When buying, or selling, secondhand furniture, an item may need a little bit of TLC, either after you have purchased it or before you decide to sell. A lot of secondhand shops refurbish furniture themselves in order to sell it in a better condition. However, if you would like to give a piece of furniture a new lease of life, whether you already own it and would like to improve its condition, have bought it secondhand or want to sell it, see our tips below.
A new coat of paint
Many items of furniture only need painting to make them fit in a room, such as tables, chairs, chests of drawers and wardrobes. Make sure you sand down any paint already on the furniture before you repaint it or stain it. Changing the colour of an item can change the way you feel about an item. It will also mean that it will look more at home with the rest of the furnishings. If you change your mind about the colour or you want to move it into another room, you can always repaint it again.
Use new fabric
Items, such as sofas and armchairs, get thrown away due to tears in the fabric, or they have been handed to a family member who isn’t too keen on the design. Instead of throwing it away, there is the option to reupholster. Depending on the job at hand, you may need to see a specialist, however you may be able to do it yourself. This means that you can choose the fabric you want, meaning that finally that armchair will fit with the decor of your home. This also means it is less likely to end up on landfill.
See a specialist
If you cannot refurbish an item of furniture yourself, go and see a specialist. There will be a cost to this, but the chances are it will be much cheaper than buying a replacement. This also means that you have prevented the item from ending up on landfill. A specialist should not only be able to restore and item but should also be able to improve it to your liking. For example, they will be able to swap the fabric on a sofa or an armchair to suit your taste. If you are still not happy with your piece of furniture and would then like to get rid of it, it is then in a decent condition for you to be able to sell it or donate it to a charity/secondhand shop.
