Easy Furniture Upcycle

Living in a time that lends itself to excess, there has a been a push to cut down on manufactured goods. There are ways to refurbish things around your own home. Tackling this kind of project can sound intimidating, but there is no reason to fear. You can do an easy furniture upcycle, so it matches your décor.

Start with some leftover furniture that needs a touch up and some new colour to match the room it is intended for. One of our pieces was a table with wood, the others were laminated MDF. The table needed a little TLC so loose pieces were glued and clamped to make sure it was sturdy.

Step 1: Repaint

To keep it simple, we decided to use spray paint to cover the furniture. The laminated pieces do not need any paint prep. If it is wood, like our table, it needs to be sanded first so the paint will grab onto the surface. For the larger flat areas, you can use a belt sander to grind down the old paint. Anything the sander cannot accomplish you can sandpaper by hand. Once all the pieces are ready to paint, you can throw down a tarp and spray at least 2 nice and even coats. Use a well-ventilated area, and I would highly suggest wearing a mask for the fumes. We used the satin finish to create some contrast with the shiny top where we used Mod Podge.

Step 2: Create decorations

To make the decorations, our project used acrylic since we had some on hand. Acrylic applied directly to spray paint will crack over time since the spray paint is oil based. First, measure the furniture and create a rough sketch on graph paper to make sure it will fit. Then measure out the pieces onto a sturdy drawing paper. Place your sketches in the boxes, and fill everything in with acrylic paint. I chose to freehand it, but this could definitely be done with something like stencils. Last, add a thick border around all the characters so it will blend with the furniture. Then you will not have to cut out small details.

Step 3: Apply Illustrations

Mod Podge, or PVA glue mixed with water, is a simple medium and a great way to personalise things for an easy furniture upcycle. Just paint a layer of the liquid and place your art pieces on top. A frequent issue a crafter can have with the Mod Podge is the air pockets under the paper. Traditional techniques would have you put down a layer, place the art object on top and immediately cover it with another layer. To circumvent the issue, make this project over a couple of days. Apply the liquid and place your art. Then press in the middle and push out from the centre to force the bubbles outward. Afterwards, repeat the motion with a small hand tool, for example the top of a plastic spatula. Make sure whatever you use has rounded edges or it will cut into the paper and scrape the paint off the art. Once everything is applied allow it to dry for 24 hours.

Step 4: Finishing

Put another few coats of the Mod Podge over all of the art and the surface they are on to make sure the texture matches. Lastly, add a few coats of sealant. Now your beautifully, unique, new piece is ready to be added to your home, and you have completed an easy furniture upcycle.

If you are looking for more fun DIYs don’t forget to check out our DIYurt Page for more projects. Or if all this work has piqued your appetite, try our In The Kitchen Page