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Find a piece of furniture that's a little worse for wear but you love? Well, let's clean it up.
Professional furniture restorers and hobbyists alike all have one thing in common -- the desire to pluck a piece of furniture off the side of the road and restore it to its former glory. And what's not to like? Not only are you saving something from a landfill, but you're breathing life into something that's long been forgotten. All the former owner knows is that the legs of the table are busted, the surface is marred by water rings and it doesn't sit evenly on the floor. What's more, it's taking up valuable space where that new Ikea dining table should go. But what many might see as a space-consuming relic from days gone by, furniture restorers see as a possibility.
If you've never tackled a furniture restoration project, you should know the difference between refinishing and restoring a piece. Refinishing can be as simple as stripping off the top layer of varnish, sanding and applying a new one. Project done. Restoring can involve refinishing, but it can also require a whole lot more -- fixing broken legs, replacing hardware, repairing cracks, replacing trim pieces and fabrics with period detail. Basically anything that's required to get the piece of furniture as close to the original condition as possible is called restoration. Often, it's more than just a facelift -- it has to do with making the item usable again and possibly even adding value. Here are five tips that can help you make the old new again.
