outdoor amenities

How to update an old polished cabinet with your own hands. A photo

What do we do when we think of a change of scenery? We start leafing through fashion magazines in search of photos of ultra-modern furniture and ask our friends, trying to find an interesting creative idea. And we completely forget that you already have comfortable, completely free and stylish furniture, you just need to put a little imagination and your own efforts into restoring it. We will try to figure out how to update an old wardrobe with our own hands: photos of restored wardrobes, wardrobes and cabinets will serve as an excellent incentive for creativity.

Modern furniture from leading manufacturers is certainly comfortable and attractive. You go to your friend's living room - and she has a new set of a well-known Italian company. A beautiful front made of natural oak, gilded fittings, softly gleaming frosted glass with a sandblasted pattern. However, what can magnificent expensive cabinets say about a person, besides the fact that he lives in abundance? Perhaps one can also draw conclusions about its good taste.

A great alternative to a modern hall or hallway set

And the old, but updated piece of furniture is a completely different level. This is a whole story full of interesting events and secrets. This is a greeting from the past, and possibly from the century before last, when our ancestors did not even know about the existence of convenient drawers on rollers, but they also appreciated the naturalness of the material and creativity to decoration. Things inherited were valued much more than a remake, and antique shops were always full of visitors.

Modern design with antique elements

To breathe into an old chiffonier or bookcase new life, there are many ways to decorate furniture with your own hands: from simple grinding followed by varnishing to applying sophisticated technology patination. The choice of method depends on the taste of the owner of rare furniture and the ability to apply the rules of decorative technique in practice.

Pasting with bright wallpaper is an effective way to place accents

A few jars of acrylic paint, half a roll of inexpensive paper wallpaper, a tube of wood glue, a set of brushes - and instead of an inconspicuous double cabinet, you get a unique masterpiece of your own making.

Old furniture as an element of a stylish interior

It is a mistake to assume that the old wardrobe "does not fit" into the framework of a certain style. By choosing the right color and decoration technique, you can create a model that fully meets the overall design concept. If desired, you can remove or replace some elements in order to give the piece of furniture a certain shape - more strict or concise.

Truly feminine decor of a linen closet

Let's return to the "grandmother's" cabinets. The current generation of grandparents are witnesses to the heyday of the Soviet era, when there was no such variety of furniture sets, and walls from abroad were considered the highest reward for patience. The style of both domestic and imported (Polish and Czech) furniture is simple, uncomplicated and concise.

But for master decorators, Soviet-era furniture is a real treasure. Just look at how the old wardrobe looks in the photo after restoration with your own hands: you don’t even need a master class to sand and paint all the details white.

An amazing transformation of the "Soviet" buffet

And who doesn't remember polished brown and reddish-cherry facades from our childhood? They are very easy to update with the same sandpaper and paint. Pay attention to the decorative elements - light gilding or bronze on a white background looks just fine.

Photo comparison of the wardrobe before and after the update

Incredibly lucky those who inherited the Soviet wall. It can be divided into separate modules and create a first-class modern set for a children's room or summer house. There is only one thing left - to decide on the color and choose the appropriate decoration technique!

Why do I choose restoration?

It is easy to understand why many people choose new furniture - it is prestigious, beautiful and fashionable. I chose a model, placed an order, and a maximum of a month later the bedroom is decorated with black glossy splendor. Or an airy snow-white set - this is what you like. Let's try to figure out what makes some people pick up brushes and paints. Moreover - sometimes stroll through the nearby landfills.

Stylish

What guides people who are slightly aging even new thing? Style! If Provence or 100% ecological country style reigns in your kitchen, then it is customary to stylize even new furniture a little. And do not just rub the protruding places with sandpaper, but elegantly and skillfully apply a special technique, otherwise the desired effect will not work. The photo shows an example of how to paint an old cabinet with your own hands antique.

Delicate charm of Provence

Manufacturers of paints and varnishes compete in the production of special decorative means, which, after application, steal from your furniture for at least a hundred years.

fashionable

It is curious that not only the possession of restored furniture is becoming fashionable, but also the ability to personally transform old things, skillfully turn unnecessary junk into works of art. If you are not yet familiar with the creative work of the designer and decorator Marat Ka, we recommend that you contact her - you will learn a lot about restoration and modern techniques decoration.

Do-it-yourself painting as a way to update old headsets

Surprisingly, the fashion for restoring worn-out interior items has been going on for centuries. Moreover, along with new technologies for making furniture, super-fashionable techniques for decorating and aging appear.

Exclusive

If you buy a wardrobe in a store, it is immediately clear that the factory model has more than one hundred twin brothers. Ordered in furniture stores modules also do not differ in originality, since the same materials are used for the manufacture of facades. But a piece of furniture updated with your own hands is a 100% exclusive. Not only is the design "ancient", but also the design will be special, because paint, wallpaper and fabric are used as decorative elements.

An original technique in which furniture and walls "merge"

It is convenient that for styling you can choose a color that fully matches the interior palette: neutral, bright or matched according to the principle of contrast.

practical

Owning a new stylish thing is completely free or almost free - the highest level practical approach and savings. Calculate how much a roll of sandpaper, a can of paint and a set of accessories cost, and then compare with the prices of the most ordinary classic chiffonier. The cost difference is enormous. An example of how to decorate an old wardrobe with your own hands is in the next photo.

A unique interior that looks more like an expensive design masterpiece than budget project

Do not forget that decorating is a pleasant process and, in fact, a form of relaxation, therefore, additional savings.

Master class: how to decorate an old wardrobe

As an example, we will tell you in detail how to update old polished furniture with your own hands, namely, an old wardrobe that has long settled in the country.

Three-leaf wardrobe with drawers and a mirror

Throwing away a strong, conscientiously assembled piece of furniture does not make sense, besides, there are many techniques with which it is easy to restore its beauty and youth. The idea belongs to Maria Talmacheva.

Finding the right model

Craftsmen and craftswomen, who are the happy owners of old furniture, are the easiest - they already have the main object for the realization of creative ideas. What about those who live surrounded by new cabinets and cupboards that they don't want to say goodbye to? There are several options:

ask if friends and acquaintances have a wardrobe “to throw away” and, with a positive answer, help them get rid of junk;
buy old unnecessary furniture on one of the many sites (for example, on Avito) at a symbolic price;
still take a chance and redo the current model, which is not very old, but has already served for 10-15 years.

And do not forget to think about where the new "resident" of your apartment or house will be installed.

Choosing a decoration method

To make the design look fresh and extraordinary, you should choose one of the popular techniques, in this case, decoupage to update the facade of the cabinet. You will need thin napkins with an original pattern or ornament. Perhaps it will be pink peonies or birds of paradise, in any case, the facade will become unrecognizable after finishing. We will show you how to restore an old wardrobe with your own hands using paper napkins with a beautiful pattern, which is dominated by a strict blue color.

Napkins are matched to the tone of the handles

Tip for beginners: wipes can be purchased at a hardware store or a special department of a supermarket that sells hand-made products.

We remember the nuances of technology

To refresh your skills, you can practice in the design inner sides cabinet or drawers. The exercises are especially useful for those who first encountered the decoupage technique. The main thing is to observe all the stages of work and their sequence.

For interior decoration, the choice fell on a bright finish.

For training, you can choose other interior elements, for example, an old stool or chair. Decorative wall decorations made of wood or plastic are also suitable.

We prepare tools and materials

The advantage of decoupage is that it does not require expensive or hard-to-find materials. Some of the items you will find at home, the rest you can buy in the supermarket at a low price. The most expensive purchase is the purchase of paintwork, but for the design of a small cabinet, you can use the remnants of paint from a previous repair. A small photo gallery of necessary things:

paper napkins with a beautiful pattern

A set of paint brushes - wide and narrow

Paint roller with tray for squeezing excess paint

PVA glue for paper or construction work

Acrylic paints in your favorite colors

In addition to the listed items and materials, you will need:

transparent fixing varnish;
paraffin (an ordinary white candle will do);
sandpaper (with a minimum grit);
primer for preparing the base for pasting and painting;
spray bottle filled with clean water;
masking paper tape or tape.

If you want to decoupage furniture with your own hands using fabric or wallpaper, use appropriate materials instead of napkins.

We clean the surface and prime the base

Cleaning should be done with a grinder or by hand using fine-grained sandpaper. Gently grind all outer surfaces. To remove polishing, it is better to use a power tool, otherwise the process will be delayed. When you achieve perfect smoothness and uniformity of the surface, you need to apply a primer layer. If you follow the instructions and know exactly the moment of drying, then you can allocate your free time to good use.

Try to remember all the stages of work, because the skills of decorating old furniture with your own hands can come in handy in the future.

We apply 1 coat of paint and cover with paraffin

As soon as the primer is completely dry, proceed to painting the facade and walls. First, choose a background shade and apply it. In the future, it is possible to add stripes, figures, borders of a different color. Places that are not subject to staining are covered with masking tape. In the photo - a cabinet painted in 1 layer:

Main color - lilac of moderate intensity

Acrylic paint dries quickly, so after 20-25 minutes we start rubbing the surfaces with paraffin. We affect only those surfaces that we plan to age.

A candle is a great tool for creating a layer of paraffin

Areas covered with paraffin are easy to style, make them more colorful. The next layer of paint comes off them perfectly, as a result of which the worn places seem aged. In our case, a lilac background or woody texture will be visible on the treated areas.

Apply 2 coats of paint

paraffin individual places, we proceed to re-staining. Mandatory condition: the second coat of paint should be lighter by 1-2 tones.

To maintain clear boundaries of the painted areas, do not forget to use masking tape

For painting small details, use a narrow brush

The transverse elements and the middle of the doors can be painted in a different color - blue, gray or turquoise.

A few bright touches won't hurt

Having made the last smear, we wait for complete drying.

We decorate using decoupage technique

We use decoupage to decorate the end parts and the front side of the boxes. The process of fixing the napkin on a vertical surface is very simple. First, we apply a piece of a napkin (or all) to the end of the cabinet, evenly moisten it with water from a spray bottle, then take a brush and carefully smooth the napkin, trying not to damage the edges.

Leveling the napkin is one of the important stages of decoupage.

Wetting helps the paper piece align

Having achieved perfect smoothness, we apply a layer of PVA glue on top of the napkin, it dries in about 20-30 minutes. Places covered with masking tape, paint in a different color.

Aging and varnishing

It remains to age the pre-selected places, in this case, these are the corners and cross rails. We take a fine sandpaper and lightly remove the top layer of paint. Under it, the bottom layer, painted in a brighter color, should appear.

The photo clearly shows the aged places

We paint the inside of the cabinet in one color

The finishing touch is the application of varnish. For strength, we recommend applying protection 2-3 times, each time waiting for complete drying.

Installing new hardware

The chiffonier is ready, it remains to install the fittings - the design of the castle part and decorative handles. If the store did not find fittings suitable in style or color, ordinary silver or gold details will do.

The handle is decorated in the style of finishing

Don't forget drawer handles

After spending just a few hours, instead of an old boring wardrobe, we got a new piece of furniture, stylish and unique.

Elegant chiffonier for country interior

Video instructions for decorating old furniture

How to quickly paint an old wardrobe:

How to remove old paint and carefully apply new:

Video: do-it-yourself master class on restoring old furniture:

You got acquainted with just one episode of a successful furniture renovation. As you can see, updating an old wardrobe with your own hands is not difficult at all: it is enough to purchase material for decoration and arm yourself with a brush. There are more complex ways to decorate, but coloring and decoupage are simple and effective methods that are accessible even to amateur designers.

Every Russian family has, or once had an old Soviet closet. Someone already said goodbye to this a long time ago, throwing it in the trash. Do you know that this work of art of Soviet thought can be given a second life? If this article had fallen into your hands earlier, then your old closet would have shone with new colors. And for those who still have a “Soviet long-liver” somewhere in the country, there is an opportunity to carry out the original decor of the closet with their own hands and complement the interior of the apartment with a truly designer attribute.

Any furniture gets old over time, but you should not rush to throw away a shabby wardrobe - you can not only bring it back to life, but even make it better and more original

On the this moment there are many suitable acrylic paints, adhesives and impregnations available, thanks to which you can decorate the cabinet with your own hands without problems.

Beautiful wardrobe in country style with elements of slight wear

There are several ways:

Painting the facade, as well as the side walls of the cabinet in different colors.
Decoupage of facades with subsequent application of varnish.
Pasting paper or vinyl wallpaper (photo wallpaper).
Matting glass cabinet surfaces. And when using patterned stencils, you can make unique patterns on glass.
Do-it-yourself patination of the facade frames, as well as internal open and side surfaces of the cabinet.
Artificial aging of wood.
Drawing skinali on glass facades.
Application decorative plaster or mounting foam for making patterns on cabinet fronts.

For your information. Initially, patination (patina) was independent process. A layer of patina formed on the metal parts of the furniture, as well as on wood and glass.

Painting is the simplest solution that gives a lot of visual options.

Wallpapering the back wall and cabinet drawers

Decorating the closet with textile wallpaper

Alternative to wallpaper - self-adhesive film

The choice of the method of restoring an old cabinet with your own hands depends on the personal preferences of the residents, as well as the style of the interior of the room where it is planned to be located. Also great importance has the material from which the cabinet is made. You will not succeed in aging facades from chipboard.

Wallpaper restoration

You need to wallpaper the cabinet if it is made of chipboard. This is a direct consequence of the properties of this material. There is no other way to convert laminated chipboard at home.

Paper wallpapers are easier to stick, but they are fragile, although the latter does not really matter if varnished

Consider an example with a chipboard cabinet. Before wallpapering the facades, they must be removed. Further, if there is a frame of rails on the doors, it is also desirable to dismantle them. A layer of acrylic paint is applied under the wallpaper.

This is an important condition not only visually, but also technologically. Acrylic paint has high adhesion (penetration), and itself, in turn, can well absorb subsequent layers of glue.

Before applying paint, the doors are cleaned with sandpaper (helps to increase absorbency). After applying several layers of the selected early colors, as well as the complete drying of the facades, they immediately proceed to wallpapering. A layer of glue is applied to the wallpaper sheet and to the door.

The doors of this closet are covered with wallpaper left after the renovation of the room.

If paper wallpapers are used, then it is impossible to smear them with glue, as they are very thin and will tear at the first opportunity. In this case, the adhesive is applied only to the elements of the old cabinet.

Separately, you should paint the frame, which is subsequently attached to its original place. Inner space can also be pasted over.

Another decor option when the cabinet merges with the walls

Do not forget about the compatibility of the color palette, as well as the wallpaper pattern with the overall design of the room. A hand-made sideboard must complement the interior and match it.

Antique restoration

This method is more labor intensive than the one described above. For the decor of an old semi-antique cabinet, only natural wooden materials. There is no need to completely disassemble the cabinet. But it will have to be moved to the street.

Attention. The aging process of wood is accompanied by a large amount of waste wood chips and dust.

Rust must be removed from metal parts. Large defects in wood are covered with putty

Panels, frames are cleaned of old varnish, paint. Then they must be carefully sanded. In the process, you will need to use:

sandpaper of different grain sizes or a grinder;
metal brushes with fine wire, synthetic or abrasive-polymer brush, as well as a sisal finishing brush;
tourist gas cartridge with a burner;
stains, impregnations or natural oils for wood.

An aged wood surface can be obtained using the brushing technique.

You can learn more about the method of wood aging by watching a video on YouTube.

After grinding, the resulting wood is treated with colored stain, waited for it to dry completely, and then opened with varnish.

With this method, the furniture acquires a century-old endurance. This method is perfect for decorating the surfaces of cabinets with your own hands in country style.

Such a wardrobe will perfectly fit into the rustic interior of the living room or bedroom.

Art Deco restoration

Art Deco gained its greatest popularity at the end of the 20th century. characteristic features such a design is luxury, brilliance, high cost finishing materials. The colors of the interior and furniture are predominantly white, black, gold shades. Purple, red, green and brown accents are allowed. Black and white portraits of famous people of the past would be appropriate here. This style is inherent in gangster layers.

Stylish wardrobe in dark purple color with golden elements

In do-it-yourself furniture design, this direction can be expressed in different ways. As for cabinets and chests of drawers, it can be either plain facades and panels painted with acrylic paint in one or two colors, or decorated furniture using decoupage.

Decoupage napkins or film are a versatile and practical way to give the interior and furniture a creative look. Its shapes, patterns, colors, prints are widely represented by paint shops. In Art Deco, these can be the same faces of bandits of the past, or, as it has become very fashionable, the figure of the unforgettable Marilyn Monroe.

First, the entire cabinet is painted in primary colors. To make the borders clear, use masking tape

Then the panels are decorated using decoupage technique.

Finishing stage - applying a protective layer of varnish

It will be interesting to use a special varnish with crackle properties when covering decoupage furniture facades.

A pattern made from a mosaic with your own hands will look original. To do this, you need to have a few unnecessary porcelain or ceramic plates, mostly black and white and gold. The plates are broken into small pieces, and then a pattern or a stenciled figure is assembled from them. The resulting fresco is poured epoxy resin or plastered with tiled plaster in the color of the interior.

pieces tiles- excellent material for original decor

Furniture fittings, small details, as well as a slatted frame are painted with gold-colored acrylic paint.

Chic wardrobe decor sea shells fixed on the prepared surface with hot glue

Features of the restoration of a cabinet made of chipboard

A particle board cabinet usually has a laminated surface. Before sticking the wallpaper, the laminated layer must be removed completely. This process is very laborious, so it is better to use decoupage film.

The lacquered layer must be cleaned in two stages, using a skin of different grain sizes.

With the help of decoupage film, any old Soviet wall will get the face of a European closet. Before decoupage, the surfaces are treated with a degreasing agent, which is suitable for:

gasoline or kerosene;
acetone (white spirit);
detergent for dishes.

It is better to vacuum the surfaces first, and then wipe them with a cloth with a degreasing agent.

After processing, the surface is painted with acrylic paint in several layers, each of which must dry well.

Carefully disperse the paint, avoiding streaks and smudges

The decoupage film is carefully applied to the panel (door), previously lubricated with glue. Further, the folds are smoothed out with a sponge and the plane is equal.

Cut out a pattern from a decoupage napkin and glue it on the surface of the cabinet

You can additionally decorate the closet with ribbon strips

After the glue has completely dried, varnish is applied to the resulting surface.

Advice. A unique effect is obtained by applying crackle varnish, which cracks upon drying. This method of restoration is suitable for design in the style of Provence and Country.

The photo shows an example of an artificially aged surface using crackle varnish

At the stage of furniture painting, before decoupage, you can patinate the facade. This is achieved by using an absorbent sponge or an ordinary rag. When the paint is not yet completely dry, you need to blot the sponge in some places and remove a small paint layer. The resulting effect is reminiscent of aged French furniture in the Provence style.

Furniture patination is especially effective on curly elements.

Video: restoration of an old cabinet covered with oak veneer

Photo ideas for decorating old cabinets

Any furniture ages over time, loses its previously attractive appearance. But do not rush to throw away a shabby chest of drawers or a wardrobe with an outdated design - they can still not only be brought back to life, but made better, more original and more aesthetic than before. Today we will talk about how to make a beautiful decoration of an old cabinet with your own hands using available materials.

1. Painting

The most reliable, simple and effective solution, which at the same time gives a lot of visual options: from the palette to the way the paint is applied.

You can completely update the furniture using one color. Or cover only certain parts of it, for example, drawers, doors, handles, sides. A wardrobe painted under ombre looks modern: from a rich to dull shade in full height.

Owners of vintage wood chests of drawers with a rich texture should think twice before covering up such beauty. It is better to cover such objects with a thin, diluted layer, without hiding the luxury of antiquity.

Acrylic is rightfully considered the best type of paint for such work: it mixes well, is washed off in case of errors during operation, and does not leave pungent odors. Acrylic primer is combined with it.

Of course, this type of decor does not hide the imperfections of the surface of the object, so the latter must first be prepared. Usually, a little work with sandpaper is enough for this. But as a result, you get a completely new wardrobe!

2. Stencils and stickers

Stencils or vinyl stickers- excellent proof that beautiful things can be created without outstanding artistic abilities. With their help, you will be able to decorate the cabinet with geometric patterns or more complex ones. flower arrangements. The main thing is that it will look neat.

Such decor will fit well in modern design, especially if you use simple shapes. With paint and a stencil, you can turn a nondescript old closet into a bright room accent.

The image is applied to a bare prepared surface or a pre-painted background. You can create smooth lines by taking duct tape, which will help you draw clear boundaries.

3. Wallpaper

If updating furniture is one of the stages of a recent renovation, do not rush to throw away the remaining meters of wallpaper. They are perfect for decorating an old wardrobe, hiding some of its shortcomings from prying eyes. Only the frame part will have to be coated with paint in advance, since the paper base does not adapt well to any bends.

However, a vintage ornament will look very appropriate in combination with the texture of an old tree. Wallpapers can fit into almost any interior, as they offer wide visual variability: not only colors, patterns, but also surface textures, as they are matte, glossy or embossed. You can decorate doors, sides, even internal shelving.

The rules for gluing depend on the type of wallpaper chosen. For some, you need to carefully level the coating, while others are able to cope with the shortcomings of the furniture themselves. For better preservation of the finished product - it is covered with a protective varnish.

Wallpaper for decorating a cabinet does not have to be chosen, focusing on quality and environmental friendliness. Unlike walls, which form the "climate" in the room, they play only a decorative function.

4. Decoupage

You can decorate the cabinet with a pattern so that it merges firmly with its surface using good old decoupage. This method, probably, was encountered by everyone in school time at the lessons of labor or needlework. Despite the "childish" simplicity, the finished product can look professional and even luxurious - depending on the accuracy of the work done.

You can use ordinary napkins with the pattern you like, since today they depict anything: flowers, animals, landscapes, even paintings by famous artists. The pattern can be clear or slightly translucent, depending on the style of the chest of drawers.

Make sure that when applying thin paper, bubbles and wrinkles do not form on the coating - they need to be smoothed out immediately or started over. After the napkin dries, do not forget to coat it with varnish, as it is quite sensitive to external influences.

As the main material, you can also use newspapers, letters, tram tickets - in general, everything that will look good on your furniture.

5. Fabric

Fabric can also be used to decorate an old cabinet, and even trimmings are suitable to create a kind of craft look. Sheathing an item completely will not work, especially if it does not have flat surface. But to close some details, making bright accents is a great solution.

Each type of fabric has its own texture: smooth silk for a sophisticated interior or coarse linen for Provence. In this property lies its advantage over other materials, not to mention the rich assortment of colors.

A separate option is the use of lace, which will ideally fit into the classics or complement the space of a sophisticated nature. In any case, to apply the fabric to the cabinet cover, it is enough to buy ordinary PVA glue.

6. Mosaic

Mosaic decor looks very bright and aesthetically pleasing, especially in the Art Deco style. A wardrobe decorated with a picture of small details will become the main “hero” of the room and will attract the attention of guests. Especially when they find out who is the author of the product.

Pieces of “broken” ceramics or multi-colored glass are traditionally used as mosaic details. You can expand this list by adding, for example, shells, sea pebbles or other material suitable for creating artistic compositions.

You can mount the elements on the surface of the cabinet using ordinary glue, attaching them one by one in the specified sequence. It is recommended to think over in advance not only the general drawing by making a small sketch, but also the location of each piece. To do this, arrange them "dry", and then begin the gluing process.

7. Mirror

A mirror is a very tricky item that hides what is behind it and focuses attention on the interior reflected in it. Using it to decorate an old closet will transform the entire space.

A wardrobe with a mirror facade is ideal for small spaces, which visually enlarges it. It is best to take a closet with a flat surface as a basis, which will allow you to mount a full-height mirror. In other cases, horizontal inserts, curly details, or even a mirror mosaic will look good.

8. Gilding

Gold can decorate not only women's necks, but also your wardrobe. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to give a lot of money for the sake of a luxurious look. Today, there are many alternatives for decoration, one of them is gold foil.

It is good not only for the price, but also for the possibilities - to completely cover the object or “loom” in the form of sophisticated patterns. It is easy to work with it, and the result can simply be fixed with varnish for reliability.

But keep in mind that the facade of the cabinet for such material must be appropriate. Firstly, even and perfectly smooth, otherwise the foil will not adhere well. Secondly, dark - to emphasize the "luxury" of gold.

9. Slate surface

“School” boards, which many people have nightmares about since childhood, are very popular today, especially in loft spaces. They are interactive, can be used for development creativity or planning the day. In any case, such an acquisition will never become superfluous. So why not fit it into the front of the cabinet?

The easiest way is to paint the doors with a special slate paint, which gives a dull surface. The cabinet must be cleaned of dust and dirt, apply the product in two layers, and then wait until completely dry.

There is also a slate film, but you still need to be able to glue it correctly, which is why this solution loses to the first one.

10. Aging

What to do if you need to decorate the interior in the Provence style, but your furniture does not look old enough? The answer suggests itself - help her grow old! The process is like real art, and implementation techniques range from simple to complex, from imitation to realistic.

The easiest way to give a cabinet a vintage look is to use craquelure lacquer, which cracks when dry, creating a distinctive antique look. For Provence, respectively, you need to take white paint or other pastel shades.

Furniture looks good with a facade painted with a dry brush, leaving a small amount of paint that seems to have worn off over time.

For a more realistic effect, it is necessary to process the coating, creating noticeable reliefs. Then apply acrylic, on top of it - glaze, the amount of which is regulated with a regular sponge. But for this method, you will have to completely disassemble the cabinet.

11. Rivets

Sometimes all old furniture needs is a few accents to make it aesthetically pleasing. Some styles love rough, brutal pieces with history and character, especially loft or steampunk. In this case, to heighten the effect, you can decorate the cabinet doors with metal rivets, as well as staples that will completely change the concept of a shabby chest of drawers.

The necessary parts are easily attached with glue to the wooden facade. But if you cover it with leather, you will have to use nails to fix the rivets beautifully.

Video: How to decorate a wardrobe - do-it-yourself decor

Nowadays, in stores you can find an endless variety of all kinds of cabinets, chests of drawers, hanging shelves, racks, multifunctional boxes for personal belongings and clothes. However, if you decide not to plunge into a long search, but to follow your imagination, then thanks to the following tips and master classes, you will learn how to update an old closet that has lost its appearance so that it pleases your eye for a long time.

3 main ways to update the closet:

Painting is the safest method.
Wallpaper, decoupage, self-adhesive film - when choosing this method, do not forget that it is short-lived.
Decor with nails or fabric covering.

Important! Most The best way to update any wooden cabinet or from chipboard - painting. It is not as expensive as it might seem at first glance and is quite simple to perform.

What paint to choose?

To bring such an idea to life, it is necessary to thoroughly prepare for the process. Let's get started.

For processing chipboard and wood, you can use:

Acrylic or alkyd, conventional or spray paint on wood;
for deeper staining - varnishes, but more often acrylic paints are preferred.

Acrylic paints are non-toxic, dry at room temperature, which is very good in the case of painting home furniture. In stores, these paints are presented in a wide range and they can be tinted - diluted with white paint to get the desired color. In addition, there are such paints with a mother-of-pearl effect, thanks to which any fantasy can be realized.

Important! Aerosol acrylic paint will be better than the usual, as it lies on the surface creating a beautiful, smooth, evenly dyed structure. It is easy to work with both professionals and beginners.

Master class number 1. Painting under the stencil

What can be done from an old closet? Yes, anything - it all depends on your imagination. One of wonderful ways transformation of furniture is painting under a stencil.

Tools and materials:

White paint;
Solvent;
brushes;
Stencil.

Walkthrough:

First you need to remove all accessories from the cabinet: handles, locks, etc. We are preparing the cabinet for painting.
We spread newspapers or a large piece of polyethylene on the work surface (on the floor) so as not to spoil other furniture in the room.
Take white enamel and solvent. In a small plastic can, dilute the paint and thinner according to the instructions on the paint can.

Important! The paint consumption should be indicated on the bank - it is better to use the information provided and dilute the right amount immediately. If you dilute a little paint, then the next time you can get a different shade.

Make the background of the picture - apply the first coat of paint. Leave until completely dry.
If you like the resulting color, then take a stencil, put it on your cabinet. Gently glue it on the front side, side walls so that bubbles do not form.
Shake the spray paint well and spray it onto the stencil. One coat of paint will be enough for an even coat.
While the paint dries, paint the hardware that was previously removed from the cabinet in gold leaf.
After the parts are dry, screw them into place.
Carefully remove the stencil from the cabinet - it is no longer needed.

Master class number 2. Updating the cabinet from chipboard

If your wardrobe looks simple and cheap because it was made of simple chipboard, you can update it with an ornament from the children's room, and it will fit perfectly even in a Modern or High-tech interior.

Materials and tools:

Pre-prepared cabinet;
White paint;
masking tape;
Pencil;
Sponge-brush;
Building level;
Additionally: protective paint (enamel).

Walkthrough:

Prepare the furniture by cleaning the surfaces of chips, roughness and cracks with a primer and putty.
Allow the surface to dry completely after using special products.
Take masking tape and stick it on the front side of the dresser according to your idea.
Make a combination of triangles along the bottom and top edges, rhombuses in the middle, rectangles at the bottom and top. Cut the strips and make shapes out of them.
Make a rhombus by cutting identical strips, placing them perpendicular to each other.
In order to make rectangles, first stick the tape evenly, parallel to the cut of the chest of drawers, and use a pencil and a building level to mark equal gaps. Cut through one.

Important! Watch the placement relative to the figure (locks, handles) and the gaps between the drawers - it’s better to let it be symmetrical than even.

Following the instructions on the paint can, take a sponge-brush and rub the paint in a thin layer to create an antique effect. Let the layer dry.
After the first layer is completely dry, apply the second one. Then the color will be saturated and contrasting in comparison with the background.
When the paint is completely dry and you see what you have achieved desired color, carefully, at an angle of 45 degrees, remove the masking tape (tape).
The final step is to apply a protective enamel. It will be able to extend the life of the chipboard cabinet and protect against small mechanical influences such as dust and moisture.

Thus, it will not be difficult and will not take much time to make a modern, beautiful and fashionable wardrobe from an old wardrobe.

Master class number 3. Painting a polished cabinet

Some may not believe it, but you can make a very beautiful vintage-style cabinet out of an old polished cabinet without losing functionality.

Materials and tools:

Polished cabinet;
Acetone or white spirit;
Vintage paint (acrylic matte);
Golden drawer handles;
brushes;
Sander or sandpaper.

Coloring process:

Although we will create a vintage effect, the closet does not need a real shabby closet. Therefore, to begin with, carefully prepare the chest of drawers for painting. To do this, remove all old fittings and process the entire surface of the cabinet grinder. Use coarse sandpaper first, then fine sandpaper.
Puttying and priming is not necessary, except for strong chips on the surface.
Degrease the surface with acetone or white spirit and let dry.

Important! Since the paint will be applied in several layers, it is necessary that it is well absorbed into the wood.

Make the first coat of paint very thin.
After drying, sand the first layer with fine-grained sandpaper. Clean the dresser of dust, but do not use damp sponges and rags - you can use a dry, lint-free cotton cloth.
Apply a second coat of paint, also rubbing it in. Leave to dry and then rub again a little.
Repeat this until the color is even and slightly rough.

Important! For this method, use matte paint with a vintage effect. After a few days, the paint will be completely absorbed and begin to turn yellow - carefully read the instructions on the package so that you do not have to repaint everything later.

If you purchased new handles, check if they match and screw them into place.

Important! Brass carved handles with golden patterns will suit an aged white chest of drawers.

Update with wallpaper

Updating an old closet with wallpaper is one of the easiest and cheapest options for restoring such furniture. For these purposes, you can use absolutely any wallpaper that you like or that suits the design of your room.

Important! Often use non-woven or vinyl wallpaper, as they have high strength.

Using this method, you can update the design of the old cabinet completely or in separate parts. Partially wallpapering a cabinet is an interesting creative solution that many famous designers use to create an unusual look.

You will need:

Roller or brush for applying glue;
Glue (preferably PVA)
Construction knife;
Wallpaper.

Important! If you don't know how to update your old closet with glue and wallpaper, then you can buy self-adhesive wallpaper, which will make it much easier for you to implement your plan.

To transform an item, you must:

measure the length of the cabinet;
cut suitable strips of wallpaper;
apply glue to the surface of the cabinet itself;
gently apply the wallpaper on the adhesive surface;
then smooth the wallpaper so that bubbles do not form, and let it dry well.

Updating with mirrors

One of the most extravagant ways to update furniture is to use mirrors.

Important! They can not only hide all the shortcomings of the closet, but also expand the space of a small room, while making it brighter. The mirrors on which the sandblasted pattern is applied look original.

You will need:

Pre-prepared furniture;
Mirror sheets;
Special fasteners or "liquid nails".

How to proceed:

First you need to measure the surface of the furniture that needs to be updated.
Then you should contact the workshop that manufactures mirrors - there they will make them to the required size.
Next, you need to apply “liquid nails” to the mirrors and attach them to the surface of the cabinet.

This concludes our review of the possible options for updating an old cabinet. We hope that the proposed ideas were useful to you, and you have already tested them, getting an excellent result and a lot of fun!

There comes a moment when you need to make an important decision - to throw away old furniture. She hasn't "fitted in" for a long time. modern interior, but still something does not allow taking junk to a landfill. And rightly so, it's better to renovate an old closet than throw it away.

It's about the good old wooden furniture. Of course, if you have a Chinese-made product at home, made from pressed sawdust and plastic, then it will be much more difficult to restore it. But if you still have a wooden “Soviet” wardrobe, then you just need to breathe new life into it.

Consider the popular ways to update furniture:

Restoration in the Art Deco style.
Decoupage.
Covering with self-adhesive film.
Craquelure.

Art Deco restoration

A bunch of ideas are always spinning in my head, and sometimes it’s so difficult to implement them! First you need to think about how to make your updated closet harmonize with the design of the room. Choose the right shade of paint and select the appropriate fittings.

Look at this photo, our updated wardrobe will look something like this:

What tools will be needed:

grinder (or sandpaper with different grains);
screwdriver;
screwdriver;
construction narrow spatula;
fretz or paint roller;
tassel;
glue;
self-tapping screws.

You need to purchase the following:

Putty (for working with wooden surfaces).
Priming fluid.
Enamel in cylinders (buy automotive black and metallic);
Furniture tape.
Glass (mirror).

Before starting work, carefully inspect the cabinet. All loose fasteners need to be tightened, and old nails replaced with self-tapping screws. If there are dangling loops, it is advisable to either twist them or replace them with new ones. In addition, when installing a new fastener, we additionally treat the junction with glue. If rust has come through, it must be removed (you can clean it off or remove it with a rust remover solution).

Work plan:

Remove the old coating with sandpaper or a grinder. Perhaps, after removing the top layer in the tree, you will find a wood-boring bug. In this case, the surface must be wiped with an antiseptic.

We carefully examine the closet. If dents and chips are found, they can be “treated” as follows: prime the surface, let it dry and fill them with putty mixture. Apply it in a thin layer, because if it is dense and thick, the mixture will not dry out and will crack.

Cracks and deep scratches can be filled with furniture wax. He happens different types: hard, soft, as well as colorless or with added tint. Wax must be heated and cracks filled. If you are going to paint the surface of the cabinet in the future, then work with a colorless wax. You can clean up small defects with sandpaper.

How to paint an old wardrobe?

After all the damage has been repaired, you can prepare the cabinet for painting. Do you want to transform your furniture to such an extent that even relatives do not know? First you need to sand the places with putty with sandpaper and apply a layer of primer mixture. This important part of the work must not be skipped, because the paint on an unprepared surface may lie unevenly.

How to paint a wardrobe:

First, take a spray can with the main color. We chose metallic color. Limit with construction tape to the part that will not be painted in the main color.
Apply the base color to the surface first and wait until it dries.
The next step is to apply the second color.

Immediately after staining, you will see how your furniture will change.

Then let's start assembling: take the mirror glass and insert it into the cabinet doors, screw the fittings.

Decoupage cabinet

Restoring an old wardrobe will bring you real pleasure if you choose the decoupage technique. Currently, its popularity is increasing day by day. The principle is as follows: with the help of the selected picture, the design of your furniture changes completely.

What tools and materials are needed:

wood primer;
paint (acrylic);
acrylic varnish (colorless);
sandpaper;
paint brush;
roller (if the cabinet area is large);
picture (you can take a napkin with a pattern, cut out your favorite picture from a magazine or order a photo print).

The work plan is as follows:

We clean the surface with sandpaper.
We apply a primer mixture and leave it until completely absorbed for a day.
We paint the cabinet in the selected color (when choosing a color, be guided by the shade of the selected picture).
We expect the paint to dry completely (one to two days).

After the preparatory stage, we proceed to the most crucial moment. Cut out the selected image (do not forget to match it to the color, size or theme of your interior).

We apply the cut out picture to the surface and see what happens. If you don't really like it, then try another picture. Mark it with a pencil. Then, in order not to get the effect of glued paper, but the effect of painting, you need to carefully thin the back of the picture along the edges with sandpaper by five to seven millimeters. Thus, we will get a very thin, literally papyrus edge.

How to paste the image correctly:

Dip the picture in a container of water. Let the paper soak well.
Lay it out on a towel and cover the top with the free edge.
Using a brush, apply glue to the place where your picture will be.
Lay the damp paper on the surface and gently spread it from the center to the edge. Make sure that the fit is perfect, without "wrinkles".

This is how the images should be pasted.

As a result, you will get a gentle, neat locker:

Restoration of the wardrobe

An old wardrobe can be updated with a self-adhesive film. It is matte and glossy, with color patterns, as well as "wood", "marble", "metallic".

It is good to cover with a film not only the outer part of the cabinet, but also shelves and drawers.

Work plan:

The surface must be prepared in advance and cleaned of dust with any detergent. Pour some warm water into a basin, drip detergent and lather. Use a soft, absorbent cloth to wipe the cabinet.
If the doors and sides of the wardrobe have roughness, chips or cracks, putty them first. Don't forget to apply primer.
Treat the surface with a special degreaser.
Take the film and outline from the inside right size. Don't forget to add a couple of inches for seam allowances around the edges.
To stick the film, carefully remove the protective paper, but not completely, but only ten centimeters.
Fix the released sticky layer on the surface. With help soft tissue or a special spatula, gently smooth the film. Make sure no air bubbles appear.
So, step by step, carefully remove the protective paper and stick the film.
If bubbles have formed, and it is no longer possible to remove them, then you can gently pierce them with a needle and release the air.

Craquelure technique

This type of furniture decoration is distinguished by its simplicity. Special material costs for the restoration of the old cabinet will not be required.

Necessary materials:

PVA glue;
acrylic paint;
craquelure varnish (one-component);
acrylic matte varnish;
wide brush.

How to restore an old cabinet with craquelure technique:

Prepare the surface, clean and apply a primer in two or three coats, dry.
Apply paint (the base color should be darker because it will show through the cracks). Wait for it to dry completely.
Quickly and evenly cover the entire previously painted surface with craquelure varnish. The thicker the layer, the more visible and larger the cracks will be. Let the polish dry until it sticks to your fingers but doesn't leave a residue.
Apply the second tone of paint (light). After a certain time, a characteristic "grid" will appear.
After the paint has completely dried, cover the surface with acrylic varnish.

How to work with varnish:

when buying varnish in a store, choose a liquid one, because a viscous substance will lay down worse, and when it dries, the layer will be uneven;
do not shake the varnish before applying, because air bubbles can ruin your work;
if you are working with the material for the first time, practice beforehand on a different surface to understand the principle;
the room where you are going to work should not be cold and damp;
a few hours before starting work, do a wet cleaning in the room, so you will get rid of small debris and dust particles on the drying surface.

The principle of operation with two-phase craquelure varnish

If a drawing is pasted on the cabinet doors that you do not want to paint over, then you need to use a two-phase craquelure varnish.

Cabinet restoration technique with two-phase craquelure:

Take a two-phase varnish. The first composition "ages" the surface, the second - forms cracks.
Oil paint.
Varnish (acrylic).
Brushes (medium size, two or three pieces).
Bitumen or colored grout.
Foam sponge.

The surface must be covered with the first layer of varnish, dried. Quickly apply the second composition of varnish and dry the surface. When cracks appear, they need to be treated with grout. Use a foam sponge. Colored powder will “ennoble” the pattern of cracks and give the cabinet a completely different look. Then apply a layer of varnish and leave to dry completely.

How the old cabinet looks like, see the photo: