Ways to update an old furniture wall with your own hands, examples in before and after photos

Required tools and materials

Before starting any work, you need to prepare everything you need - buy material, tools. The list consists of the following:

• Furniture fittings;
• Putty material for wood;
• Facades, if necessary;
• Paint or stain (preferably spray);
• Construction knife;
• Construction hair dryer;
• Screwdriver;
• Sharp scissors;
• Iron;
• Self-adhesive furniture film;
• Wax for furniture of different consistency;
• Candle;
• Spatulas;
• Rags, clamp;
• PVA glue;
• Wood varnish;
• Felt pen;
• Edge for processing ends.

This is not the entire list of materials and tools, since you can update old furniture in several ways, each option has its own specific set of necessary tools.

How to use Soviet furniture in a modern interior

Architect and designer Marina Lapteva very accurately noted: “the older the thing, the more attractive it is.” But that is why old furniture should be used sparingly and appropriately, like a precious find.

Just one high-quality and beautiful Soviet set (or a small set) can be made the dominant feature in the interior, highlighted with the help of lighting. Let the rest of the furnishings be modern, laconic, and support the chosen style.

Let's give examples.

Draped Viennese chairs or armchairs (an ideal find) together with a coffee table will create a cozy oasis in an interior with a tropical, colonial or marine style. The covering can be changed. The best thing about these chairs is the authentic shape.

A spacious buffet - the pride of Soviet families - can be made the accent of the kitchen-living room if you are decorating the interior in a classic or Provence style. To do this, a bulky dark set needs to be painted in a single, delicate color (characteristic of the French provincial landscape), with a lace pattern, or in a classic bronze shade.

Cabinet structures on thin black legs can complement the decor in the Art Nouveau style. Plus, with the help of such shelving you can beautifully zone a fashionable spacious room.

But an old chest of drawers or pencil case will become a useful thing in the most modern children's room. The facade can be made bright, painted with lace or a stencil. And in numerous shelves you can compactly place your child’s favorite treasures.

Types of update

If you don’t know how to update an old furniture wall with your own hands, before and after photos can be found on the Internet. In addition, we present several methods that can be used to give a second life to any furniture.

Restoration of an old wall

If old furniture is dear to you as a memory, but its appearance has been severely damaged by time - chips, creases, deep cracks have formed on the surface - it can be restored. After spending a minimum of time, you will receive an updated piece of furniture. For repair work, a standard set of materials and tools is used. For quality repairs, it is enough to perform the following steps:

• The working surface must be cleaned and washed with a solution of water and soap, and dried well - this will help increase the adhesion of the material to the wall facade;
• To rid the surface of deep scratches, they are filled with melted wax. After the fill has hardened, you need to take a felt-tip pen to match the wood, apply strokes to the wax that will imitate the structure of the wall material. This is not difficult to do; just continue an existing drawing. After this, take a clean rag and carefully rub it over the frozen wax, slightly smearing the lines. As soon as the desired result is achieved, the plane is coated with furniture varnish;
• If severe abrasions are visible on the facade, they are painted over with varnish of the desired shade from a spray can;
• If there are cracks and delaminated areas on the facade, you can update the old wall using basic means - PVA glue, a medical syringe and a fixative. You need to fill the syringe with glue and inject the required amount of the composition into the crack. Then press the split and remove excess glue. Using a clamp, press the area and leave to dry for 24 hours;
• Are there many chips on the façade? The same melted wax will help you deal with them. First, you need to use a spatula to trim the edges of the chip and fill it with wax. Once the wax has dried, buff the area well with a clean, dry rag. Then perform the same steps as when filling scratches and apply varnish.

After this treatment, the wall will not change its design, but its appearance will become much more attractive.

We remove dirt and dust from coatings

Treating cracks with wax

Repairing chips with glue

Painting over abrasions

Transforming a wall with furniture varnish

If the interior of your apartment has changed, and simple restoration does not suit you, then you can radically change the old furniture with your own hands. There are several ways to update furniture, the choice of which will depend on artistic skills, preferences and the amount of free time.

The easiest way is to varnish. The process is not complicated, provided that the procedure and restoration technology are followed.

The set of tools is standard, but for a good result you need to follow the following algorithm:

• Take a photo of the wall before starting work. This will help you assemble it later after the update without confusion;
• Disassemble the structure. It is necessary to remove the fittings and doors;
• Wash the wall and all components with soapy water;
• Remove dust and soot deposits in the corners using a toothbrush or toothpicks. This stage should not be ignored, since the quality of the final result depends on preparation;
• Inspect the condition of the facades. If the surface is not badly damaged, then it will be enough to simply coat it with varnish;
• If the facades are in poor condition, there are a lot of chips and deep scratches on them - the old coating is removed without leaving a trace. To make the work go faster, you can use special compounds that help remove varnish, or use a regular spatula;
• As soon as all the exfoliated areas are removed, the old varnish is removed, you can begin restoration with wax - how to do it is described above;
• Using fine-grain sandpaper, sand the surface and remove dust;
• Cover the wall façade and all components with 3-4 thin layers of furniture varnish. It is worth remembering that when applying a thick layer, drips may form that will spoil the appearance of the wall;
• As soon as the varnish coating has dried, the wall should be assembled and the fittings replaced with new elements.

By updating old furniture in this way, you can add a few more years of life to the wall in your interior.

Remove dust and dirt Remove cracks

Removing old varnish

Varnish in several layers

Installing new handles

Application of self-adhesive wallpaper

Today there are a lot of materials that can be used for restoration. Updating old furniture with self-adhesive wallpaper is one of the easiest options. This material is easy to work with and inexpensive. In addition, the range is so wide that you can choose material to suit every taste. The film is waterproof, so it can protect the wall from environmental influences. The algorithm for performing the work is as follows:

• Make preparations as in the previous method - remove the fittings and disassemble the structure;
• Clean the facades, wash them, and after drying, treat the surface with white spirit to degrease;
• While the facades are drying, we cut out the material. Sheets of film should be 10 mm larger than the original size on each side. This is necessary in order to eliminate gaps in the finishing;
• The surface on which you plan to stick the material must be moistened. Apply the film to the top edge and carefully peel off a small strip of the protective layer. The film is pasted gradually, slowly moving down;
• After gluing, you need to level the material with a soft rag, moving from the center to the edges;
• As soon as the entire wall is covered, you need to heat the iron and iron the plane through the fabric - this will help the film adhere tightly to the surface;
• Replace the doors and fittings and apply edge tape.

It is not necessary to use wood-look film; you can choose any color. A competent design combination of different shades will help turn an old wall into a real masterpiece.

We disassemble furniture

Cleaning the surface

We moisturize the coatings

We glue the film

Putting it back together

Restoration using staining

Repainting an old wall will change its appearance beyond recognition, while the main outlines will remain unchanged. You don't need any artistic skills or special tools. The work is not difficult to complete, just follow the basic rules:

• The wall is completely disassembled and the fittings are removed - this makes the restoration process much easier;
• The old coating must be completely removed, obvious flaws must be repaired with wax;
• Sand the surface after it has dried with sandpaper or a soft rag;
• Painting is carried out in several layers, and care must be taken to ensure that no sagging or smudges appear. As soon as the painting is completed, we leave the structure to dry, after which the wall should be assembled.

If a sagging has formed during the work, which was discovered after drying, it should be cleaned with sandpaper and additionally coated with paint. For a complete understanding of the painting system, watch a master class for beginners on updating furniture with your own hands.

When did the best furniture appear in Soviet history?

The first Soviet interiors began to appear in the 1920s and 30s, and these were communal apartments with very simple furnishings. Bulky, roughly designed “Stalinist Empire style”, but noticeably reliable cabinets and tables - this is what minimalism looked like then.

Sets from the 1930s-50s are more reminiscent of the usual Soviet style, ostentatious, authentic. Everything created then indicated the prosperity of the houses and was carefully preserved. Therefore, the living room could combine the incongruous: a massive wall, ostentatiously filled with books and crystal, compact curved chairs, a sofa bed.

But items from that time are already more compact and convenient, adapted for small apartments. And at the same time, they are also characterized by the strength of a real solid mass.

And the best legacy that these years have left:

- Viennese (the same ones with curved backs) chairs, armchairs, tables - lightweight cabinet furniture on thin high legs, from the countries of the Eastern Bloc, stylish even by the standards of our time.

But not only that!

The rooms of the 1970s and 80s were already more individual, sometimes furnished under the influence of disco. The character of those interiors was created not by furniture, but by design details - new posters, records, bright colors. And laconic sets came into use, which opened up space for design ideas - coffee tables, low armchairs.

In typical furniture of this era, parts made of plastic and chipboard appeared - beautiful, cheap and, alas, impractical in comparison with an array of materials.

Work technology

Carrying out work for any type of restoration has one general technological sequence - preparation and actual updating.

Preparatory work

Before you decide to remake old Soviet-era furniture, you need to understand that such a process is only justified if it is made of wood. It is not advisable to renew old furniture made of chipboard, since the service life of these structures is not long, and perhaps the wall is no longer suitable for restoration. So, there are preparatory activities that must be carried out before any restoration:

1. Clean the surface from dust and dirt, while dismantling all decor and fittings;
2. The old layer of paintwork must be removed. This can be done with coarse sandpaper or a sanding machine. A solvent solution can also be applied;
3. Grout deep cracks with a special material;
4. Fill chips and dents with wax and sand;
5. Prime the surface with a wood compound. It is advisable to use acrylic compounds that fill all microscopic cracks.

The preparation stage is very important, since the final result depends on the quality of surface cleaning.

Removing dust and dirt

Remove old paint or varnish

We erase the deformations

Prime the surface

Update instructions

Before you restore old furniture, you need to decide on the design you want to get. Let's consider the most popular updating method at the moment - decoupage. The preparatory work has been carried out successfully, and restoration can begin. The algorithm for performing the work is simple and will not cause difficulties even for a beginner:

• Cut out the desired design, or take special napkins for decoupage. If you are doing the work for the first time, take pictures of medium size relative to the surface on which they will be applied;
• Apply PVA glue to the surface, you can use a blending composition. Do not coat the entire wall at once, as the glue may dry out while you are covering one area, so you need to work in stages;
• When gluing a pattern, you must strictly ensure that the edges adhere to the surface. Drawings can be pasted overlapping each other, so the decor will be voluminous and original;
• If you need to paste over a corner, the material just neatly bends around the corner, there is no need to cut anything. Smooth the picture with your fingers or a rubber spatula to remove air bubbles and leave to dry;
• The next stage is varnishing. Apply a thin layer of clear furniture varnish with a brush or lint-free roller and let it dry. We repeat the process 3-5 times;
• After the last layer of varnish has dried, you need to rub the surface until it shines; this can be done with a soft cloth. Polishing should be done in a circular motion without pressing.

In the before and after photos you can see how to update an old furniture wall with your own hands.

If you follow the instructions and apply designer methods of decorating furniture, you can get a great result that will be the pride of the apartment owners.

We cut out the elements and cover the furniture with glue

Paste stencils

Varnish

Is it possible to fit Soviet furniture harmoniously into a modern interior?

Yes, and more than that. In classic and retro styles, such items will definitely come in handy. Plus, some old sets are also used in neat, minimalist interiors, free from domestic excesses.

The main advantage of such furniture is that it helps preserve the emotions associated with one’s home. At the same time, designers also often appreciate it - for its quality and some special details. Let's talk about this in a little more detail.

Photo

Sofa assembly

Restoring upholstered furniture is a reciprocal process, so the sofa is assembled in the reverse order - armrests, pillow and backrest. Before completing the cladding, it is worth checking the strength of the structure and the filler.

Photos of upholstered furniture after reupholstery leave rave reviews. Re-upholstering furniture yourself is difficult and problematic, but the result is worth it. This method of “reviving” old things saves the budget and allows us to preserve things that are dear to us. Upholstered furniture after repair looks like new from the store.

Vinyl stickers

The simplest and most cost-effective option for creating an updated design is to use vinyl stickers. Photos of furniture decor clearly demonstrate how many ideas can be realized with their help. Flowers, butterflies, fruits, you can even create a full-fledged composition.

Stickers are used to decorate walls and furniture. Before gluing, you should clean the surface and immediately smooth the decoration. To implement original ideas, you can place an order for individual production.

To make the furniture look more harmonious with the entire room, you can apply similar images of different sizes to the walls. Stickers will help you instantly mask furniture defects. There is no need to apply varnish on top, so over time, decorative elements can be easily removed and replaced.

How long does it take for restoration?

You can repair and restore furniture at home as much as necessary - small items can be dealt with in one day, larger projects can take months to restore. The service life also depends on the materials used - each varnish, primer, putty or paint has a certain drying period, which must be waited. If you do not allow the layers to dry, the final result will be unpredictable.

Important point! Read the instructions carefully before using any product and follow them. Before applying the next layer, the previous one must dry for as long as the manufacturer recommends.

To prevent paint coatings from deteriorating, tightly close the containers with them during breaks between work.

To speed up the restoration process, purchase in advance compounds that dry quickly. Thus, there are many coatings on the market that do not require long drying. Before purchasing, it would be useful to read reviews about a particular product.

Preliminary planning, by the way, is necessary for all stages of work and acquisitions. In order not to go to the hardware store several times, even at the initial stage you need to carefully think about what tools, devices and materials you will need - you need to buy them at once and keep them on hand. Then the process of restoration work will not drag on for long.

It’s better to go to the store with an approved list of necessary purchases