These people know how to turn trash into treasure, and you can too

In recent years, furniture renovation has become a trend that is gaining momentum. In many homes, old and nostalgic furniture gets a new life and becomes a central item in the home. This process is not only enjoyable and satisfying, it also has an environmental value that preserves sustainability, which, in itself, has recently received a lot of awareness and when we approach renewing an old piece of furniture, we are partners in preserving the planet, consider the environment and give uniqueness and character to furniture that may have lost a little of its identity along the way . And another advantage is that it also pays off financially, and you don't always have to spend money on buying a new piece of furniture.

So how do you refurbish furniture? Where do you start? And what is needed to do it ourselves? With the help of Tambour's experts, we have created for you the complete guide to refurbishing wooden and Formica furniture - from a mission to renew, so you can do it yourself:

Plan ahead

Before you start painting, it is important that you decide how you want the final result to look: Wood can be renewed with an opaque or transparent finish. The main difference is that a transparent finish highlights the natural appearance of the wood, while the opaque finish obscures it. You should take into account that in order to return a piece of furniture painted with an opaque color to its natural appearance, additional work will be required.

For a natural wood look, use wood stain, a transparent water-based varnish. You can choose the Warnet shade from the shade catalog.

If you prefer a piece of furniture painted in an opaque color, paint it with a water-based paint, with a matte, silk or vintage finish.

It is important to know: Water-based paints are environmentally friendly paints, have a green standard mark and are suitable for use in children's and babies' rooms.

Tip from the experts: 

Even before you even start, it is important to choose high-quality brushes and other coloring tools, which will not leave hairs in the paint. Carefully read the instructions for use that appear on the paint container - each color has its own application instructions, and only correct use according to the instructions will guarantee you a quality result. It is recommended to consult a professional, who will know how to help you choose the most suitable painting tools for the furniture you want to paint, so that you can enjoy a perfect appearance at the end of the process.

Preparation before painting furniture

Before starting the painting process, remove all layers of dust and dirt from the furniture with a damp cloth and sand any peeling paint with fine sandpaper. If you prefer an opaque color, it is recommended to sand with a coarser sandpaper, to create a fine roughness that will help the paint layers to adhere strongly.

If there are small defects in the furniture, repair them using putty glue. After drying, sand again to smooth the surface of the wood and clean the furniture again from dust. This step is especially important, to ensure that the color lasts for a long time.

Carefully cover areas that you do not want to paint or areas that you want to paint in different shades, using paper tape.

Tip from the experts: 

To maintain a clean environment, place the furniture on a nylon sheet or canvas, which will absorb the dirt and paint drips, and change into comfortable work clothes.

Formica painting

Almost every house in Israel has at least one formica type of furniture, which was in fashion some decades ago. Old Formica furniture is very easy to renew. To paint a Formica piece of furniture, lightly sand the surface with fine sandpaper to roughen the surface and allow the paint to hold better. Clean the Formica from dirt and grease with soap and water, or any other household cleaner and dry well. Paint one layer of multi-purpose solvent-based primer, and wait an hour for it to dry perfectly. After complete drying, paint 2 layers with water-based paint in the shade of your choice.

Tip from the experts: 

An important secret of professional furniture restorers, which helps to achieve a perfect result, is "more layers, less paint". That is, don't try to paint and completely seal the color already in the first layer. Patience pays off!

First, paint a thin layer of paint, wait for it to dry completely, then paint another layer, until you reach the desired result. Such coloring will prevent cases of color unevenness and guarantee a professional result. It is important to paint the furniture with at least two thin layers.

Vintage looking furniture made easy

If you like retro furniture and want to paint a new piece of furniture so that it looks like you bought it at a flea market in Paris, you can do it really easily. Acrylic chalk paints with a matte finish (vintage polyure, for example), will give your furniture an antique vintage look. If you are designating the renovated furniture for a children's or baby's room, note that it carries a green standard mark. You can paint with it on different materials, such as metal, wood, formica, glass and more, and only one layer of paint is enough to give the furniture the perfect retro look.

If you are painting a piece of furniture made of wood, sand the surface and make sure to remove any peeling or loose paint, if any. Clean the surface thoroughly from dust and paint one layer. To paint Formica, roughen the surface with sandpaper, clean the surface and paint. To emphasize the aged look and the desired vintage look, gently sand the surface with sandpaper after the paint dries. It is recommended to apply a vintage matte water-based varnish at the end of the painting process, to protect the color.

For those interested in experimenting and becoming a professional in refurbishing furniture, Tambour offers a professional workshop