Do you have a wooden antique furniture item hidden in the garage or attic collecting dust? Why not make it a focal point of a living room, bedroom or hallway. After all, interior design is all about mixing and matching old with new. So why not add a bit of history and charm to your home. Yes, we know antiques are old and without shine, but with good restoration you can revive the look an make your antiques beautiful again. You can either do it yourself or have a professional do it for you. If you have no knowledge or skills, it is best you search for antique dealers that offer antique furniture restoration services.
But, if you have some time and are willing to, you can restore the wooden antique furniture by yourself. However before accepting that challenge you need to familiarize yourself with the most important aspects of the restoration procedure. Follow our guideline and learn what is the purpose of the antique wooden furniture, which techniques you can use and some tips about how to restore your old furniture items.
Purpose of Antique Wooden Furniture Restoration
The main purpose of antique wooden furniture restoration is to restore the original look and functionality of the antique; to breathe new life without altering the original design. It is a technique that breathes In fact, this is the main reason why most of antique dealers restore the furniture items prior to selling them.
Techniques Of Antique Wooden Furniture Restoration
The whole procedure of restoration of your old wooden furniture includes:
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Cleaning – removing layers of dust, dirt and wax from the inner and outer parts of the furniture item;
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Removing old paint or varnish – removing the old layer of pain that is damaged and faded in order to replace it with a new layer;
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Reamalgamation – repairing the finish of the wooden surface by applying a solvent directly to the damaged areas (scratches, cracks) of the item;
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Refinishing – adding a new coat of paint (this is the last step which gives a whole new look of the item).
Tips for Safe Do-It-Yourself Wooden Furniture Restoration
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Antique dealers recommend wearing protective gear (gloves, long sleeves and glasses) to protect yourself from the tools and chemicals being used;
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When cleaning the item, apply mild cleaning detergent with a soft cloth, let it stand for minimum one hour and then wipe off the detergent with another wet cloth.
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When it comes to re-amalgamation, all antique dealers and restorers recommend to start with small imperfections first and continue to larger ones. Use only natural bristle brush to apply the solvent;
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When refinishing the item with new colour, let the new layer of colour stay for at least 10 minutes, and then wipe the excess with a clean cloth.
