Decorating an old chest of drawers. New life for old chests of drawers. Or your favorite songs

Updating furniture is a common practice that does not require significant investments and allows you to implement creative ideas. This also applies to chests of drawers - almost the most functional furniture. The decor of the chest of drawers should be combined with the interior of the living room in which it is located. If you need to put an accent in a restrained pastel design, an updated print and a vase-topped chest of drawers will become good decision. It's another matter if you need to create perfect combination color palette. Properly decorated old chest of drawers will cope with any task.

Buying new furniture is not a cheap pleasure. And the models sold in the post-Soviet space are not always original. Therefore, a master class on upgrading an old chest of drawers will be useful for those who want to save money, as well as for people with an artistic mindset who gravitate towards everything original. So, how to decorate a chest of drawers with your own hands?

Updating an old chest of drawers

Whether it’s restoring a chest of drawers or decorating a bedside table with your own hands, everything is done in stages. The first thing you need before starting work is tools. Here is a list of what is needed:

small grinder;
sandpaper or sanding sponge;
stencils;
spatula;
unnecessary toothbrush;
screwdriver;
wood knife;
several brushes, different in width and bristle composition (hard and soft), sponges;
masking tape;
acetone;
industrial film;
toothpicks.

Materials needed:

volumetric paste or putty based on acrylic;
glue for wooden surfaces;
wood varnish, stain or primer with paint a certain color(for decoupage - three-layer napkins).

You will also need gloves and a respirator.

If this is an artistic design, acrylic paint will do. desired color. For those who want to modernize an old chest of drawers good option will be a replacement of furniture fittings: you can add new handles or mirror panels.

Restoration

But for those who are not afraid of working with sandpaper, spatula and acrylic paint, a step-by-step restoration of the chest of drawers has been prepared. The process consists of several steps: removing the old coating of paint or varnish, thorough sanding, checking for chips and other irregularities, local filling of defects, painting and final decoration of the chest of drawers.

But first you should look for defects in the inside of the chest of drawers. All broken bottoms, shelves and guides should be unscrewed with a screwdriver and measured. In accordance with the geometric parameters, you can buy new elements or make them yourself. If the second option is closer to you, be prepared to acquire an additional arsenal of tools and knowledge in the field of thorough furniture repair. Don't forget to do this check before decorating the chest of drawers with your own hands.

Also pay attention to the screws, handles and legs. If the fittings are not the same, with differences in shape and pattern, then most likely these elements were made by hand, and if some of them are damaged, an analogue part can no longer be obtained. In this case, it is better to replace all the fittings.

Cleaning and preparing the product

Cleaning the surface is done carefully so as not to damage important decorative elements products. First, clean the surface by wiping it with soapy water. Use a toothbrush to remove dirt and dust from hard-to-reach places.

To free the surface of furniture from paint or varnish, you will need industrial film and acetone. Cover the old chest of drawers with the latter, and to enhance the effect, cover the product with industrial film. In the absence of film, you can use oilcloth, cellophane and other available materials. Limit the air flow and leave the furniture like that for one hour. After this time, the layer of varnish and paint will come off the wood.

Decorating a chest of drawers with your own hands begins with working with a construction spatula. Remove the loose layer from the wood without damaging the surface. Remember to remove all paint.

This is followed by the sanding stage.

The surface free from small decorative elements is sanded with a machine. For the latter, it is important to choose the right nozzle. Using sandpaper or a sanding sponge, sand the area of protruding parts and small parts. Don't overdo the sanding to avoid damaging the chest of drawers.

Cracks, chips, scratches and other defects are carefully covered with wood putty. It is better to give preference to putty on water based. For restoration, putty is selected according to the color, not the name of the wood. It should only go into the recesses, so sand the surface again. If traces remain in the structure of the wood, when tinted with stain, stains will appear that cannot be removed. Replace drawer bottoms, runners and strengthen the frame.

Painting

The choice of paint, its brand and color depends on how you see the future decor of the old chest of drawers. This can be a layer of stain if the wood grain is sanded smooth and looks good without paint. Stain is suitable for changing color while maintaining the texture of wood. You can cover the entire surface with acrylic paint, and then the design of the old chest of drawers will become completely different.

Both stain and paint are applied evenly using brushes or a roller. The work time is the same: only the results upon drying are different.

Stages of work:

Selecting varnish, paint of the desired color and other materials.
Tinting, staining or painting with a brush or roller. You can use a rag.
A layer of varnish over the entire surface of the furniture. After drying, add another layer or two. Can be replaced with transparent primer.
Sanding to remove raised pile of wood.
Finishing layers of varnish.
Wait until completely dry.

Design solutions

Decor old bedside table or decorating a chest of drawers with your own hands is determined by the style of the interior. You can use wallpaper, lace, choose a floral print, fabric upholstery boxes, paint or put names and memorable dates on the surface. You can decorate the entire front panel using coffee beans, buttons, beads, beads and other elements. If this is a living room, it is better to use presentable panels of restrained color, but for a bedroom or children's room you are provided complete freedom choice. Decoupage techniques, English style, volumetric decor, as well as antique decor do not go out of fashion.

Nightstands are updated according to the same principle. But how to decorate a plastic chest of drawers? Best choice will become decoupage. The same work is carried out as indicated above, with the exception of grinding. For plastic, special paints of various colors and primer are provided.

Decoupage

How to decorate a chest of drawers using decoupage technique? This is a real haven for imagination. Decoupage involves decorating furniture using special cards and three-layer napkins. You also need to get acrylic paint white, PVA glue, scissors, roller and sponge. The process begins by applying paint with a roller to the entire surface of the chest of drawers. Next, start cutting out the images you want. To give an antique look, after complete drying, you should go over the product with sandpaper. This must be done carefully, following the lines of the wood.

Apply PVA glue to all pieces to glue them to the chest of drawers. Apply the same glue to the front side of the pictures, which will protect them from external influences. If these are flowers or ornate patterns, they can be extended with patterns of lines and curls protruding onto the surface of the nightstand.

Decoupage can also be done using fabric. This will allow you to decorate the facade to match the interior.

In English style

But DIY chest of drawers design is not limited to the idea of decoupage. An old product is ideal for the English style, even if it has noticeable defects. You will need four colors: white, red, blue and brown. The first three are acrylic paint, the last is oil paint. Other useful materials include putty, spatula, toplazur, masking tape, sandpaper, decorative nails, brushes and rollers.

The fittings are removed from the chest of drawers and the product is cleaned. Afterwards, the surface is covered with an uneven layer of putty: the more careless, the better. Paint the chest of drawers with white paint and mark off the areas to be painted with tape. Dilute scarlet and blue paints. The spotting that may appear during the dyeing process is only a plus. The table top and sides are sanded. The finished work is covered with toplazure (use a sponge for this). The ideal tone of toplazuri is “walnut”. Then drive in decorative furniture nails and install fittings darkened with oil-based brown paint.

Antique

But how to decorate a chest of drawers with your own hands if it is too old-fashioned? Lovers of country and Provence will appreciate the antique decor. This design is popular now, and to work you will need the following:

sandpaper of various grain sizes and hardness;
sponge;
brushes and screwdrivers;
craquelure varnish;
wax candle;
2 colors of acrylic paint.

Remove the hardware, drawers and tops of the dresser. Sand the entire surface and wipe with a wet sponge. Apply the first coat of paint and leave to dry. The following abrasions will be intentional, and they are done with sandpaper and a candle. Then apply paint of a different shade (to your taste) and wipe with a sponge those areas that were covered with wax: in these places the paint will rub off. Finish stage- This is a decoupage technique or original painting. Next, everything is covered with craquelure.

Soviet-era furniture - walls, cabinets, chests of drawers - is not beautiful, but reliable and strong. Well, I just can’t bring myself to take it to the landfill. And rightly so. It is very easy to update it, giving it a completely new sound and modern look. Remaking cabinet-type furniture may not be very difficult: there are materials that allow you to significantly change with little effort appearance. Most easy way— change color and accessories. Everything is clear with the fittings - choose what suits your style best, and the color can be changed in two ways - paint and glue film (or wallpaper).

Remaking an old wall: changing the design

Covering old furniture with self-adhesive film is the easiest option for changing the decor. Film is available today in both plain and color, different colors, textures and shades. There is no point in gluing a film with a wood pattern; otherwise, it is in trend today. But plain or with a pattern - this is what can turn an old wall into new furniture. The steps are simple, but the work requires care. But the result is excellent. See two photos. The first one shows the old Soviet wall before the renovation, the second one shows it after.

Updating an old furniture wall - before and after

Now about how it was updated. Compacted furniture self-adhesive film was used, cream color, matte surface. The open part of the old wall was closed with glass doors; a translucent matte film was used for the glass. The edging is a furniture layout (also self-adhesive) chrome color. The order of work is as follows:

Everything that can be removed, you remove and disassemble. Remove old fittings.
Surfaces must be clean and free of grease. This is easier to achieve with a soft cloth soaked in dishwashing detergent. Then everything is washed away warm water dream a large number vinegar. Wipe with a dry cloth.
Cut out the details. It is better to cut the film 8-10 mm larger. The remains are then cut off with a paper knife.
Spray the part to be glued with water from a spray bottle. On a wet surface, the film can be moved if something goes wrong. You can even peel it off without damaging it.
Removed from film protective layer, carefully lay it out. Once leveled, begin to smooth soft cloth from the middle to the edges. Try not to have any bubbles. To do this, you need to move gradually, without jumping from place to place.
If there is still a bubble, you can pierce it with a thin needle approximately in the middle. Then expel air from the edges of the bubble to the hole and rub the puncture site.
Having glued the film, take a clean thin cotton cloth, spread it on top and iron it with a warm iron (medium heat).
We glue the trim and install new handles.

This is the sequence of work with every detail. It’s the same with glass, you just need to glue it to the inner surface. After assembly you have a renewed wall. This technique can be used for any item: chest of drawers, bedside tables, wardrobe, etc.

For example, after a successful experiment with the wall, they redid it in the same way old wardrobe and added it to the right. Now the entire wall is occupied. You can also update your kitchen set by gluing self-adhesive film and replace the handles.

There is a second way. It is a modification of the proposed method, but it is simpler and not so labor-intensive. Only the doors are covered, not with film, but with non-woven wallpaper. The wallpaper is glued with PVA glue. To prevent the edges from riding up, the parts are cut 5 mm smaller on all sides. It turns out a kind of edging. Everything looks good (example in the photo below).

What's good about this method: it's easy to change the decor. Tired of the old appearance, they tore off the wallpaper and put on new ones. Despite the fact that the method seems frivolous, the appearance is maintained for several years. Its author even tried it on kitchen set. Only the wallpaper on top is coated twice with PVA glue. In this case, the cabinets can be washed. It is important to apply the varnish layer evenly, without sagging; there are no other difficulties.

Sometimes wallpaper is varnished. But before you do this, try it on a scrap piece: see how they react to it.

When choosing a varnish, you need to remember that acrylic and cellulose varnishes remain transparent after drying, while polyurethane varnishes turn yellow after time. Also, polyurethane is almost not softened by solvents: it can only be removed mechanically (from wood - cleaned with sandpaper).

Dresser update

The old chest of drawers had stood for who knows how many years in the attic, but it was very strong and reliable, it had not dried out one bit, only the polish was cracked. It is much stronger than modern products. This is a feature that is inherent in old, Soviet-era furniture. It's not very detailed (to put it mildly), but after standing in poor conditions for several decades, it remains strong. Remaking a chest of drawers is more complex: two techniques were used: painting, and then decorating using polyurethane moldings and wallpaper.

Step 1. We remove the fittings and remove the old coating. In some places the polishing was scraped off, in others it was sanded with sandpaper. The chips were covered with wood putty and waited until it dried. At the final stage, everything was cleaned with fine-grain sandpaper. At the same time, the chest of drawers became the same as in the photo below.

This is after it was puttied and leveled with sandpaper

Step 2. Installation of polyurethane moldings. When choosing moldings, make sure that they are not voluminous: too thick ones will look very rough on a small chest of drawers. They should be no wider than 5 cm and as narrow as possible when looking at them in profile.

The purchased polyurethane moldings were carefully cut, the corners were filed at 45°. (). The pattern match must be perfect. We glue them on PVA. For reliability, you can additionally secure it with screws with wide heads. A small recess is made under them, after the self-tapping screw is screwed in, the hole is covered with putty. Try to ensure that the putty immediately lays down perfectly (you can correct it with a wet finger), since it is problematic to clean off dried putty.

Moldings are glued and mounted on self-tapping screws

Step 3. Everything is treated with a primer. You can use PVA glue diluted with water in a ratio of 1:2. After the primer dries, paint (two layers). For this case, water-based acrylic paint was chosen. The color is coffee with milk, although it looks completely different in the photo. Color rendering is inaccurate.

This is after the second application of paint. Cute

Step 4. For decoration, wallpaper was chosen whose coating was made using the silk-screen printing technique. Pieces are cut to the size of the inside of the frames from the moldings and glued to PVA. After the glue has dried, the entire chest of drawers is coated twice with water-based varnish.

Step 5. And the last to be installed are new legs (furniture wheels) and handles.

We install the handles and legs)) The updated chest of drawers is completely different from the one you saw in the first photo.

As you can see, complex work No. Everything is really elementary. But all processes require accuracy - the appearance depends on it. You can update in the same way old wardrobe. Get a set for the room. Stylish and original.

When updating furniture, the worst thing is if the surface is varnished. The varnish takes a long time and is difficult to remove. If the surface is smooth and the polishing is not damaged, you can apply primer for complex surfaces and paint after drying. This greatly speeds up the process of painting lacquered furniture.

If you have children and a cottage or yard, you may be interested in reading with a lot of photos. And about

How to update an old nightstand

In the photo gallery below you can see the process of restoring an old polished bedside table. First, the old polish was removed from it, puttyed, sanded and after processing it was painted twice with acrylic paint. Then paper with an interesting design was glued to the doors (it was a gift paper bag). Once dry, the whole thing was coated with two coats of semi-gloss acrylic varnish.

The sequence of work is not difficult if you know how to do it. All processes will repeat the sequence of actions that you saw in the example of updating the chest of drawers. The result is also impressive.

Remodeling furniture with your own hands is a painstaking task, but the result is worth it. Below is a photo of a bedside table restored using a simple method: it is covered with embossed wallpaper, and varnish is applied twice on top.

Table makeover

Using the same technology, banal coffee table can be turned into modern item interior In this case, it was covered with wrapping paper. It is dense, adheres well and does not become limp when applying varnish.

Before starting work on decorating the table top, the legs of the old table and the edges of the table top were painted in light color: this way it fits better with the new design style. Then the process of its transformation began.

When pasting, the panel is cut out significantly larger than the dimensions of the tabletop. It's necessary. The paper is glued to PVA and rolled with a roller so that there are no lumps or blisters. The surface must be absolutely smooth.

After gluing, take sandpaper with fine grain (it is more convenient to work if it is attached to a block). By running it along the edge, they bend and at the same time separate the excess paper.

Even cutting with a guillotine will not give you a fairly even edge. And with this method, it turns out professionally designed. There is no smell of amateur activity.

After the glue has dried, the surface is coated twice with a thin layer of varnish. It should be applied with a soft brush in a small amount. Layers are applied in different directions: first along the long side, then across.

Furniture remodeling: photo ideas

Remaking furniture with your own hands is a creative endeavor. Even something boring can be made into something great thing. And it is not at all necessary to repeat exactly what you saw. Many useful ideas comes during the execution of the “project”. It’s just a pity that some of what was planned turns out to be not as attractive as it seemed. Try it, experiment. Good modern technologies allow this to be done at minimal cost.

Step by step to make an old chest of drawers look like new. We’ll also give 10 cool examples of how craftsmen give storage systems . We are sure that after this you will want to pick up paint, brushes and set aside a weekend for remodeling.

How to restore an old chest of drawers with your own hands: 5 steps

1. Remove the coating

Paint

To do this we need a solvent, a spatula, and ideally a sanding machine.

What the process of removing the old coating by hand looks like: we remove the material with a spatula, if necessary we use a solvent - it can be acetone or any other store product. With him decorative coating it will be much easier to go. Take a scrap cloth (or rag), soak it in solvent and wipe the surface. The previous finish should come off almost completely. And the remaining residue can be removed with a spatula.

By the way, if you work with solvents, don’t forget a mask and gloves - as this toxic substances and the fumes can make you feel sick and damage your skin.

What if you work with grinder? Suddenly you have friends from whom you can borrow equipment. The grinder must have an attachment for cleaning with abrasive. It is this attachment that helps to completely remove paint coating and leave clean wooden surface. For a perfectly smooth coating, after using the machine, you can “walk” the wood with a sanding wheel.

Of course, this option is faster and easier, but keep in mind that when working with the machine there may be large number dust. Stock up on a respirator and goggles.

Plastic film

The furniture was covered with wood-look films. If you need to remove it, the easiest way is to use a hair dryer. Hot air will help you easily separate the plastic coating from the base. Follow the simple instructions: first heat one of the parts of the structure - for example, a tabletop or door, then pick up the film and carefully separate it. Repeat the procedure with other parts.

If you want do this is without construction hair dryer, the process will be the same as with paint.

2. Repair cracks and other imperfections

Despite the fact that restoring a chest of drawers with your own hands at home is a simplified option, obvious shortcomings cannot be left behind. Moreover, fixing them is not so difficult.

You will need wood putty. Please note that it is better to choose a special putty, since ordinary building materials may contain large abrasive particles and ultimately damage the coating. And the wood material will lie flat and neat.

Making a chest of drawers with your own hands means creating a unique piece of furniture out of an ordinary piece of furniture. designer item. It will dilute the usual surroundings with its brightness and transform the overall interior of the room. Let's look at several ways to decorate with your own hands.

Restoration and painting of the cabinet

Dresser decoration

Decorating a chest of drawers

Sometimes it’s a pity to throw away a shabby old one, but quality furniture. In this case, it can always be transformed.

Restoration

Restoration is a labor-intensive process that goes beyond the simple transformation of an interior item. But more often than not, you can’t do without it when working with old things. Before you begin restoring a chest of drawers, you should carefully inspect it for value. It is possible that it may turn out to be an item made tens or hundreds of years ago self made. To do this, first of all, you should pay attention to the fittings: handles, legs, screws. If they are not the same, there are differences in the notches, then, most likely, they were made by hand and not by an industrial method.

Cabinet decoration

Beautiful decor of a chest of drawers in the form of a designer

If the decision to restore is made, the following things will be required:

special glue for wooden surfaces;
putty;
several types of sandpaper;
screwdrivers;
gloves;
respirator;
toothpicks;
old toothbrush, toothpaste;
brushes;
wood varnish.

Updating a chest of drawers involves several steps.

Cleaning and preparing the product

Cleaning the surface must be done carefully so as not to damage any decorative details. To begin with, wipe the surface with soapy water; a toothbrush will come in handy for cleaning small parts. Furniture fittings can be removed if necessary.

To combat plaque or stubborn dirt, it is better to use fine sandpaper, but the main thing here is not to overdo it and not damage the furniture. If planned complete replacement color, then the entire surface will have to be lightly sanded.

Restoration and painting of the cabinet

Decorating a chest of drawers with rulers

Decorating a chest of drawers

Once the chest of drawers is clean and dry, it needs to be repaired. You will need to inspect the product for scratches, damaged screws, and so on. The cracks are covered with putty, the fittings are replaced with new ones.

Painting

Most likely, you will have to paint, since it is unlikely that the old chest of drawers will match the modern one. color scheme interior You can repaint it a single color. You need to paint carefully, especially in the corners. You need to use special paint for working with wood. If desired, you can varnish the chest of drawers.

Cabinet decoration

Beautiful chest of drawers decor

Design solutions

There are many ways to decorate an updated chest of drawers. You will certainly be able to choose the most suitable method.

Decoupage

The easiest way to make this decoration is on a white surface. Decoupage is a modification of a product using special napkins. They can be purchased at craft stores. In the bedroom you can use a floral print, and for the children's room - images of your favorite cartoon characters. The work includes several main stages:

Coating the chest of drawers with white acrylic paint and drying the product well.
Preparing and cutting out decorative items. On at this stage You need to pull out all the drawers, determine exactly where each image will be placed.
Glue cut out patterns using PVA glue. It is better to smooth the pattern on the chest of drawers with a special roller so as not to damage the thin paper.
Coating the surface of the chest of drawers with varnish.

Restoration and painting of the cabinet

Dresser decoration

Decorating a chest of drawers

Decoupage can be done not only with paper, but also with fabric. This option will be much more economical if you glue scraps at hand. More often, drawer fronts are decorated in this way, choosing colors to match the curtains or upholstered furniture. The handles must be removed from them before starting work. Next you need to perform the following steps.

Cutting fabric. The flaps are made several centimeters wider than the facade. This is a must for bends.
The box is covered with PVA glue, the cut fabrics are applied, and all wrinkles and bubbles are carefully smoothed out from the center to the edges.
Coat the ends of the facade with glue and make bends. You can attach it with inside facade with a stapler.
Screw on handles and other fittings.

English style chest of drawers decor

Stylish in any modern interior the decor of the chest of drawers will look like english style. An old piece of furniture from Ikea would work well for this design. Two evenings will be enough for you to work. For decoration you will need:

scarlet and blue acrylic paint;
putty;
brown oil paint;
toplazur (wax-based coating);
decorative nails for furniture;
spatula;
masking tape;
paint brushes and rollers;
sandpaper.

Cabinet decoration

Beautiful chest of drawers decor

The work consists of the following steps:

Removing all fittings from the chest of drawers and cleaning it of dirt and dust.
Cover the surface with a thin layer of putty. It should not be smooth, but textured. You can make a few spots on top and smear them a little.
After drying, the product is coated with white acrylic paint.
Marking areas to be painted with masking tape.
Preparation and dilution of blue and scarlet paint. The more pigment is added, the richer the color will be. When painting, do not be afraid of spotting. That's how it should be. You can paint in two layers.
Sanding the sides and top of the dresser with sandpaper.
Using a sponge, the entire surface is covered with toplazure (it is better to choose a “walnut” tone).
Driving nails at equal distances along the façade.
Installation of handles. Covering them oil paint(for darkening).

Restoration and painting of the cabinet

Dresser decoration

Decorating a chest of drawers

Antique decor

The design of an old chest of drawers will look quite stylish. Usually this method is chosen by lovers of creativity, Provence or country music. To work you need to prepare:

dresser;
sandpaper of different hardness;
acrylic paint (2 colors);
craquelure varnish;
soft sponge;
wax candle;
paint brushes;
screwdrivers.

Before decorating begins, take out all the drawers, remove the dresser top and handles. Then all surfaces are sanded with sandpaper until smooth and wiped with a sponge soaked in water. After drying, apply the main coat of paint and allow the product to dry again. Now you need to make abrasions using sandpaper and rub them with a candle, as well as some areas of the main surface.

Cabinet decoration

Beautiful chest of drawers decor

After this, paint of a different shade is applied (darker or lighter - everyone chooses for themselves) and the waxed areas are wiped with a sponge. The paint will come off easily there. You can paint or decorate the chest of drawers using the decoupage technique, and then cover it with craquelure. This type of varnish will add small natural cracks to the wooden surface.

Once the varnish has dried, the chest of drawers can be assembled and used for its intended purpose.

Volumetric decor

The voluminous decor of a chest of drawers does not require large financial expenditures, and the work will only bring pleasure. Moreover, using this technique you can transform cabinets, sideboards and other pieces of furniture. The design may require stencils; they can be easily made from thick cardboard.

Restoration and painting of the cabinet

Decorating a chest of drawers with pictures

Decorating a chest of drawers

For decoration you will need:

spatula;
stencils;
acrylic-based putty or volumetric paste;
acrylic white and brown paints;
brushes and sponges;
masking tape.

The work is simple, the main thing is to do everything carefully, after removing the handles and taking out the drawers. The stencils are attached to the surface, and a thick layer of putty is applied to them. Most likely, the applied layer will have to be smoothed out a little with a spatula before removing the cardboard. The three-dimensional pattern is left to dry.

Cabinet decoration

Beautiful chest of drawers decor

You can cover everything with one color. Or select a volumetric element. To do this you need to do the following:

Paint the chest of drawers, for example, white.
Rub the raised parts with wax.
Cover everything brown tone, and wipe the waxy areas with a sponge. They will remain white.

This method is suitable for both an old chest of drawers and a new one.

Video: Restoration and decoration of a chest of drawers

The times of furniture shortages are long gone, and today we can buy whatever we want for our apartments and houses to suit our tastes. But until now, many owners of pieces of furniture from the socialist era are trying to repair them and give them a new life. And this is not from greed or acute attachment to things. It’s just that an object like an old chest of drawers may not turn out to be rubbish, the place of which is perhaps in the country, but a challenge to one’s own imagination and the ability to create with one’s own hands.

Restoring an old chest of drawers: pros and cons

The processes of repair and restoration are similar, but have several significant differences. When repairing old furniture, we simply transform it most often: we remove peeling paint, sand it, apply a new layer, and fasten loose elements. Restoration is a deeper work that goes significantly beyond the boundaries cosmetic repairs. In addition, a restored chest of drawers can become more valuable if it was originally a fairly original, exclusive product.

Before deciding to restore an old chest of drawers, conduct a thorough assessment of its value. Inspect the item for tags or stamps indicating the name of the craftsman and time of manufacture. It may turn out that your chest of drawers is an antique piece of furniture art, and by starting to process it, you will lose a truly valuable item.

An old chest of drawers may have antique value

Signs of antiquity may be as follows:

precision internal corners as a result of long-term use of the chest of drawers;
uneven notch on the fastening screws;
different distances between notch turns.

The last two signs may indicate that the fasteners were made manually and not industrially.

All of the above can be detected with the naked eye. A more in-depth analysis will be carried out by a specialist whom you invite to evaluate the product. It is not recommended to begin restoration or repair work until the final conclusion.

The restoration process from start to finish

So, you have decided to restore an old chest of drawers with your own hands. The work ahead is painstaking, requiring attention and time. Every step is extremely important, so try not to miss anything.

Old chest of drawers in need of restoration

To work you will need:

wood putty and glue;
sandpaper of different grits in the set;
hammer;
set of screwdrivers;
rubber mallet;
gloves and respirator;
toothpicks, toothbrush;
means for cleaning accessories (tooth powder will do);
tassels;
paint and varnish.

Cleaning the Product

The old chest of drawers must be cleaned so that the surfaces and decorative parts are not damaged. First, wipe the product with a sponge and soapy water. The water should be warm, but not hot, but as detergent– laundry or stain-removing soap without chlorine.

Antique pieces of furniture, especially chests of drawers, are often decorated small details and carved inserts. A toothbrush will help you clean them well.

Remove furniture fittings(this will give you access to the surfaces underneath the parts to better removal dirt) and rub with cleaning agent. For example, tooth powder works well for silver.

Such hard to reach places, like cracks and corners, clean with an awl or toothpick. Plaque and stubborn dirt can be removed with fine sandpaper. It must be used very carefully, otherwise the finish may fade due to strong pressure.

If you decide to change the color of an old chest of drawers or cover it with a new layer of varnish, the surface must be thoroughly sanded.

Preliminary preparation

After the old chest of drawers is washed and thoroughly dried, repair or replace damaged elements. Finding suitable parts will most likely be difficult. To do this, it is better to contact an antique shop or carpentry workshop to order the production of the necessary decorative items. There you can also get professional help installing parts.

Check how well the screws and bolts are tightened and whether the wood is cracked. Remove rusty or loose bolts: they need to be replaced with new ones. Glue small cracks on the surface wood glue; Cover the larger ones with wood putty, matching it exactly to the same tone. If you plan to subsequently cover the chest of drawers with stain, then use a special putty.

Painting work

Nowadays you rarely see furniture from natural wood on wide sale. An old chest of drawers may not match modern style your home. Therefore, except fresh look this product can be given a new image. The easiest way is to paint it one color, for example white.

First of all, remove the old coating from the surface. Do this carefully so as not to damage the wood or leave traces of the old coating in cracks and corners.

Thoroughly clean the surfaces of the dresser so that there are no uneven spots left.

Now sand the surface to get rid of roughness and minor imperfections.

Sand the surface well

After sanding, move on to putty. Carefully repair all chips and unnecessary holes. After the putty has dried, sand it with fine-grained sandpaper.

To paint the chest of drawers, use a special wood paint. You may need to sand the surface again. To give the chest of drawers a glossy look, you can apply a layer of varnish on top of the paint (after it has completely dried, of course).

Replacing old parts

The old chest of drawers used in our example had iron handles. Of course, they are beautiful and give the furniture an antique look. But unfortunately, some of these pens are hopelessly damaged. The easiest way out is to completely replace them with new ones that are more suitable in style. This is easy to do: drill holes of the required diameter in suitable places and insert the fittings.

Replace old dresser handles with new ones for a modern look.

As you can see, the chest of drawers has become completely different: new, modern and exclusive.

New life old furniture

Decoupage chest of drawers

If you don't think pure white is enough to breathe new life into an old chest of drawers, do decoupage.

Paint the surface with white acrylic paint. Let dry thoroughly.
Cut out pattern pieces from decorative paper napkins. Glue them to the chest of drawers with PVA glue.
After everything is dry, coat the chest of drawers with varnish.

That's all, your chest of drawers has sparkled with new colors! The good thing about decoupage is that you can choose any pattern and design that your imagination allows.

Master class on decoupage of a chest of drawers (video)

Another repair option

This method will help you turn an old and boring bulky chest of drawers into a light and elegant piece of furniture. For the transformation, we will take a classic model without any special decorative ornaments: three wide drawers and two small ones.

Classic chest of drawers with three large and two small drawers

You will need the following tools and materials:

means for removing old layers of varnish or paint;
sandpaper;
chisel;
matte putty;
PVA glue;
self-tapping screws;
polyurethane foam decorative moldings;
wallpaper;
paraffin;
water-based acrylic paint;
transparent water-based varnish;
8 decorative handles.

Preparation

Unscrew the handles on the chest of drawers. Examine it carefully from all sides. Special attention Pay attention to the lid and legs: these are the places where the wood is usually subject to the most damage. If the shortcomings are minor, it is not necessary to eliminate them. But if more serious damage is detected, sometimes it is necessary to replace some parts completely.

Free the chest of drawers from old varnish or paint. The top layers can be removed with a chisel; they usually come off easily. Rub the residue thoroughly with sandpaper until clean wood is visible.

Clean the product thoroughly from old paint and remove the fittings

In places where noticeable irregularities and dents are found, apply mastic with a spatula and level the layer. Once dry, sand these areas with fine-grit sandpaper. Do this carefully, do not press too hard, otherwise you will damage the fresh layer of mastic. As a result, the surface should become perfectly flat.

The new dresser handles you purchased may be smaller or larger size than the old ones. In this case, you need to fill the holes left from the old handles that you removed with mastic and make new ones in the right places using a drill.

Pay attention! There are handles that are attached to special screws. There is no need to drill holes for them. If you have the opportunity, purchase such accessories to make your work easier.

Dilute PVA glue with water. Using a brush, treat the entire surface of the chest of drawers. You can replace the glue with any primer. When the surface is completely dry, you can begin decorating.

Decorative elements

First of all, prepare the main decorative elements - frames for the sides and drawers. They can be made from ordinary polyurethane moldings. The main thing in this work is correct measurements. Frame for drawer should be located strictly along the edge. It is better to make a small indent on the sides.

Correctly calculate the dimensions of the decorative frames on the drawers

It is also very important to trim the corner portions of the molding correctly.

Once you have all the parts for the frames ready, start attaching them. For greater reliability, screw the frames with screws, and then seal the places where they enter the moldings with mastic so that the caps do not stand out.

Apply mastic to the areas where the screws enter the moldings.

Now paint the installed frames with acrylic paint. Choose any color that you like or matches the interior of the room. For example, for a chest of drawers french style Light coffee or beige will work well. Apply the paint in several layers, each time waiting until it dries completely.

Paste wallpaper inside the frames. It's good if they have a thick texture and a fancy pattern. The ornament should be darker than the general background. After you finish pasting the wallpaper, carefully screw the handles into place.

For original decor, use wallpaper

The final touch is to coat the chest of drawers with clear varnish. It should be applied in several layers.

Chest of drawers after restoration in the bedroom interior

To make the drawers slide out of the grooves easily, lubricate the wooden parts of the sliding system with paraffin. Sliding will be significantly easier.

How to restore an old chest of drawers (video)

As you can see, turning an old bulky chest of drawers into a completely new and attractive interior element is not at all difficult, although it is troublesome. But all the difficulties pale before the result of the work. Tell us in the comments about your ideas for restoring and repurposing old furniture. Good luck and comfort to your home!