Do you have an old sideboard that could do with a new lease of life? Are you a lover of all things vintage? If you answered “yes” to either of those questions, you are going to find this article very interesting. We’ve created a step by step guide that should help you to bring old home storage units back to their former glory. We’ll even make some suggestions about simple ways in which you can improve the design without altering the aesthetics. You don’t need amazing DIY skills to complete this job. However, a keen eye for detail will stand you in good stead.
Sand the entire unit
Before you do anything else, it is important that you sand the entire unit until all coatings are removed. That is the only way you can ensure that your new stain is going to dry properly. Also, it will mean the unit is completely clean before you start work. Just make sure that you don’t sand it too much. Getting carried away could mean you damage the item, and that is the last thing you want to do. Always sand by hand when working on vintage furniture. That is the best method because electric tools can be a little too violent in their movements.
Make alterations
If you want to change the way in which your sideboard appears, now is the time to get started. We would recommend that anyone who wants to add drawers or improve existing solutions should do some research online. You just need to find specialists that supply soft-close drawer runners. Accuride is currently the global leader in that field, but there are plenty of other brands out there. At the end of the day, you just want the best quality runners for the lowest prices. So, do some research.
Apply a new coat of varnish
Now your unit it set up and ready to do, you can head down to your local DIY store and pick up some varnish. There are lots of different products to choose from that come in a wide range of colours. So, you just need to make your selection based on personal preferences. If your sideboard is anything like the one in the image above, you will probably want to opt for lighter shades. However, there are many units for which darker colours are more appropriate. Just follow the directions on the tin to ensure you apply the coating properly. You might have to do that two or three times to guarantee maximum coverage.
Finish with a lacquer spray
As anyone who has renovated wardrobes and other furniture in the past will know, lacquer is essential when completing the job. Without a decent spray covering, you could find that your varnish deteriorates much faster than you expected. Just make sure that you take the sideboard outside to avoid giving your family a headache. Lacquer is toxic, and so you should never use it in a confined space.
Now you know how to renovate your vintage storage units, you should be in the best position to complete your retro home design. If you need more help for information, you should speak to the staff at your local DIY store. Most of them should be in a position to help. See, that wasn’t so difficult now was it?