It’s amazing what a little colour can do.
A little daub here, a gentle swipe there can transform your hair, brighten your face, or give your outfit the lift it needs to really pop.
When it comes to furniture, a fresh coat of paint can be all the difference between it joining the scrap heap, and reincarnating as a refreshed piece to keep enjoying at home.
Upcycling is nothing new; in fact the make-do-and-mend mentality has been part of the national psyche since WWII. In a world of fast consumption, it can be satisfying to take time to bring something back from the brink or give it a whole new look.
How to upcycle furniture
Don’t be daunted by visions of complex upholstery, carpentry or fiddling with terrifying power tools. The easiest changes are often the simplest and paint is up there with the most powerfully transformative (yes, even if you choose a pale shade).
If you’ve got a dusty old bookcase, desk, table or chairs with potential, all you need is a little vision and a steady grip on a paintbrush.
To start you’ll need:
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Your item of furniture, ready for painting by cleaning it thoroughly first with soap and warm water. Some surfaces like aluminium may require gentle sanding with sandpaper or a small electric sander – don’t forget a mask to protect yourself from particles.
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Laminate furniture (practically everything at IKEA) will require a coat or two of primer first to give the paint something to stick to but many brands like Valspar and Frenchic offer two-in-one paint and primers to cut down the process.
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Mend chips and cracks with filler, or leave them to retain your furniture’s character.
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Trying to paint a design? You could use masking tape, but it