In the UK we spend over £1,500 per household on furniture every year (ONS). Despite this level of expenditure we throw away over 22 million pieces every year (North London Waste Authority). The majority of these discarded pieces aren’t broken beyond repair, in fact over 80% of waste furniture could be reused (British Heart Foundation). Instead we throw them away because refurbishing furniture feels like too much work.
It doesn’t have to be. Upcycling old furniture is one of the easiest ways to lower your environmental impact and save yourself hundreds on furniture each year. Refurbishing furniture costs up to 70% less than buying new (Home Advisor) and could save you 30% of the item’s carbon footprint by prolonging its life for just 9 months (WRAP). If you’re worrying about emissions, new wooden furniture produces over 100kg of CO2 during manufacturing alone (FIRA). Refurbishing your old furniture is better for your wallet and the planet.
Creative upcycling surged through lockdown
DIY participation increased by 44% over the course of lockdown (Kingfisher Group) with many people discovering furniture restoration was far easier than expected. While not every enthusiast is continuing at pandemic levels, most people who tried it have stuck with it. The process is simpler than most people realise; you really just need some basic tools, the right materials and a systematic approach. Armed with these, almost any piece of furniture can be given a new lease of life over a weekend.
The Science behind successful upcycling
Wood makes up 12% of household waste by volume (UK Gov), yet wooden furniture is some of the longest lasting when cared for correctly. Learning why furniture falls into disrepair will help you understand how to restore it.
As demand for sustainable products grows (Statista), the refurbished furniture market is projected to grow >5%/year through 2030 (Grand View Research). Combine that with the cost savings mentioned above and you’ve got a hobby that literally pays for itself.
Mandatory Tools & Materials for Beginners
Starting any DIY project with the correct tools makes all the difference. Unless you intend to become a professional restorer you won’t need to invest in everything straight away, but there are a number of items you’ll thank yourself for buying regardless of project.
_Power Tool Requirements_: Next you’ll want an orbital sander to remove hours of effort on large flat surfaces. A router makes cutting edge profiles and repairing damaged joints easy. Cordless drill drivers can be used for nearly every assembly or repair task. If you plan on completing multiple projects these purchases will repay your investment very quickly. Prices vary, but you should expect to pay £150-200 for mid-range power tools._
_Materials to Prioritise_: Of the materials required to refurbish furniture, sandpaper is by far the most frustrating if you go cheap. Expect to spend extra buying good quality abrasives and regularly replace them once they clog up. Most indoor wood glue can be PVA (check the label). Polyurethane glue is ideal for anything outdoors or exotic woods that require extra holding power. As mentioned above there are a wide variety of stains and topcoats. Danish oil or water based polyurethane are both very beginner friendly finishes._
_Safety_: Masks, gloves and glasses. Safety shouldn’t be optional when working with old finishes that may contain lead or other harmful chemicals. Ensure you have plenty of ventilation if using chemical strippers or alcohol to remove finishes. Even a basic first aid kit can mitigate lost fingers._
_Workspace and Storage_: While you don’t need a fully heated workshop you’ll need space to work and store pieces whilst finishes cure. A garage or garden shed will suffice if you can keep things adequately heated. Finishing work is often dusty so if you plan on working outside you may need to wait for calm days._
If furniture restoration was a business your tool investment would be the startup cost. Hiring a professional to refurbish can cost between £200-500 per item depending on complexity. Using your own tools, buying materials second hand and reclaiming lost pieces will typically cost you no more than £20-40 per project.
Picking an Appropriate First Project
Solid Wood vs Veneer_: Begin with solid wood furniture rather than veneer, plywood or MDF. Look for well proportioned pieces with simple lines and solid construction. Steer clear of anything with severe woodworm, broken joints that can’t be seen from the outside or missing components you can’t source on eBay. Mid century furniture is a great choice as it often uses beautiful timber and features simpler joinery._
_Structural Integrity_: Check all joints by gently attempting to move the piece. Slightly loose chairs legs or a wobbly table corner is an easy fix. Extensive movement in the frame is a more serious issue. Look down the inside of table legs or shelves for long splits running with the grain, this seriously weakens wooden furniture._
_Finish_: Finally experiment on an inconspicuous area with denatured alcohol ( aLS Paint_. If it softens or dissolves you’re either dealing with shellac or lacquer. Both of these finishes can be rejuvenated instead of completely stripped. If nothing happens you’ll have polyurethane or an oil based finish that will take some work to remove.
Once you’ve picked a project take photos before touching it. Note the manufacturer on old pieces, this can help date it and identify original finishes. Plan your workflow. This will normally be all structural repairs, then surface preparation, finishing.
Don’t be surprised if your first project takes longer than expected. When beginners sand furniture they typically underestimate the time by half! Remembering to allow time for glue to dry as well as stains and topcoats is important. Expect to spend 8-12 hours on an easy dining chair spread over a week or two.
Surface Preparation Techniques
The single most important aspect of any restoration project is surface preparation. Taking shortcuts in this stage will haunt you after you apply that beautiful new finish.
Cleaning_: Remove all hardware then give the piece a thorough wash. Old polish, wax and dirt buildup will prevent finishes from adhering properly. White spirit can help remove most built up grime but spot test hidden areas first._
_Stripping Paint & Old Finish_: If you’re lucky the existing finish will be sound and all you’ll need to do is lightly sand the piece to provide “tooth” for the new finish. More likely you’ll need to remove the old finish completely either with sanding or a chemical stripper. Chemicals will remove finish faster than sanding is realistic, but you’ll need to take greater precautions. Heat guns can speed the process but be careful not to scorch the wood or breathe in toxic chemicals released from older finishes._
_Which Grit to Start Sanding_: Begin with the coarsest grit that feels like it will remove flaws without leaving serious scratches. For most furniture this is 120 grit sandpaper. Progress through 150, 180 and finish with 220 grit sandpaper. Always sand with the grain on flat surfaces. Use a sanding block on flat areas to maintain flat surfaces rather than rounding over edges._
_Older Stains and Discoloration_: Water stains can often be raised with heat and moisture. Place a damp cloth over the stain then gently press a warm iron onto the cloth for a few seconds. Ring stains left by glasses can sometimes be raised with mayonnaise ( seriously . Ink stains are more difficult and require bleaching.
_Grain Raising_: Water based finishes raise the grain creating a fuzzy surface. Prevent this by dampening the wood then allowing it to dry. Once dry, sand the piece again with 220 grit to remove these raised fibres. Taking the time for this extra sanding step will be noticed when you apply the finish.
The goal for every piece you restore should be an even surface that is uniformly smooth. Proper preparation takes time, don’t skip steps.
Mistakes that Affect Final Results
Mistake #1: Skipping the cleaning stage. Don’t even think about starting restoration without first giving your furniture a thorough cleaning. Removing old polish, wax, and dust reveals the true grain of the wood beneath. What you might be brushing off as wood grain could be decades of built-up grime. Start here and don’t move on to any other stage until you’ve finished cleaning. Use White Spirit on stubborn areas but always test in an inconspicuous area first.
Mistake #2: Using incorrect grit sandpaper. Beginning with sandpaper too coarse will leave scratches you can’t remove. Starting too fine will have you sanding for days with no visible progress. Most furniture restoration projects begin with 120 grit sandpaper. Move up through the grit sequence shown above if you need to remove serious damage. Skipping steps in the sanding sequence will leave visible scratches that no amount of finishing will hide.
Mistake #3: Ignoring structural problems. Address loosened joints before moving on to cosmetic repairs. Sanding down and applying a new finish to furniture that rocks or makes noise is counter productive. Repairing these issues may mean completely disassemblying the piece, scrubbing old glue out of joins, then gluing everything back together. Consider it part of the restoration process.
Mistake #4: Using incompatible products. Water based stain under oil based polyurethane will not adhere well. Shellac finishes over wood stain will give you mud. Test your intended finishing system on scrap wood or inconspicuous areas before committing.
Mistake #5: Rushing through restoration. Allow plenty of time for each stage. Wood glue is not magically strong after an hour like the label might imply. Stains need time to penetrate fully before applying topcoats. Allow ample drying time between coats of finish. Neglecting to allow enough time will come back to haunt you months after you think the project is complete.
Mistake #6: Overcomplicating your finish. Newbies can recreate amazing professional results using simple, beginner friendly finishes. Danish Oil followed by paste wax is simple and beautiful. Leave the complicated lacquer and multi stage finishes to after you’ve built your skills restoring furniture.
The Research Behind DIY Furniture Restoration
We mentioned at the start of this guide that refurbishing furniture saves you money and is better for the environment. But where are these statistics come from and how can you be sure? Here is some research to look in to if you don’t believe us.
Durability is a key factor in WRAP’s research into the optimum lifespans of products. Extending the life of your furniture by just 9 months reduced its carbon footprint by up to 30% (WRAP). With properly maintained wooden furniture able to last for decades, keep repairing and restoring.
Manufacturing new wooden furniture creates carbon emissions before it even leaves the factory. Production, transportation, packaging, distribution and retailer overheads all add to emissions before your new chair or desk even arrives. Production emissions of new wooden furniture create over 100kg of CO2 per item (FIRA). Restoration finishes typically require only water, mineral spirits and your time. While there will be emissions associated with buying sandpaper, stain and finishing materials it pale in comparison to manufacturing new products.
Money talks. The savings are easy to calculate when the average new piece of furniture costs £150-£300 and DIY restoration keeps you under £40 each. Professional restorers charge between £200-£500 per piece excluding labour costs to deliver a product. With UK households spending on average £1,500 per year on furniture (ONS) redirecting as little as 10% of your spend into restoration can easily pay for your hobby.
Circular and sustainable furniture options are clearly becoming more desirable as the refurbished furniture market continues to grow. Recent consumer research reinforces the fact that sustainability affects where and how 60% of consumers buy their furniture (Statista). Coupled with industry estimates forecasting >5% annual growth through 2030 (Grand View Research) now is the time to get started.
Adapting these restoration principles to different scenarios
- Rental Houses: Stick to furniture that you can take with you when you move. Dining chairs, side tables and wardrobes are easily portable. Avoid any furniture with built-ins that would need to be modified to move. Clarify workspace/storage requirements and rubbish disposal with your landlord.
- Limited Workshop Space: Is an issue for many first time DIY restorers. Garages, spare bedrooms, or even your garden cover can suffice when working on smaller pieces. Leave larger projects for when you have access to better workshop space. Many municipalities offer shared workshop spaces if you’re serious.
- Tight Budget: Beginners should start with pieces that require little more than a good clean and fresh wax. Boot sales and house clearance centres are a great source of cheap furniture needing restoration. Focus on pieces with solid wood construction instead of veneer. Specialized glue and clamps are required to fix veneer once it starts to peel.
- Restoring Period Furniture: Made the UK Look explore specific techniques for furniture from previous centuries. You’ll still want to focus on solid wood pieces with simple construction. However discovering original finishes and researching appropriate replacements can be part of the fun. Victorian furniture was often finished with shellac, a finish that can be rejuvenated rather than stripped off.
- Modern, minimal homes: Another great category to focus on. Mid century furniture takes really well to refurbishment and looks great in modern homes. Focus on pieces with clean lines and less ornamentation. Additionally teak and rosewood furniture require extra care and research but reward you with stunning results.
- Kids: Are harder on furniture than most people expect. Try focusing on durable water based poly top coats that can handle spilled food and careless usage. Prepare to work on larger pieces during school holidays when noise and dust won’t bother everyone.
Tangible Benefits of DIY Furniture Restoration
Here’s a few more reasons we love restoring furniture:
- Reduce your impact: Restore what you can instead of throwing away. Ensuring your old furniture gets another lease of life avoids the carbon cost of manufacturing new furniture. Millions of pieces of perfectly good furniture are thrown into landfill each year (North London Waste Authority). By restoring what you can you’re doing your part.
- Savings: Restoring furniture is far cheaper than buying new. Remember DIY restoration keeps material costs low. Purchase 1-2 quality tools at a time. Professional restoration jobs range from £200-500. Don’t be afraid to replace furniture altogether if necessary, but with how easy it is to refurbish consider restoration first.
- Learn a new skill: Lots of transferable skills are taught when restoring furniture. Understanding how wood moves teaches you about door hang problems. Identifying wood types helps during kitchen installs. Understanding traditional construction techniques give you a stronger foundation should you one day wish to build your own furniture.
- Better quality: A simple Google search of thrifted chairs will highlight that older furniture is often better built than cheap modern equivalents. Solid wood construction, traditional joinery techniques and high-quality metalwork are reasons alone to keep furniture out of landfill. Once you know how to refurbish old furniture you can browse estate sales knowing you’re getting a better product.
- You did that! Restoration can create an incredible sense of pride that buying new from Ikea will never replicate. Understanding how pieces were constructed and finished will change how you look at furniture. Instant connections to the craftspeople that came before us and simple problem solving skills.
- Unique: Even if you purchase new furniture someday your restored possessions will be unique. No one else will have that exact color smear on their coffee table. Those handprints on your chairs will match your kids growth. Love the flaws that come with restored furniture.
A simple timeline for completing your first project
| Phase | Timing | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1: Learn & Plan | 2-4 weeks | Read everything you can online about your chosen project. Youtube is an incredible free learning tool for all skill levels. Attend workshops/classes if available in your area. Purchase your tools and materials. Setup your workspace with good lighting, ventilation and storage. |
| Step 2: Project Scoping | 1 weekend | Photograph the piece from all angles. Test all structural elements ( doors obviously won’t open, but do hinges jiggle?) Identify problems. Remove all hardware and upholstery if applicable. Clean thoroughly to best see what you’ll be working with. Draw up a plan detailing timeline and required materials. |
| Step 3: Complete all structural repairs | 1-2 weekends | Fix loose joints, splits, missing elements etc. This may require disassembly of the piece. Don’t be afraid to take things apart, you can usually tell if glue areas were intended to be taken apart. Clean old glue out of joins and reassemble with clamps. Allow plenty of time for glue to cure. Replace any hardware that can’t be refurbished. |
| Step 4: Surface Prep & Apply Finishes | 2-3 weekends | Remove existing finishes if you deemed necessary in step 2. Work through the sanding steps outlined above. Apply any stains leaving ample time to penetrate. Build up coats of finish lightly sanding in between. Allow adequate time for finishes to cure before use. |
| Step 5: Final Assembly | 1 weekend | Reassemble and replace all hardware. Apply any final wax coats or detail work. Give the piece a thorough clean then take pictures of your finished project. Write down anything you learned for future projects. |
Total Budget:
| Item | Cost (£) | Notes |
| Basic hand tools | 80-120 | One time purchase. Spend more on these initially, they last forever. |
| Sandpaper & Abrasives | 15-25 | These will vary depending on size of project. |
| Wood glue, screws etc. | 10-20 | PVA glue, screws and fixing brackets. |
| Stain & Finishing materials | 20-40 | Danish oil, polyurethane, wax etc. |
| Safety gear | 20-30 | Masks, gloves and glasses. Don’t skimp. |
| Misc supplies | 15-25 | Brushes, cloths, cleaners, steel wool. |
180-260 for first project including tools
80-140 for subsequent projects
Remember your new tools should last a lifetime and allow you to restore multiple projects. Material costs can vary wildly but will typically run £20-40 depending on the size of the furniture and condition. Spending £40 restoring a solid wood dining table that would cost £800 new sounds crazy when you first start. Once you get the hang of it you’ll be restoring harder projects and saving more money.
