How to update an old closet

The design of the interior decoration is well thought out, but the old cabinet does not fit into the concept? Update your furniture using modern materials. In this article we will look at popular options for restoring an old cabinet; you will learn how to remake it in an interesting way.

How to make a modern one out of an old wardrobe

Hobby and craft store shelves offer a variety of materials for restoring old furniture, and photos for inspiration can be found on the Internet. This is stained glass film, decorative wallpaper, multi-colored enamels. When choosing the design of a new cabinet, be guided by the color scheme of the room. Professionally selected wall decorations, accessories and furniture complement each other. Before starting work, it is worth drawing up a project that will help you choose execution techniques and materials. Remodeling an old closet is sure to inspire you to new beginnings.

How to update an old cabinet - painting

The most popular method is painting. Modern paint and varnish materials will help you restore your cabinet, giving it a new, unique look. They are able to radically transform furniture, adding elaborate originality to the interior.

Selecting paint and materials

Innovations in the chemical industry offer many odorless paint options. They are ideal for indoor work without causing discomfort.

There are several types of paint for cabinet restoration:

• Acrylic - made on the basis of water, one of the safest for humans, has a rich color palette.
• Latex – resistant to sunlight, tends to dry quickly.
• Water-dispersed - produced on the basis of water, has only a white color. By adding coloring pigments you can create a unique color.

ATTENTION! A surface painted with water-dispersion paint will have a muted, pastel shade. To achieve a bright color scheme, you should pay attention to latex or acrylic paints.

To create a rich color, apply two or three layers. Before the next application, the previous layer must be dried.

To apply paint evenly, use a spray gun. The surface of the cabinet will take on an interesting look if you use ordinary brushes. Aerosol paint does not require additional equipment. It lays down in an even layer and creates an evenly painted smooth surface.

ADVICE! To ensure that the new cabinet reflects the glare of sunlight from the shiny surface, coat it with varnish. This will keep the furniture from fading and protect it from scratches.

Technology and painting options

Following the recommendations will help you achieve an ideal work result that will delight you with its magnificence.

Execution technology:

• Empty the closet of drawers, shelves and various fittings.
• Clean the surface of the cabinet from old paint or varnish.For this, special tools are useful, for example, a grinding attachment for a drill. Leveling the surface is necessary to mask minor coating defects, remove cracks and traces of use.
• Before painting, degrease the surface with acetone and dry.
• Apply the first coat of paint, dry and sand with sandpaper. Remove any wood dust and begin applying a second coat of paint.

There are many painting options. This can be a gradient transition, dot painting, stylization for a certain era, or you can take a ready-made stencil, apply it to the facade and paint individual elements.

Wallpaper finishing

Updating an outdated wardrobe with decorative wallpaper will not take much time and will not require large financial expenses. Construction stores offer a wide selection of color palettes and many texture options. Choose wallpaper that matches the interior of the room and begin restoration, following a few rules:

1. Before purchasing, measure the area of ​​the furniture to purchase the required amount of material.
2. Cut the wallpaper into the required pieces, apply a layer of glue to the cabinet, and smooth it well.

ADVICE! To make your updated wardrobe happy for a long time, choose wallpaper that is easy to clean.

An exclusive design project will become a harmonious addition to the interior, and will make you proud of your own creation.

Photo restoration

One of the options for transforming old furniture is the use of modern large-format printing. Using the Internet, you can choose any illustration you like and order it printed at a printing house.There can be just one photograph, or you can create a whole collage of perfectly selected illustrations or thematic photographs.

ATTENTION! When choosing a photo, pay attention to its quality. A printed illustration at low resolution will have blurry outlines.

Photo restoration technology:

1. Clean the surface of old paint by sanding and prime the surface.
2. Apply wallpaper glue to the cabinet, glue the fabric and smooth it well.
3. Cover with a layer of clear varnish to add shine and protect against mechanical damage and dirt. This picture will last forever.

Decorating with fabric

A new way to update furniture is to use fabric. It will give a feeling of comfort and soften the outline. The material will help create perfect harmony between interior items in the house. The result will be ideal if you follow the restoration technology:

1. Prepare the necessary tools: glue, furniture stapler, padding polyester or thin foam rubber, upholstery material.
2. Glue the padding polyester to the surface of the cabinet.
3. Distribute the fabric evenly and attach it using a furniture stapler. Make sure the fabric is evenly tensioned to avoid distortions.

This method is universal. You can change the fabric without additional preparation of the furniture surface.

Mirror decoration

Mirrors expand the space by reflecting sunlight. Updating the facade with their help will be an excellent solution. When getting started, remember:

1. Carefully measure the front of the cabinet, or the part on which the decorative element will be attached, and order mirrors from a specialized company.
2. Using special tools or glue, secure the mirror.There is no need to completely coat the surface with adhesive; it is enough to distribute even strips at a distance of 7–10 cm from each other. The glue method requires horizontal placement of the part. Therefore, first disassemble the cabinet body.

ATTENTION! A mirror is a heavy object. Only glue or liquid nails will not hold it, so you should carefully consider the fastening system, for example, by creating an additional frame to evenly distribute the load.

Spot painting

The method is suitable for decorating polished furniture. It does not require additional surface treatment. Even a novice restorer can do the following:

1. Using a marker, draw a dotted outline of the image. You can come up with a layout yourself, or take any plot you like as a basis.
2. Do the work with acrylic paint and a thin brush.

Dot painting is suitable for creating story-based illustrations and will look great in the interior of a children’s room.

Restoring an old cabinet with your own hands - non-standard ideas

Recently, simple, but at the same time non-standard methods of decoration have become popular.

Stained glass film is a good option for restoration. Its application is not difficult:

1. Measure the surface to purchase the required amount of film.
2. Remove dust and dirt using cleaning products and degrease the surface of the cabinet.
3. Cut the required amount of film. The entire protective part of the adhesive surface should not be removed. Remove 2 cm from it and align it along the edge of the cabinet body. Glue the film by gently ironing it with a soft cloth and heating it with a hot air gun to improve the adhesive properties. It is better to do the work together.

Original vinyl stickers will dilute a boring interior. Working with them is very simple: just degrease the surface and glue a new picture.

If you can’t find a suitable sticker, make it yourself. For this you will need film and stained glass paints. Use a black outline to mark the boundaries of the drawing and paint with multi-colored paints. Wait until completely dry and stick to the cabinet. The stained glass pattern will be translucent.

Decorative plaster is a rather expensive, but original method of decoration. The following equipment is required for operation:

• stencil;
• decorative plaster;
• putty knife;
• scotch;
• acrylic paint;
• varnish;
• sandpaper.

Remove old paint from the cabinet body and fill the cracks. Attach the stencil with tape and apply decorative plaster using a spatula. After finishing the work, remove the stencil and correct the errant pattern, dry the surface. Paint the surface in a color that matches the design. You can coat it with varnish. The method allows you to create an original three-dimensional drawing.

Those who like to collect puzzles can use the assembled paintings to decorate their closet. You can glue them on the back side and secure them to the surface using double-sided tape.

Do children like to draw on furniture and wallpaper? Create a chalkboard-effect closet for them. To do this, you can use a special film for chalk painting, or paint the cabinet with dark paint.

Furniture in the interior of a living space is of great importance. It fills the house with coziness and creates a feeling of comfort. An updated closet will not only serve as storage, but will also become a real work of art.