The legs of your furniture are probably the most important part of any furniture item. They have to keep the entire piece together, which means that they are prone to damage and wear. If you want to refurbish your furniture properly, do not forget about the legs. If they appear to be in good shape, you can sand them and paint or varnish them along with the rest of your furniture. However, if they are damaged, it is best to replace them with new ones.
Apply a New Finish
Once you are done with sanding, painting, or varnishing your furniture, it is time to apply a new finish. A clear lacquer is always a good choice since it will protect your furniture from scratches and other damage. If you want to change the color of your furniture, you can always use a tinted lacquer or a colored stain.
Additionally, you could install new borders or trims to make your furniture look even better. Once you are done, all that is left for you to do is to put your furniture back together and enjoy your newly refurbished piece!
Creating New Furniture
If you are not satisfied with your current furniture or if you simply want to try something new, you could always create your own brand-new furniture from scratch. This is a great way to get exactly what you want without spending a lot of money. Plus, it can help you show off your creative side!
Prepare the Design
First, you will need to come up with a design for your new furniture. You can use a piece of paper and a pencil to sketch it out, or you can use a computer program like AutoCAD. Once you are done, you will need to create a list of all the materials you will need to build your furniture.
Do not forget about functional parts like joints, hinges, and handles. Additionally, you will need to decide on the type of wood that you want to use for each part. Plywood may be good for shelf sides, for example, but it is not going to be the best choice for a tabletop.
Start Cutting the Wood
Once you have all the materials you need, it is time to start cutting the wood. If you are not confident in your ability to do it yourself, you can always ask a friend or family member for help. Alternatively, you could also take your design to a local woodworking shop and have them cut the wood for you.
Apply the Finish
After all the pieces are cut, it is time to apply the first layers of finish. As the base, you can use either paint or varnish. Once that is done, you can add extra layers of finish like lacquer or stain. If you want to add extra protection, you can also apply a layer of polyurethane. When all parts are dry, it is time to start assembling your furniture.
Put It All Together
Now, it is time to start putting your furniture together. This is where those functional parts like joints, hinges, and handles come in handy. Just make sure that you are using screws and nails suitable for the type of wood you are using.
Add the Final Touches
Finally, you can polish your furniture and add any extra details you want. Start with adjusting the legs and other moving elements like drawers and doors. Make sure that they are all in the right place and that they are not too loose or too tight. After that, you can sand corners and edges to make them look even better. Lastly, you can add some trimming or borders to give your furniture a more finished look.
To Sum Up
As you can see, it is not that difficult to refurnish your home with unused wood. You can either refurbish your old furniture or create brand-new pieces from scratch. Either way, it will definitely both save you a lot of money and allow you to show off your creative side.
All you need are some basic tools, time, and patience. Once you are done, get your hands a little dirty and spend some time working on your project. The results will definitely be worth it, so do not hesitate to give it a try!