How to update an old cabinet

The interior design is thought out, but the old cabinet does not fit into the concept? Renew furniture using modern materials. In the article, we will consider popular options for the restoration of an old cabinet, you will learn how it can be interestingly remade.

How to make a modern out of an old closet

Shop shelves for hobbies and creativity offer many materials for the restoration of old furniture, and photos for inspiration can be found on the Internet. This is a stained glass film, decorative wallpaper, multi-colored enamel. When choosing the design of a new cabinet, be guided by the color content of the room. Professionally selected wall decoration, accessories and furniture complement each other. Before you start, you should make a project that will help you choose the technique and materials. Alteration of the old cabinet will certainly inspire you to new beginnings.

How to update an old cabinet - painting

The most popular method is painting. To restore the cabinet, giving it a new unique look, modern paint and varnish materials will help. They are able to radically transform furniture, adding an elaborate originality to the interior.

We select paint and materials

Innovations in the chemical industry offer many varieties of odorless colors. They are ideal for indoor use without causing discomfort.

For the restoration of the cabinet, there are several types of paint:

• Acrylic - made on the basis of water, one of the safest for humans, has a rich color palette.
• Latex - resistant to sunlight, tends to dry quickly.
• Water-dispersion - is based on water, has only white color. By adding coloring pigments, you can create a unique color.

ATTENTION! The surface painted with water-dispersion paint will have a muted, pastel shade. To achieve a bright color scheme, it is worth paying attention to latex or acrylic paints.

To create a saturated color, apply two to three layers. Before the next application, the previous layer must be dried.

For uniform application of paint, use a spray gun. The surface of the cabinet will take on an interesting look if you use ordinary brushes. Paint in aerosols, does not require additional devices. It lays down in an even layer and creates a uniformly stained smooth surface.

TIP! In order for the new cabinet to reflect glare from the shiny surface, varnish it. This will keep the furniture from fading and protect from scratches.

Technology and painting options

Compliance with the recommendations will help to achieve the ideal result of work, which will please with its splendor.

Execution Technology:

• Free the cabinet from drawers, shelves and various accessories.
• Clean the cabinet surface from old paint or varnish. For this, special tools are useful, for example, a nozzle for grinding on a drill. Leveling the surface is necessary to mask minor coating defects, removing cracks and traces of use.
• Before painting, degrease the surface with acetone and dry.
• Apply the first coat of paint, dry and sand it with sandpaper. Remove the wood dust and start applying a second coat of paint.

There are many options for painting. This can be a gradient transition, dot painting, stylization for a certain era, or you can take a ready-made stencil, put it on the facade and make a painting of individual elements.

Wallpaper decoration

Updating an outdated wardrobe with decorative wallpaper does not take much time and does not require large financial expenses. Hardware stores offer a wide selection of color palettes and many texture options. Choose a wallpaper suitable for the interior of the room, and proceed with the restoration, observing several rules:

1. Before buying, measure the area of ​​furniture to acquire the required amount of material.
2. Cut the wallpaper into the necessary fragments, apply a layer of glue to the cabinet, smooth it well.

TIP! To keep the updated cabinet happy for a long time, choose wallpapers that are easy to clean.

An exclusive design project will become a harmonious complement to the interior, and will make you proud of the creation of your own workmanship.

Photo restoration

One of the options for transforming old furniture is the use of modern large-format printing. Using the Internet, you can select any illustration you like and order its printing in a printing house. There can be one photo, or you can create a whole collage of perfectly selected illustrations, or thematic photos.

ATTENTION! When choosing a photo, pay attention to its quality. A printed illustration with a small resolution will have blurry outlines.

Photo restoration technology:

1. Clean the surface from old paint by grinding, prime the surface.
2. Apply wallpaper glue to the cabinet, glue the canvas and smooth it well.
3. Coat with a layer of clear varnish to give shine and protection against mechanical damage and contamination. Such a picture will be durable.

Cloth decoration

A new way to update furniture is to use fabric. She will give a feeling of comfort, soften the outline. The material will help create the perfect harmony between home furnishings. The result will be perfect if you follow the technology of restoration:

1. Prepare the necessary tools: glue, furniture stapler, synthetic winterizer or thin foam, upholstery material.
2. Glue a synthetic winterizer to the surface of the cabinet.
3. Spread the fabric evenly and secure with a furniture stapler. Be sure to evenly tension the web to avoid skewing.

This method is universal. You can change the fabric without additional preparation of the furniture surface.

Mirror decoration

Mirrors expand space by reflecting sunlight. Updating the facade with their help will be a great solution. Getting started, remember:

1. Carefully measure the facade of the cabinet, or the part on which the decorative element will be mounted and order mirrors in a specialized company.
2. Using special tools or glue, fix the mirror. It is not necessary to completely coat the surface with adhesive; it is enough to distribute uniform strips at a distance of 7-10 cm from each other. The glue method requires horizontal placement of the part. Therefore, disassemble the cabinet body first.

ATTENTION! The mirror is a heavy item. Only glue or liquid nails will not hold it, so you should carefully consider the fastening system, for example, by creating an additional frame for even load distribution.

Spot painting

The method is suitable for decorating polished furniture. It does not require additional surface treatment. Even a novice restorer can execute:

1. Use a marker to draw a dotted outline of the image. The layout can be invented independently, or take as a basis any plot you like.
2. Work with acrylic paint and a thin brush.

Spot painting is suitable for creating plot illustrations, it will look great in the interior of a children's room.

Do-it-yourself restoration of an old cabinet - non-standard ideas

Recently, simple, but at the same time non-standard methods of decoration are popular.

Stained glass film is a good option for restoration. Its application will not be difficult:

1. Measure the surface to buy the required amount of film.
2. Clean from dust, dirt with cleaning agents and degrease the cabinet surface.
3. Cut the required amount of film. The entire protective part from the adhesive surface should not be removed. Release 2 cm from it and align it to the edge of the cabinet body. Glue the film, gently stroking it with a soft cloth and warming with a hot air gun to improve adhesive properties. Work is best done together.

Originalvinyl stickers will dilute the boring interior. It is very simple to work with them: it is enough to degrease the surface and stick a new picture.

If you could not find a suitable sticker - make it yourself. To do this, you need film and stained glass paints. Black outline the borders of the picture and paint with multi-colored paints. Wait for it to dry completely and stick to the cabinet. The stained glass pattern will be translucent.

Decorative plaster is a rather expensive, but original way of decoration. For work the following devices are necessary:

• stencil;
• decorative plaster;
• putty knife;
• Scotch;
• acrylic paint;
• varnish;
• sandpaper.

Remove old paint from the cabinet body, putty in the cracks. Attach the stencil with adhesive tape and apply decorative plaster with a spatula. After finishing work, remove the stencil and correct the stray pattern, dry the surface. Paint the surface in a suitable design color. You can cover it with varnish. The method allows you to create an original three-dimensional drawing.

Fans of jigsaw puzzles can use the assembled paintings to decorate the cabinet. Glue on the back side and fix them on the surface using double-sided tape.

Do children like to paint on furniture and wallpaper? Create a cupboard effect for them. To do this, you can use a special film for drawing with chalk, or paint the cabinet with dark paint.

Furniture in the interior of the living room is of great importance. It fills the house with cosiness, creates a feeling of comfort. The updated cabinet will perform not only the storage function, but will also become a real work of art.