While most furniture pieces that are crafted with care will last for many years, they may begin to look outdated. There are many reasons to upgrade old furniture, including to fit your home design, modernize a piece passed down to you from a family member, or resell for a higher price. Updating parts of the furniture piece can make it look more modern without changing the integrity of the piece. From new hardware to updated paint colors, there are many ways to transform your old furniture.
If you want to update your furniture, here are some ways to tackle your first upcycling project. Changing up your current furniture pieces can be a great passion project and new skill to save our world from further waste. Especially if you have quality built furniture, upgrading old furniture is a worthwhile project.
Upgrade The Hardware
One of the easiest ways to upgrade an old piece of furniture is to change out the hardware. Upgrading to a more modern shape or style, or painting the existing hardware, is an easy way to make a piece more modern with minimal work. The hardware on your furniture goes through a lot of wear, so it will often be the first thing needing replacement. Updating hardware can not only improve the functionality of the piece but also its overall aesthetic. Brushed-metal handles or simple design handle pulls are best for a modern hardware upgrade.
Restain Or Repaint
Another common way to change up the style of your furniture is to re-stain or re-paint the piece. Painting and staining are most often done on wood furniture, but other materials can be painted to fit your home’s color scheme. Especially for older pieces, stripping away peeling paint and applying a new coat is a great way to upgrade old furniture, giving it new life.
Many people may be scared to paint a furniture piece in an unnatural color, but some pieces can really shine with a bright color. Especially for non-wooden furniture, painting in a bold color can make a great conversation starter or focal point for the room.
Convert An Infrequently Used Piece Into Something More Usable
Some furniture pieces are used less than others, especially if you live alone or don’t have many personal items. Unused pieces like chairs or an armoire can be used as extra wood or converted into something more useful for your home. Instead of buying a new piece, reusing and redesigning a furniture piece will reduce waste, preventing it from ending up in a landfill.
Some conversion options include:
- Convert a cabinet into a bar
- A dresser into a sink vanity
- Use an old door as a coffee-table top
- Large table into a kitchen island
- Make an ottoman into a low table
Add Upholstery
Another common way to change up your furniture is to change out the upholstery. Changing up the fabric on couches, chairs, or barstools is a great way to show your personality or have all your upholstery match throughout the home. Before reupholstering a furniture piece, make sure you choose a fabric that is durable and able to withstand daily wear. Changing upholstery is a more labor-intensive process, requiring measurements, reinforcing the frame, and stretching the fabric for a tight fit.
Keep The Furniture’s Original Character
Even if you want to give your furniture new life, it is important to keep to the character of the original piece. Older furniture pieces carry a lot of character, which should be maintained when updating parts of the piece. Even if you change the coloring or purpose of a furniture piece, you can keep parts of its original character through carvings, color undertones, or hardware. If you want your piece to be unique, keep part of the original furniture while adding modern elements.
Quality Pieces From Sugar House Furniture
Sugar House Furniture offers mission-style furniture that is crafted out of solid wood. Our team wants you to find pieces that are able to be passed down for generations. Sugar House Furniture is a family-owned and operated company that has been providing office, bedroom, and living room furniture since 1985. Whether you are looking for a new bedroom set, durable desk, or home accessories, we have hundreds of pieces to fit your home design. Look through our catalog of tables, barstools, cabinets, nightstands, beds, bookcases, and bathroom vanities to find a piece that speaks to you.