BRINGING FURNITURE BACK TO LIFE
How to save your much-loved items from the scrapheap by restoring or respraying, then re-loving
How your most-loved pieces can be saved by upcycling, re-spraying and rejuvenating.
When you look around the rooms in your home, the chances are there is always one or two items of furniture that you would like to replace – but perhaps don’t have the budget to do so? However, you don’t need to completely replace it. You can breathe new life into an old item of furniture very easily – and affordably – by giving it a new look.
RESTORATION Furniture restoration experts are on hand to offer assistance as they professionally transform a chair, chest of drawers or dining table into a brand-newlooking piece of furniture that you can fall in love with all over again. And if you have a damaged or scratched item, then don’t worry as it can be repaired fairly simply by a professional. Taking great care of your prized possessions, the pro-repair men and women can either take them away or carry out the renovation project outside in your garden as you wait for it to be repaired and returned to you. UPCYCLING Refurbishing furniture, rather than replacing, has grown in popularity as we step away from being part of the “throwaway generation” and move towards upcycling and restoration. Perhaps you may also wish to give a home to someone else’s old and unwanted item of furniture. Upcycling, also known as “creative reuse”, is a perfect way of bringing it back to its former glory. You can attempt this cost-effective project yourself, if you are creative or feeling brave. An upcycling project can be as big or as small as you wish, and can include everything from changing the entire colour of your bedroom furniture, including wardrobe, beside tables and chests of
Don’t replace restore and respray
drawers, to replacing door knobs on your internal doors. If you are not confident or creative, then it is advisable to call in the experts as they can expertly transform tatty, damaged and unloved pieces into something that looks brand new, usable and lovable. REPLACEMENT It may be that you are fed up with your old kitchen, but cannot afford to replace it completely by investing in a new fully-fitted kitchen (which cost an average of £8,000, as you will see from our feature on page 11)? Well, you do not need to. There are companies out there who can give your kitchen a completely new look at a fraction of the cost of an entirely new one. So if you no longer like your old-fashioned worktops or cupboard doors and antiquated handles, then contact the professionals to give your kitchen a freshen up. They can do everything – replace the worktops, introduce a new two-colour scheme for frontages, fit new appliances and new tiling – all without pulling the original kitchen out. Complete this refurbishment by having your kitchen table and chairs revamped and resprayed to bring them up to date, too.