Transform your furniture

Turning dated wooden furniture into something altogether more contemporary requires just a little time, effort – and imagination.First, you need to remove the furniture’s existing finish. If it’s waxed, stained or varnished and you want to paint it instead, a good sand will probably suffice.

Providing the paint isn’t chipped or there’s layer upon layer of it, you can usually get away with sanding painted furniture, too, rather than stripping it back to the wood, but only, of course, if you’re repainting it. Next, wipe it clean with a damp cloth. Use white spirit instead of water, as water raises the grain of the wood, or use disposable DIY wipes. Then apply a wood primer, followed by an undercoat and finally a topcoat.Quick-drying primers, glosses and satinwoods are available, as are one-coat products, although one coat doesn’t always suffice!For the best finish, use a fine sandpaper between coats and wipe clean.

To avoid brush marks, apply the paint, especially the topcoat, with a gloss roller. You may find it easier to apply the paint with a brush and then roller over it for a smooth finish.If you want to completely remove the existing varnish or paint, try a chemical paint stripper or a heat gun – or both.

You’ll need a paint scraper and probably wire wool, sandpaper and a lot of elbow grease, as the paint is often ingrained.Heat guns should also be used with caution because of the very high temperatures they reach. They’re good for removing several layers of paint quickly, but you must be careful not to burn the wood.

If you are re-varnishing, wipe clean as before and apply the varnish with a paintbrush or varnish roller, which is small and has a velvet-like pile.Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for waxes and wood stains because you may need to apply them differently. Maybe your furniture has dated scrolls or other fiddly details that you’d like to remove? Create clean, straight lines with a jigsaw.

These take a bit of getting used to, so practise first if you haven’t used one before. The most important thing is to hold the jigsaw steady and flat and to be able to see the pencil line you’re following, even if this means lifting the dust guard up.Wear a mask to stop you inhaling the dust (the same goes for sanding) and don’t worry if you keep having to stop – better that than cutting a wonky line. Finish with medium and then fine sandpaper for a smooth finish. If the wood is very thick, the jigsaw will be hard to move and may start to burn out. That’s when you need a circular saw.The finishing touches are just as important. Recovering a seat pad with new fabric, or changing dated handles and knobs for contemporary ones is easy and effective. Unless the new handles fit exactly, remove the old ones and fill the holes with wood filler.

Once set, sand, wipe down and paint over as before. Measure carefully and, using the right size drill bit, drill pilot holes for the new handles before screwing in place.