How to Embellish Wood Furniture Using Upholstery Tacks

Plain wood furniture doesn't have to be boring. You can add style and interest to a thrift store treasure or furniture you've owned for years with the addition of inexpensive upholstery tacks. Your local home improvement store will have a wide range of upholstery tacks, including different metals, various shapes and styles and a multitude of sizes. Choose the tacks that best complement the style of your home and the piece of furniture you plan on embellishing, and get ready to make a decor statement.

Pencil
Level
Pliers or tweezers
Decorative upholstery tacks
Hammer

Instructions

- 1
  Plan the design you will create. You can simply accent the edges of your furniture with a row of tacks, or you can create elaborate swirls, floral shapes or geometric designs across the front of a dresser or cabinet, or the back of a chair.
- 2
  Sketch the design to be created on your furniture very lightly with a pencil. Use a level if you are planning on putting tacks in a straight line.
- 3
  Use pliers or a long tweezer to position each tack, holding it so it is perpendicular to the furniture surface.
- 4
  Tap gently with a hammer to install the tack. Be careful to hit the tack straight on with the hammer so it doesn't bend.
- 5
  Continue nailing tacks along your sketched design until it is complete. Space the tacks so they are just touching each other for best appearance.

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