Fabulous Finds For Decorating by Debbie L. Sklar
That old cliché, one man's junk could be another man's treasure is certainly true when it comes to home decorating. In fact, flea markets, garage sales, tag sales, thrift shops and consignment shops, and, yes, even the garbage, can be good sources to find furniture pieces to enhance your home. Don't let ugly paint, missing hardware, crooked drawers or torn upholstery dim your enthusiasm or cloud your vision. What can I do with it? You're walking down the street, and you spot an incredible headboard at the curb waiting for the trash man. On closer inspection you notice that the base of the headboard is in pretty bad shape, but the rest of it is perfect, right down to the hand-painted flowers. Do you leave it for the trash man? No. That headboard can be cut down and used as a decorative wall hanging, or as a pediment above a doorway. It can be hung at tabletop level behind a long console table to create an interesting sideboard in your dining room. You can create new feet for it and use it as a fireplace or tabletop screen. Or you can have the piece restored and use it as a headboard. The key to flea market finds is to try and use your creativity and imagination when looking at a discarded item. For example, a small chest can be converted into a bathroom vanity; a console table can have its legs cut down to cocktail table height (or a small child's table can be retrofitted as a coffee table); a rocking chair can have its rockers removed to remain stationary, and a child's bed can be transformed into a comfortable and smart looking loveseat by adding a bunch of pillows and a new duvet or bed comforter over the mattress. How can I redo it? When you purchase an inexpensive piece of furniture at a garage sale or flea market, or find something others consider ready for the trash, your financial risk is slight, allowing your creativity and imagination to let loose. Don't be afraid to experiment: the results may surprise even you. Here are a few tips: Hardware: Replacing old knobs and drawer pulls can magically transform a piece of furniture from shopworn to handsome. Hinges, escutcheons, door pulls, decorative plates and other hardware can be removed and replaced with comparative ease at little price. Refinishing: Stripping the finish or paint from an old piece of furniture can greatly enhance its appearance. Old stains, layers of paint and cracked or yellowed varnish hide and blur the lines and details of whatever type of furniture they were applied to. If you do not know how to refinish furniture, many local home improvement centers and lumberyards carry prepackaged kits that contain all you need to start refinishing projects. There are folks who teach classes in your community too. Painting: A fresh coat of paint brings life to something long forgotten and beautifies with little effort. To give your piece a little pizzazz, try a decorative faux paint finishes such as sponging, spattering, rag rolling, combing, antiquing or other techniques. Decorative paint kits are readily available at hobby and craft stores, lumberyards and home improvement centers. Again, your public library and local bookstores contain a wealth of material relating to this subject. Re-upholstering: An old chair can look brand new with a new upholstery fabric. If you don't want to try to do this on your own, send your chair, sofa or upholstered piece to your favorite upholster or drapery workroom. If the cost to re-upholster is too high for your budget, purchase a ready-made slipcover from your local department store or home furnishings store or make a simple throw and cover the chair with it. With a little imagination you can transform a piece of unsightly trash into a decorating treasure. For helpful tips and hints, consult your local library or bookstore to find books, magazines and videos that will offer ideas you never thought possible. |
