Do you want to give some of your furniture a makeover but have never really had the opportunity to experiment? Would you like to try patinating them to restore their shine? To succeed in this “rejuvenation” operation, follow these few tips that will help you avoid the most common mistakes. Because getting an aged-looking piece of furniture is a simple process. You still have to follow it carefully. There are some fairly common mistakes to avoid. Sometimes just because of being impatient, the result can become artificial or can even ruin your furniture. Thus, by avoiding the mistakes below, you will be inspired and the finish of your furniture will be perfect.
1 – Being too ambitious from the start
As with all techniques, when you don’t have the necessary hand or dexterity, it’s better not to be in too much of a hurry when you want to tackle a big project. If you particularly care about a piece of furniture, don’t start experimenting on it. As at school, you made a draft before returning an assignment to clean, try yourself on a rather small piece of furniture, which you do not particularly care about. As surprising as it may seem, it will be easier to patinate furniture with rough edges than smooth furniture.
2 – Not testing the paint
Whatever colors you choose, make sure they harmonize with each other. It would be a shame to tarnish a piece of furniture to which you want to restore its shine. Choose your color carefully and test it, for example under your furniture to see the effect. It is better to anticipate these few brushstrokes to avoid a possible disappointment.
3 – Not choosing your support with application
Applying patina sounds like a miracle solution to you? Do you want to radically transform your old furniture? This is of course possible, but be sure to choose the medium you choose. Forget the plywood, which once stripped may no longer have a film of wood on the surface. Ask about the type of wood. Because not all fruit woods are recommended. Red woods such as mahogany, birch or cherry may retain a red tint, which may not suit the paint color you have chosen. The result of a patina can be stunning, but for example if you want it dark and you opt for pine, you will probably not get the expected result.
4 – Not preparing the surface of the furniture
The first step when restoring wooden furniture is sanding. Whether it’s a cabinet, a chest of drawers or a table, sanding is paramount. Be sure to smooth the entire surface and avoid dents and chips. You should be able to run your hand over the surface afterwards without feeling any splinters. However, this is not the only thing that matters. If you don’t sand your furniture properly, it will also be much more difficult to apply your paint afterwards. In addition, the type of sandpaper used is also important: there are sandpapers for manual use or sandpapers for tools designed for this purpose. Keep in mind that wood has different grains and you should always work in the direction of the grain of the wood. You should also remember that between several coats of paint or varnish, the new coat should be lightly sanded. For this you need sandpaper with a finer grain. Also remember to clean the surface of your furniture. Completely remove dust. Once the dust has been removed, wipe the entire surface with a slightly damp cloth. Once this is done, you have to wait until the furniture is completely dry, and only then can you start painting it. Of course, once your furniture has a patina, it must be cleaned regularly to keep it in good condition.
5 – Not sitting in the right place to skate furniture
Another mistake to avoid when weathering wood furniture is picking the wrong spot for the project. Varnishes and paints have a fairly strong smell. Therefore, if possible, you should paint your furniture in a well-ventilated room. Preferably with the door open or in a room with windows. If you want to give your outdoor furniture a new coat of paint, it is very important that your work area in the garden or on your terrace is not exposed to direct sunlight. This would affect the drying time and the result. The area should be protected from the sun and well ventilated.
6 – Wanting to go too fast
As mentioned before, before you start varnishing or painting, you need to clean the entire surface. If you don’t, you may have problems applying varnish or paint (or both). It is also important to wait long enough for the varnish and/or paint to dry. It is essential to respect the drying times. Otherwise, there will be paint or varnish drips or imperfections that will negatively affect the final result.
7 – Not going fast enough
If you stroll around and take too much of your time, conversely, we will see your paint or varnish fitting if you take a break, so plan a time slot during which you will not be disturbed, keep young children at distance, turn off your phone, etc.