When Kate Veltkamp bought her first home last year, she knew there would be a lot of DIY projects - furniture renovations among them. And as she started playing with furniture, she found deep satisfaction in making her pieces feel new again.
What started as a passing hobby has now become one of her favorite pastimes.
Furniture renovation is the art of fixing up furniture. It can be as simple as a fresh coat of paint or stain. Or, others, like Veltkamp, like to go more in-depth and replace hardware or add texture to their pieces with materials like rattan.
"With furniture, there's a million different ways to paint something and to create different finishes," says Madi Steiner, who runs Merchants on Main with her mother, Missy Steiner. Madi also teaches furniture renovation classes for beginners and does custom paint jobs for their customers.
The most basic technique, Madi says, is painting pieces a solid color - like stark-white or clean-grey, two colors currently trending. Or, color layering is another popular option, she says, which is "where you paint a color and then, while it is still wet, blend another color in."
Get started
For folks looking to get started, Steiner currently teaches classes by appointment at Merchants on Main. In the past, private classes have been $60 per person, and group classes are $50. Participants can expect to go over the basics of furniture painting and talk about different techniques to use while painting a small piece of their own. Call Merchants on Main at 423-521-6285 to learn more.
Glazes and waxes help finish the piece - waxes, in particular, are nice because they help protect furniture.
And for those looking to get more involved, Veltkamp offers some fun ideas.
"I like to update hardware," says Veltkamp, who recently modernized a dresser by replacing its brass pulls with a sleek bar, using wood filler to cover holes left by the original hardware.
Another option, she says, is to add texture with pole wrap, a pliable sheet of decorative wood, or sheets of wicker-like rattan. Additionally, if you know some basic carpentry and woodwork, and have the proper tools, you can create a custom base to replace an outdated look.
"Especially now that so many furniture suppliers are experiencing delays, it makes so much sense to make older pieces your own instead of waiting around for months for shipments," says Veltkamp, adding that the trend is better for the planet, too. "With a little elbow grease and some new or repurposed hardware, you can really achieve a classy look for less."
Ready to Renovate?
Here are some of Steiner and Veltkamp's tips for a successful renovation:
- Find inexpensive pieces that you won't worry about, and start with those.
- Make sure to do things the right way - don't rush. Hardware must be fully removed, and wood must be sanded if there's any hope for the paint not chipping off.
- Have the right tools and materials on hand. Veltkamp sands, primes, paints and then seals with water-based polycrylic finish mixed with a small amount of the paint color.
- Painting furniture can be done with a roller and brush, but Veltkamp recommends using a paint sprayer to ensure a smooth coat and finish.
- Don't worry about perfection - painting and renovation is a process to be enjoyed.