Sometimes if you buy a piece of used furniture it can be in desperate need of a makeover. If this is true then paint, stencils and glue can be your best friend when it comes to fixing the piece up.
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The easiest way to freshen up an old piece is to paint it a solid color. There are no real rules here but sometimes a glossy paint looks better than a matte finish. You can also sand and restain the piece to make it look better.
Decoupage is a wonderful way to rehab an old piece that has a battered surface. You can paste any type of image on I that you want. However If you choose the right wall paper the results can be absolutely stunning.
Applying gilt to chests of drawers can also make a used piece look more glamorous. Simply apply tissue thin pieces of metal to the surface. It is quite a labor intensive technique but the results are very impressive. Be forewarned that this is one of the most expensive ways to decorate an antique chest.
Nowadays you can also add subtle architectural details like molding or wood appliqués in the same color as the chest. You can also make chess board like diamonds and patterns using contrasting woods.
Adding a French Polish can make the piece look more elegant. This can complete renew and shine the top of a chest of drawers that has a lovely wood grain. It involves building up several layers of polish to create a mirror like sheen.
Another way to make it look new is to buy new knobs and pulls for it. Nowadays there a tons of different styles of pulls including and plain and ornate, jeweled, metal, plastic and wood ones.
To decoupage you cut out pies of paper and adhere them to the surface and then paint it over with varnish so it looks even. The experts say that wallpaper works best as the pattern is already built in and it won’t rip.
If you are really ambition you can create a mosaic out of wood or tiles on the surface of the wood. Drawer fronts can also be decorated with plaster or cement and bits of chipped glass or mirror. Beach glass can transform a battered chest drawer front into an artful collector’s item.
Finally you can vamp up the drawers by adding a top mirror on a swivel. You can buy these in the same color of the wood to extend the piece and make it look more glamorous.