BUYING furniture is one of the biggest household expenses.
One way to save some cash is to hunt for pre-loved bargains on sites such as Facebook Marketplace and then give them a facelift yourself.
Try these cheap upcycling tips for wooden pieces . . .
PREP AND PRIME: It’s the boring groundwork but properly preparing an item before painting or decorating will mean the final finish looks as good as possible.
First, sand down your item to remove varnish or paint.
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You can do this with basic sandpaper (£1 a pack at Asda), then clean with sugar soap (£1.45, onlinepoundstore.co.uk) to remove dirt and dust.
Finally, use a primer or undercoat to give final paint a good base (a tin costs from £7 at B&Q).
From here, a fresh shade of paint can transform your item (B&Q’s GoodHome range starts from £4 and has lots of shades to choose from).
SHABBY CHIC: Rustic styles work well for dining tables, chairs and dressing tables — and it’s easy to create the look.
First, paint your item with chalky white paint (Dunelm’s Rust-Oleum furniture paint currently has 20 per cent off and starts from £4).
Then lightly use sandpaper around the legs and edges to give it a more worn look.
On tables, you could try painting only the legs and leaving tops bare.
LEARN ‘DECOUPAGE’: If you want to experiment beyond paint, decoupage could be the way to go. It is essentially sticking paper on to furniture and sealing it with a clear top coat.
For example, if you have some offcuts of stylish wallpaper, they could look fab if applied to the drawers of a chest.
Measure and cut the paper to size.
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Then paint glue on to the wood (Mod Podge, £5, from The Range is good for the job).
Then stick the paper on the surface, smoothing it carefully. Finish with another coat or two of Mod Podge over the top.
- All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.
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