What kind of furniture needs a “Facelift”?

Well, really anything that you have become fed up with or that is in need of some TLC, or any likely woodworking and crafts item you have spotted at a flea market or garage sale.

These days, it’still too easy just to throw something away because you fancy a change. Look again-you may be about to lose that Moroccan-style dining table you have always fancied or a covetous set of dining chairs!

Take a while to reconsider your woodworking and crafts skills and browse around. You will be thrilled if you can pull off a successful’ facelift’!

Don’t think you can’t do it.

There is nothing simpler than painting a set of old chairs in candy pastels, and even creating a super-stylish mirror-topped dressing table is a breeze

All woodworking and crafts projects are skill rated:

'Experienced’ describes makeovers that are fairly tricky and best attempted after completing a few easier projects,’Confident’covers those that are not too difficult and just require you go for it,and’Easy’ means just that.

You should provide an estimated time, each woodworking and crafts project will take, to help you plan your work.

So what do you do, if you don’t have a house full of tired old chairs or redundant tea trolleys?

Hunting out other people’s junk to make over is all part of the fun, and gives you an excellent excise to spend many happy hours browsing at flea markets and antique fairs. Small ads in the local papers can also be a great source of material, as can the Internet.

Don’t go hunting with a specific item in mind.

As you will probably end up very frustrated. Perhaps make a short list of projects you may like to do for your next woodworking and crafts project such as a chair,table or bookcase a puppet a wooden bowl a woodcraft toy or an elephant

Take with you:-

Your notes on areas of your home, you would like to improve – living room, storage, woodworking and crafts workshop or bedroom lighting for instance.

This way, you may see a piece that you love.

And be able to rethink its purpose: a sewing box to be transformed into a bathroom stool perhaps, or a wardrobe into an armoire?

A little bit of planning should prevent you coming home with 25 armchairs and a copper kettle (but I can’t promise it)!

New furniture can also be transformed very successfully in your woodworking and crafts workshop.

Simple wooden cupboards, glass-topped dining tables and everyday utility furniture are just a few of the items you can make your own. It certainly doesn’t all have to be junk, and sometimes a new item has a better shape and feel.

Preparation time is usually shorter, too, although flat pack assembly may be the exception that proves the rule!

A quick tip.

Your remodeled chairs will look fantastic in the kitchen teamed with a plain wooden table.

Don’t be tempted into painting a table in the same way as you do the chairs: you should not paint any surface where food preparation may take place, as the finish, would not be hard wearing enough to withstand use of knives or other utensils.

If you would like to add, or comment, on these articles please feel free to do so.

Be happy
and enjoy your woodworking and crafts