Chic Furniture Refinishing

Shabby Chic

• Shabby chic decor favors painted furniture, most often in white, cream or another very light color but occasionally in distressed black. In order to refinish a piece in this style, you will need sandpaper in various grits, cleaner, steel wool, primer, paint and a satin finish wipe-on polyurethane. You may also need paint stripper. Thoroughly clean all surfaces before beginning and remove all hardware. Sand the piece. Use a chemical paint stripper to remove the paint if it is peeling or there are many layers of paint. Before painting, go over the surface with steel wool and then with a tack cloth. Prime, then paint in thin layers with an oil based paint. Use sandpaper to distress the piece, focusing on corners, edges, and areas where wear would naturally occur. Apply a wipe-on polyurethane finish to seal and protect your newly refinished furniture.

Go Mod

• If you want to create a modern look or a look reminiscent of the 1950s, refinishing is a good choice. Many pieces of furniture from this period are still available and affordable. Sand the piece, working by hand or with a random orbital sander, until the piece is smooth and free of paint, stain or finishes. Apply a wipe-on stain in thin coats. Consider a light color for the look of 1950s blond wood or a darker tone if that better suits your decor. Once the stain is dry, use steel wool or 400 grit sandpaper to polish the piece. Apply a high gloss wipe-on polyurethane for a shiny and period finish.

A Classic Look

• If you are refinishing a particularly lovely piece, you may want to opt for a traditional tung oil finish. Like polyurethane and lacquers, tung oil protects wood. This option is especially good for antique furniture. Tung oil creates a rich and lustrous finish, but can be more challenging to use and requires more care than some modern options. Sand and strip the furniture as needed before beginning, working to create a perfectly smooth surface. If you prefer, you can apply stain before using tung oil to refinish a traditional piece of furniture. Allow plenty of time to create an oil finish. Each coat will need around 24 hours of drying time, and tabletops and other flat surfaces should be treated with six to ten coats of tung oil for a durable and beautiful finish in your traditional home. This finish will maintain the classic look of an antique piece, whether an old oak dresser or an elegant cherry dining set.