How To Take Wood Furniture From Drab to Fab!

Have you ever been into the stores and seen a piece of wood furniture that you love, but isn't in the best condition? Not sure how to spruce it up? 

Well, we're here with some easy tips to help you DIY yourself into a fancy new furniture piece for a fraction of what you would pay in a big box store. That's right! these transformations can cost under $100 and even less if you have access to all the tools you need.

Le'ts get started!

Step One - Find A Piece You Love

Select a piece of furniture you love! Thrift stores like Find and Salvage YEG have lots of selection and every purchase helps individuals and families move out of homelessness, so you are not only getting a great new piece of furniture at a great price, you are helping the community too! Make sure you measure to see if it will fit in the space you are thinking. 

Step Two - Clean

Clean your new item with a degreaser to make sure you get any grease or grime off the furniture. A mixture of vinegar, Dawn dish soap and water can work in a pinch and save you $$$.

Step Three - Sand

Using a fine-grit sandpaper, lightly sand your entire piece of furniture on any surface you want to paint. Remove any glossy finish you might see. This will help the paint stick to the wood. Make sure to wipe down the wood after sanding.many DIYers suggest sanding your piece between each coat of paint. 

Step Four - Pick a Color

Paint can change how a whole piece of furniture looks. Choosing a color can be difficult, but look for something that goes with your existing color scheme or add a fun pop of color to make the piece stand out. Check out Pinterest for inspiration. 

Depending on the paint you choose, you want want to prime the piece before painting. Talk to your paint specialist about this before starting. Most paints have built in primers now, so this step may not be necessary. 

Interior latex paint is the best bet for painting furniture. It comes in many different finishes from matte to high gloss. Keep in mind: the glossier the finish, the easier it is to clean the item. 

You can use a paint brush, a foam roller or even a paint sprayer depending on how comfortable you are.

Two to three coats of paint should do the trick.

Once it has time to set (24 hours or more) you can seal your piece. Sealing your furniture provides extra protection for your finish and also creates an easy to clean surface. Choose a water based sealant to help protect or hard work. 

Step Five - Display

You did it! Your new-to-you piece of furniture is now custom made for your space. Congrats on all your hard work! Now, show it off! 

Did you buy your furniture piece at Find? Tag us (@FindYEG)! We love seeing the hard work that goes into transforming that perfect piece. 

The only other advice we have for you is:

• make sure you have a rocking playlist
• have a tall glass of water with you cause this can be tough work!
• and last but not least: HAVE FUN!

Now, time to get that inspiration flowing! Good luck, Finders!