It’s not uncommon for a favorite piece of furniture to lose its original appearance, and there’s simply no money to buy a new one. financial resources. In such cases, furniture restoration can help. Let's take a closer look at how to restore a table at home, what is important to take into account and what steps should not be skipped.

Methods

There are quite a lot of methods for restoring furniture, ranging from light “cosmetic” decor to a complete overhaul of the product. Restore old table It's not that difficult to do it yourself if it doesn't have any serious damage. In this case, it will be enough to sand it and paint it. old item furniture to make it shine in a whole new light.

Repair glass tables at home can be more labor intensive, and also a very costly process. If the glass surface breaks, it may be necessary not only to repair it, but also to purchase a new one, since not every glass deformation can be eliminated by gluing and grinding.

The greatest scope for creativity opens up during restoration wooden table. After all, they are perfectly applied to furniture made from solid wood. various techniques painting and applying patterns, including the “decoupage” technique. It is worth noting that painting and various decorative techniques are most applicable to tables small sizes. This can be used to decorate, for example, a small desk or a compact coffee table. But for the restoration of an oak folding model, additional resources may be needed. Since the table has a large continuous surface, finishing its parts with materials such as MDF and chipboard is quite acceptable. Securely fastened and carefully processed, they will give the table not only new life, but will also give a completely different appearance.

Plastic table can be restored using the same painting, but this can only be done if the piece of furniture does not have serious cracks. Plastic is a rather capricious material, and when exposed to high temperatures the glued seam may not hold up, which will lead to a new breakdown.

Computer tables, made from chipboard and laminated chipboard, are often peeled off, which is why their appearance becomes sloppy and careless. For repairing such models, special adhesive tapes and films imitating a wooden surface.

The kitchen table-book must be reconstructed as carefully as possible, using exclusively environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic materials. Since the countertop quite often comes into contact with food, care must be taken to ensure that the materials used to finish its surface are not toxic or harmful to health. The same goes for the children's table.

Restoration of a polished dining table can be done by grinding the surface and applying a new layer of decorative varnish to it. This way the surface of the furniture attribute will again acquire a glossy shine.

Sometimes it may be necessary to increase the height, e.g. dressing table, in case of breakage of its legs. In this case, from wood material special extensions or new legs of the required size are constructed. To update any model, you can use classic hand painting. This technique is also suitable for sliding tables without any critical surface damage.

Materials and tools

The restoration process may require various materials and tools.

Let's take a closer look at their list and purpose:

• To restore tables with a wooden surface, you will definitely need a sanding machine or coarse sandpaper. Using these tools, you can make the surface smooth, removing all roughness;
• To give the surface a more fresh look and a different color will require completely ordinary paint. It’s quite easy to find out which variety you can paint a table with, since the scope of application is almost always described on the packaging of any manufacturer;
• It is best to apply various patterns and ornaments with acrylic paint, since it is very durable and will stay on the surface of the furniture for a long time.

To repair any individual parts of the table, you may need various construction tools:

• For example, using a hammer, screws and simple nails, you can firmly secure the table legs;
• To attach panels made of plastic and MDF, you will need to acquire a special glue, which is also called liquid nails and are often used for repairs;
• To work with wooden parts you must have with you small saw or a jigsaw, with which you can cut out the required part from a piece of solid wood.

We must not lose sight of the various small parts, which greatly simplify the restoration process. So it’s better to have a large ruler or tape measure, a bright marker or pencil, construction tape, brushes to remove dust and sawdust, protective equipment and a damp cloth.

Upgrade process step by step

Repairing a piece of furniture at home entirely, in the form in which it is, is an almost impossible task, since many parts need to be repaired. individual approach. For example, it is better to remove the tabletop while finishing the remaining parts in order to protect it from causing even greater damage.

Independent restoration of even the smallest table can become a very labor-intensive process if you approach the matter incorrectly, skipping important details and steps. It is for the timely completion of each stage of work that it is necessary to draw up an action plan.

Damage Inspection

Before starting restoration, it is necessary to carefully examine the front of the upcoming work. Very often there are products with serious damage, which cannot be dealt with only through cosmetic finishing. For example, if a table leg has fallen off, painting will not fix it.

The first step is to disassemble the table, if the model allows it, and carefully examine the surface of each part for serious damage. If there are none, you can proceed to further actions depending on the planned restoration work.

If the surface of the parts has fairly deep cuts, severe chips or serious damage, it will be necessary to take measures to eliminate them. If the damage cannot be easily repaired, you may have to resort to replacing some part of the furniture attribute.

Only after a thorough inspection and identification of all the “weak points” of a piece of furniture can you draw up a further action plan and proceed directly to the process of restoration work itself. Maintaining consistency is very important in this matter.

Grinding

In any repair process, after determining the “front of work,” the stage of cleaning and smoothing the surface follows. Restoring tables is no exception and, regardless of their varieties, polishing individual parts is a mandatory part of the entire process.

If you do not have a special device at hand for grinding the surface, you will need to use sandpaper. To remove the leftovers old surface you will need a type with a coarse-grained surface.

If it is possible to use a belt machine for sanding surfaces, you should opt for it, as it will help speed up the process. But you should know that the machine is only suitable for processing spacious smooth surfaces, and small parts will still have to be processed manually.

If the coating has been completely removed and you just need to make the surface smooth, you should use fine-grained paper. This way, roughness will be smoothed out without damaging the surface. Under no circumstances should you sand the surface across the fibers, as they are quite damaged and scratches of varying depths are formed. Processing is carried out exclusively along the location of the fibers. It is also worth using a respirator or a special mask to avoid dust and small wood particles from entering the respiratory tract.

putty

As previously mentioned, if there is severe damage and deep scratches, it will be necessary to get rid of them. The simplest and in an accessible way is putty. In addition, putty can be used to seal even the most large holes, so that replacement of a part may no longer be necessary.

It is necessary to use only special putty for wood, since the usual composition for other repair work will not fit and will not stick to a wooden surface.

If the surface of the product has only shallow cracks, you can use stain and then apply several layers protective varnish. In this way, the fibrous structure of the wood elements will be preserved and beautifully designed.

After applying putty and before applying final coating It is necessary to carefully prime the surface and sand it again. The primer will help degrease parts of the furniture attribute, and repeated sanding will smooth out the remaining unevenness.

Painting

Final and very important stage, requiring special attention, is the process of painting a surface. It is important not only to choose the right paint, but also carefully apply it without various formations, lumps, irregularities and protect the freshly painted surface from the ingress of small particles of wool, dust and hairs.

Dark shades are best applied in several thin layers. This way the paint will adhere better and the color will be more saturated.

To create the effect of antiquity and scuffs, the painted surface of the table will need to be sanded in certain places.

You should carefully select shades and apply the paint very carefully, since if you are dissatisfied with your work, it will be quite difficult to repaint the table; you will have to do all the labor-intensive work again, starting from the stage of grinding the surface.

To make the surface shine beautifully, you should treat the surface with a layer of varnish, and after it dries, with a protective layer. Most often, to protect the surface of furniture, various polishing compounds are used, as well as wax mixtures, which, when rubbed into the surface of the table, will give it a glossy shine and protect it from dirt and large accumulations of dust.

You can see how to update an old table in the following video.

Finishing and decoration

After painting or during the painting process, if desired, you can further decorate the surface of the table, giving it a lighter, more relaxed and informal look. Let's look at the most common and beautiful ways decor of restored tables.

To get the first skills necessary for this, first restore an old table. If you don’t have such stuff in your attic, it doesn’t matter, on the Internet you will find a lot of advertisements for the sale of tables at the most low prices from people who dream of getting rid of them.

Of course, it is better to choose a table that has, although small, artistic value. Working with such furniture is much more interesting and pleasant. In any case, the end result will please everyone. If in doubt, take a before and after photo and you will see how the table has been given new life with the help of your hands.

Be patient and prepare to make a few mistakes. Don't rush to get upset about this. Consider this your learning project.

You got the table and we we can start restoration.

You will need these materials and tools:
- the hero of the occasion himself is an old table;
- dye;
- varnish on water based;
- solvent for degreasing the surface;
- putty;
- coarse and fine grain sandpaper;
- self-tapping screws and furniture bolts (as needed);
- rubber spatula for putty;
- brushes for applying varnish and paint;
- a roller for applying paint to the tabletop (you can use a brush);
- clamps;
- sanding machine (you can do without it).

1. Inspection, identification of defects and repairs
Start by inspecting the table and assessing its overall condition. Find defects old furniture they are always there. Our table, for example, had cracks and scratches. In addition, the varnish has worn off in some places and cracked in others. All this will have to be fixed.

I had better luck with my legs. They don't wobble or dangle, which means we don't have to disassemble the entire table. If you're less fortunate, it's even better - by correcting the situation, you'll get useful experience repair.

Inspect the leg mount. If it's a screw connection, you just need to tighten the screws and watch the table. If it starts to wobble again, replace the screws.

If the leg is attached to the table with glue and it becomes loose, it means the glue has dried out. To correct the situation, disassemble the table, thoroughly clean the joint surface from any remaining old glue and apply a new layer according to the instructions. Secure the leg with clamps and leave it to dry completely for a day. If the design allows, attach it additionally with self-tapping screws, or even better, with furniture bolts.

2. Sanding
The repair is complete and you can start sanding. To do this, use grinder. If you don't have one, use coarse and fine grit sandpaper and sand it by hand. However, depending on the type of wood and the extent of the damage, such manual work can take a lot of time and effort. But there are also people here positive sides. For example, without the necessary skills, you will not be able to damage the product during the work process, and hand grinding will allow you to feel the material and gain an understanding of some of its properties.

We used a sander. First, go over the surface of the table with a coarse paper attachment. Sand carefully, without pressing and special effort. First, get a feel for the material. Now move on to a lighter grit paper to make the surface as smooth as possible. Remove any remaining varnish and paint.

Grinding of figured parts is carried out exclusively by hand so as not to damage the relief. Only in cases where the design does not allow this, use power tools with suitable attachments.

After sanding, be sure to remove all dust from the surface of the table and work area. Use a vacuum cleaner.

3. Putty
All deep defects, whether scratches or dents, that could not be eliminated during the sanding process should be filled with a special wood putty.

Use a rubber spatula to do this and apply putty to the damaged areas. Wait until completely dry and sand the surface thoroughly.

4. Coating
Let's start treating the surface with paints and varnishes.

You can combine the coating on different areas table. For example, we decided to paint only the lower part, and treat the tabletop with stain and varnish.

Start with the countertop. Cover it with stain of your chosen tone and leave until completely dry to properly evaluate the resulting shade. If you are not satisfied with the tone, apply another layer and wait until it dries again.

Now you can start painting the lower part. Turn over and position the table in such a way that it is convenient for you to work and you do not have to move it from place to place while working.

Surely you have already decided on color scheme your future table, and for ours we selected white matte paint warm tone.

Paint one element and only then move on to the next so that the coating applies evenly. Allow the first coat to dry completely and sand the surface with fine sandpaper to create micro-scratches. Apply a second coat of paint, wait until dry and sand again.

Let there be at least three such procedures, and even better 4-5. Sanding helps each new layer of paint penetrate the previous one without creating a thick buildup. Thus, the output we get is very durable coating, which will last for many decades and protect the table from mechanical damage and other types of external influences.

To secure the result, apply a water-based varnish. It dries quickly, is relatively safe and has no unpleasant odor, characteristic of other types of varnish. Apply the varnish with a brush, picking up a little each time to avoid smudges.

Also varnish the tabletop. To achieve a more durable finish, proceed in the same way as with paint. Thus, apply at least a couple of layers.

Essentially, the job is over. Dry the table thoroughly in a ventilated place or ventilated area to get rid of the specific smell and admire the creation of your own hands.

Don't rush to throw away your old table. It has served you for many years and will serve you again if you give it a little attention.

The table can be decorated in such a way that it will compete with any designer item.

New life can be breathed in with absolutely different ways and technician.

Let's look at the most common methods.

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Ways to transform a table

• painting;
• veneering (covering an old wooden surface with veneer);
• pasting self-adhesive film;
• (table applique with drawings from napkins, rice or banana paper);
• tiling;
• painting a table using a stencil (through a fabric, paper or plastic stencil);
• decor using gold leaf (foil that is glued in the form of a pattern).

We will look at some decorating methods in this article in a little more detail. In addition, you can turn an old table into a modern and original design element using a regular LED strip.

fits perfectly into any interior.

Materials and tools

• To restore the old table to its former beauty, we will need the following:
• Sander;
• wood paint;
• impregnation;
• primer roller;
• varnish (colored or colorless);

brushes for each type of coating.

• As well as personal protective equipment:
• protective glasses;
• respirator;

work gloves.

Restoration Step 1.
First you need to inspect the table for breakages, cracks, and scratches. If there are any breakdowns, they must be repaired. We check all the bolts on the legs and table top and tighten them.

The best option would be to disassemble the table into parts, clean it from dirt and dust, then put it back together. You can add glue to all fastening points and wait until it dries (at least 15 hours). Step 2.
Next, you need to sand the table using a machine or sand it by hand. This allows you to identify all problem areas that were not visible before. Take off old paint and varnish is a very labor-intensive and time-consuming process.

We clean the surface with fine-grain and medium-grain sandpaper. Note!

Wood should be sanded along the grain. Improper processing results in difficult-to-remove defects. Step 3. All identified cracks and deep scratches

needs to be sealed using . Dry the patches completely. Next, we clean and polish the surface again. Step 4.

Degrease the table with acetone and prime its surface. A universal primer is suitable for this. Instead of impregnation, we prime the tabletop 2-3 times, completely drying each layer. Step 5.

Sand the table surface again. Step 6.

If the countertop has no scratches, chips or cracks, you can treat it with water-repellent impregnation and cover it with several layers of stain or varnish. This will give the unique effect of fresh wood. If the condition of the surface is unimportant or you plan to decorate the table later, you need to paint it. We choose water-based paint. Apply with a large brush (it is better if it is not a paint brush, but an artistic one). When the paint dries, apply a second layer. Application should be quick, short strokes, thin layers. We dry the table for at least 4 days.

We clean the surface with fine-grain and medium-grain sandpaper. Dark paint should be applied in two or three layers to avoid light gaps.

Decorating the tabletop

painting

Painting is one of the most popular techniques for decorating interiors and household items. There are several options for painting furniture: artistic painting with a thin brush, painting using a stencil (template), painting with stamps.

For glass table top perfect solution— bright and airy painting with stained glass paints.

Painting using tulle or any other lace looks very beautiful. To apply openwork pattern on the surface of the table, you need to attach the tulle to the tabletop (it is advisable to secure it with tape on the back side).

We paint the table in the same way as with a regular stencil, using a sponge, roller or spray paint. We select the color of the enamel that contrasts with the color of the surface.

We clean the surface with fine-grain and medium-grain sandpaper. Painting is applied to the glass tabletop from the inside out, front side remains smooth.

Mosaic

We first lay out the frame elements of the mosaic using tile adhesive. We try to make the seams as uniform as possible. Then we begin laying out tiles (or pieces of tiles) from the center of the table. Interesting solution tiles will be laid different colors. The top of the tile is covered with a special grout. To prevent the ends of the tiles from being visible, you can attach them to the edges of the table plastic corners in the color of the tile grout.

In the mosaic technique, you can use not only tiles, but also other materials and a wide variety of objects - shells , pebbles, pieces of glass, eggshells etc.

Potal

Potal is the thinnest sheets of various metal alloys that are used to imitate any surface in gold, bronze or silver. The gilding technique is often used in furniture decoration along with other decorative techniques.

First, we draw a stencil on which the gold leaf will be glued. Then apply glue to it with a thin brush.

We carefully place the sheets of sweat on the glue. Using a soft brush, carefully remove unnecessary parts of the sheet.

The thicker the brush with which we apply the glue, the thicker the gold leaf pattern will be.

We clean the surface with fine-grain and medium-grain sandpaper. Particles of sheets of sweat remaining from decorating the tabletop can be collected and used again in powder form.

Painting in different colors

To begin with, the tabletop is completely covered in one color. After drying it must be pasted masking tape, creating a stencil for other colors from it.

Using a roller or brush, all other colors are applied one after another. After this, the masking tape is removed.

You can draw or glue various pictures on a colored background.

Finally, the table must be covered with two layers of clear varnish. This will add strength to the decor and protect it from external influences. The varnish can be glossy or matte.

How to restore an old table using veneering, watch the video:

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How to update an old table: 10 restoration methods and step-by-step instruction to action

To this day, many houses still have Soviet coffee tables, dining tables and desks. The design itself is made soundly and with high quality, but the years have not been kind to the appearance. Let's look at 10 ways to restore such furniture at home, and craftsmen will receive a master class on restoring tables with your own hands.

How to update a table with your own hands - 10 ways

In reality, there are many more ways to update old furniture, but we have selected 10 options that a home craftsman can easily master.

Method number 1: painting

Painting is deservedly considered the simplest and most affordable way home restoration, for example, even a child can take a brush and paint a tabletop, but we’ll talk about the technical side of the process later, and now we’ll try to choose the right paint.

Which paint to choose?

Illustrations	Recommendations
	Oily Oil paints have been used to color wood for over 100 years. You get durable and durable coating for reasonable money. Most formulations give a glossy shine. But Oil paint does not allow air to pass through and fades over time in the sun, plus it can dry for up to 2 days and will emit a pungent odor all this time.
	Acrylic Acrylic paints are now breaking popularity records. They are water-dispersed compositions based on acrylic resins. These compositions are odorless, dry quickly enough and are absolutely harmless from an environmental point of view. In addition, acrylic is not afraid of ultraviolet rays and has excellent vapor permeability. In fact, the only negative is the relatively high price.
	Alkyd Alkyd paints have high strength films and provide a water-repellent effect. The price of the compositions is reasonable. But alkyd coating has low abrasion resistance, so these compositions are not suitable for kitchen countertops, but bedside table or small coffee table They will be in the living room and will last a long time. Alkyd paints are applied only to dry wood (up to 12% humidity), otherwise the coating will peel off.
	Enamels for wooden surfaces Enamel is not a type of paint, but rather a separate direction. Exist acrylic enamels, alkyd enamels, nitro enamels and a number of similar compositions. Enamels come in matte, semi-matte and glossy. All of them are characterized by high strength and wear resistance of the coating. In the line of any type of paint, enamel is in the top position; it is more expensive, but the quality is disproportionately higher.

Most types of table restoration at home involve preliminary painting with one or another composition, so painting is considered the basis.

Method number 2: artistic painting

Many home craftsmen are afraid of this method of restoration. Indeed, real artistic painting requires serious professional skills and talent. But no one is asking you to transfer the scenes of great artists onto furniture, and drawing a few flowers is not so difficult.

In addition, to the category artistic painting include working with stencils and some types of applique. Agree, paint a cabinet or tabletop using ready-made stencils it won't be difficult. You can find the stencil you need at any book market, and sometimes even from hawkers in the underground passage.

Method number 3: craquelure

According to the definition, craquelure is a finish covered with a chaotic network of small cracks, like in an old painting. Now this effect is achieved through the use of special craquelure compositions, they come in one and two components.

• One-component compositions are applied over the paint and upon contact with air, cracks form throughout the entire coating area during the drying process. They are cheaper and easier to work with. But a solid mesh only looks good on plain furniture without painting or patterns.
• Two-component craquelure varnishes are more practical; they can be used for fragmentary finishing. First, the main component is applied over the entire area, and then in the right places it is coated with an additive, which causes cracking. Moreover, the grid is formed without clear boundaries, as if in a natural way.

Craquelure looks great if combined with the decoupage technique. In this case, translucent pictures cut from thin paper napkins are glued onto PVA, after which the whole thing is completely or fragmentarily covered with craquelure varnish, as a result you get an antique piece of furniture.

Method number 4: mosaic

Mosaic paintings have been known since time immemorial; ideally, smalt is used to create the ornament, but this material is expensive and it is too expensive to decorate an old table with it. Plus mosaic elements made of smalt have different sizes and thickness, therefore only professionals can work with them.

In our case, you can install a mosaic on an old table much cheaper. IN construction stores Now there is a wide variety of tile and glass mosaics, the price is reasonable. In addition, battle is great for home mosaics tiles and even randomly broken old CDs.

As for the technology of arrangement, then old countertop Usually they are stripped down to the wood and covered with several layers of acrylic primer, and when the primer dries, the mosaic is glued on. At the amateur level, they use liquid nails or some kind of super glue, each element is glued separately.

Professionals do things differently; they take dry tile adhesive, dilute it with water and apply it completely to the countertop with a notched trowel, after which they lay out the mosaic elements. The process is quick, but laying out a pattern without experience is difficult.

If you don’t have time to lay out each element, you can buy ready-made mosaic canvases. There small tiles initially secured to fiberglass and all you have to do is glue it to the tabletop with tile adhesive, and then fill the gaps. Fast, high quality, but not exclusive.

Method No. 5: self-adhesive film

The self-adhesive film can be installed on the tabletop in a maximum of an hour. Now in this market there are countless options for decorating film, starting with a single-color coating and ending with imitation wood, stone, and even reproductions of paintings by famous artists. Plus, the ornament can be ordered for reasonable money.

The installation technique itself is not complicated, but the main requirement is a perfectly smooth, polished base. I will tell you how to polish the tabletop later, and the film is glued in 3 stages:

1. After you have polished the tabletop, the dust is wiped off and a couple of layers of acrylic primer are applied to the surface, each layer being applied after the previous one has dried.
2. Now we need a soap solution; you can dissolve a bar of soap in water or use dishwashing detergent. The solution is applied to the countertop with a sponge.
3. The film is glued from the edge of the tabletop. The protective paper is removed gradually as the strip is glued. From under that part of the film that lay on the tabletop, air is immediately expelled along with soap solution. It is convenient to expel the air with a plastic wallpaper spatula or rag.

Method number 6: decorative tape

Stationery stores sell tape of different colors and shades; you need to buy an assortment of it and stick it like wallpaper on the tabletop. Although, to be honest, colored tape is more children's version. The child will be interested in the process.

• First, the countertop is polished and degreased with any alcohol-containing solution, for example, cologne.
• If the plane is pasted over completely, then the first strip is glued along the pre-drawn straight line, it’s better to start from the edge of the tabletop.
• Subsequent strips are glued end to end and immediately rolled with a wallpaper rubber roller for seams. It is a rubber wheel with a handle, 25 - 30 mm wide.

Decorative tape is inconvenient to use. This covering will look good only if you do not use the table at all. If, for example, we arrange it this way desk teenager, the tapes will begin to fly off within a couple of weeks, and there is simply no point in strengthening the colored tape with varnish.

Method No. 7: epoxy resin

Epoxy resin is a two-component compound that, when liquid components are combined, turns into a hard plastic. For decorative purposes, transparent epoxy is used. You've probably seen the transparent keychains that contain... small items, so this is epoxy resin.

Using epoxy, you can quickly restore a dried out and cracked countertop. You just need to connect the components according to the instructions on the package and pour the composition into the cracks and potholes.

In addition, the decorative effect will increase significantly if, for example, silver oxide with a phosphor (a composition that causes a glow in the dark) is added to the transparent epoxy. True, after the composition has completely cured, the tabletop needs to be sanded and polished.

Method No. 8: decor under glass

It’s difficult to call the decor under glass restoration as such. The idea is that a superstructure in the form of a flat box 50–100 mm high is attached to the tabletop. The top lid of this box is made of glass, and any decorations are poured inside, for example, seashells, colored pebbles or small souvenirs.

Method number 9: painting through tulle

In many rustic styles A patterned tablecloth on the table is considered a mandatory attribute. Using white and some contrasting paint, you can decorate a tulle tablecloth with your own hands in a couple of hours. This is one of the options for stencil painting.

• You need to find a piece of old tulle, preferably without holes.
• Now you need to paint the countertop white.
• When the paint has dried, lay out the tulle on it and make sure that the pattern looks adequate. To prevent the fabric from accidentally moving, it is advisable to secure it with pushpins under the tabletop.
• Next, take a can of nitro enamel with contrasting paint and evenly apply the composition over the tulle. After 15 minutes the tulle can be removed, and after half an hour the table is ready for use.

Method No. 10: gold leaf (gilding)

IN classic styles Fragmentary gilding of furniture is often performed. At the amateur level, in a budget option, you can use gilding with paint, but the look will be mediocre.

Potal is the application of a thin layer of gold to the surface. The technology is reminiscent of working with a simple carbon copy, only instead of a layer of transfer paint, it is gilded. The master attaches a stencil to the surface, after which he applies “golden” carbon paper to the desired places and rolls it. The gilding effect here is much higher.

When working using the gold leaf technique, after applying the gilded layer to the surface, it is necessary to cover this surface with several layers of transparent varnish so that the gilding does not wear off.

Sequence of restoration work

We talked about the final phase and decorative effect of each type of finishing, now we will analyze the technique of preparing the table for decoration, which, by the way, is common to all methods of restoring old furniture.

Determining the degree of wear

To determine the level of wear of furniture, it is advisable to completely disassemble it. Next, carefully inspect each element of the structure. In addition to obvious potholes, scratches and cracks, we are interested in places of delamination facade cladding and places eaten away by bark beetles.

Choosing material

To carry out restoration work you will need the following materials:

• Putty for wood, you can use parquet compounds.
• Primer for wood. You select the composition taking into account the paint or varnish with which you plan to cover the furniture. For example, under acrylic paint it is used acrylic primer, under alkyd paint, alkyd, and under oil it needs to be primed with drying oil.
• Finish paint or varnish.
• To clean metal from rust, WD-40 is used.
• An assortment of emery sets, from coarse to velvet.
• There is no need to take a separate antiseptic for wood; it is easier to choose soil with an antiseptic effect.

Step-by-step instruction

Illustrations	Recommendations
	Step 1 First you need to remove the old coating. This can be done using coarse sandpaper or a hair dryer. It is not advisable to use chemically active paint removers; they can irreversibly damage old furniture.
	Step 2 All deep potholes and cracks are cleaned out and widened with a knife or chisel, after which they are primed and puttied.
	Step 3 All parts are polished. Start with medium-grit sandpaper and gradually work your way up to velvet.
	Step 4 Cover the table with soil and leave it until completely dry.
	Step 5 Apply finishing paint or varnish in at least 2 layers. It is better to work with a spray gun; in the absence of a spray gun, brushes are used.

Conclusion

The methods and instructions we have listed for restoring old furniture have been repeatedly tested in practice and are guaranteed to work. The video in this article shows the process step by step. If you have any questions, write in the comments, I will try to help.

November 24, 2018

If you want to express gratitude, add a clarification or objection, or ask the author something - add a comment or say thank you!

There is a category of citizens who do not tolerate old things in the house and immediately get rid of them as soon as they find a replacement. This primarily applies to furniture that requires space. But there are not many of them; as a rule, a completely serviceable table or chairs are taken to the dacha - maybe they will come in handy.

This “maybe” is completely justified today, because old pieces of furniture have come into fashion. Not even antiques, which have always been in demand, but simply things with history. It is better if the wear and tear is noticeable immediately, but if it is not, then the furniture is artificially aged - there are special techniques.

A Soviet-made desk, a single-pedestal desk, at one time could be seen in every family that had schoolchildren - it was a standard home workplace. And in production, they were in the plant management, shop engineers, planners and accountants.

In short, in many dachas there are compact old people dozing, still strong, but already out of print. Meanwhile, with a minimum of effort they can be given a fashionable look to furniture in the Provence style.

We will need:

• the hero of the plot is a single-pedestal desk;
• grinder and grinding disc;
• file;
• polyurethane moldings;
• corner relief block, which is used for construction work;
• miter box device for carpentry work;
• brown primer;
• façade paint, matte white;
• ceramic furniture handles.

How to remake a table from the “ugly duckling” to Provençal style

1. Let's free the table surface from the layer of old varnish. It holds tightly, only a grinder can handle it if you install a grinding disc.

2. After such a surgical operation, the chipboard from which the table is made becomes covered with irregularities. This is where a primer comes in handy, and you will have to cover the surface with it twice.

3. To make the table more interesting, you can use different methods. For example, completely replace the tabletop with a wooden one, in modern style. But it’s not that simple, and it may not work out. It is to complicate the shape of the table that a relief corner beam is provided; we simply attach it to the existing tabletop. And it will immediately become noticeable that the table has acquired a less primitive appearance.

4. Now we need to work on the boxes, because from prolonged inactivity they have lost their former ease of movement. Moldings are put into use here.

5. Now the old table looks quite good, all that remains is to paint it. To make it fit better into the chosen style, we use not traditional enamel, but facade paint. And we’ll take a brush with hard bristles so that traces of strokes are visible, because carelessness is in fashion today. In order to give the table an aged look, we will paint thin layer just once. Then, in some places, bald spots will form, through which the soil will be visible.

What paint to paint the table

If you work with enamel, then before applying it you need to rub the surface with a candle. The paint will lie unevenly, which is what was required to be achieved. And in order to deprive it of its ceremonial shine, you will have to walk over the painted surface with sandpaper. But to get closer to the effect of Provencal furniture, it’s still better to work with facade paint.