Upscaling. Updating. Upgrading. Re-hashing. These are becoming commonly used words in the world of interior decorating and furniture. Gone are the days of simply getting rid of old or dysfunctional furniture – or giving it away to your local charity shop. Today, it’s cool to upscale and re-invent old furniture, and there are a number of positives in doing so:
Reasons to update old furniture
- Updating old furniture gives it a new look and feel (and sometimes even an altogether new and different purpose).
- What’s more, it also saves you money, and the time and effort in shopping around for something new.
- Updating old or unused pieces of furniture gives your home a more personal touch, as it reflects your individual style and creativity.
- It is also an environmentally friendly thing to do, as you are reducing waste and instead re-inventing and re-using something.
In this blog post, we share some fantastic ideas and tips on different ways you can update your dated dining room table and chairs, whether it is a wooden dining table and chairs or whether you want a chic marble dining table and 6 chairs.
1. Paint The Apron And The Base A Different Colour…
If you want to give your dated wooden dining table and chairs a new look, paint the apron (the wooden panel that connects the surface and the legs of a table or desk) and the base of the dining table a solid base colour such as white or oak brown…
2. Then Paint The Top!
Once you’ve given a new lease of life to the bottom of the table, it;s time to focus on the top. There are a number of options for you to work with:
- Leave the top as it is (as it will already be a different colour to the base)
- Paint the table-top a darker, contrasting shade (like a dark brown) for a more dramatic effect.
- Paint the top of the table with a stain colour, to enhance the natural colour and texture of the wood.
- Lightly whitewash the table top for a beautifully aged, weathered look.
Or, you can paint the entire table a single bold colour such as a turquoise blue or bright orange – then get matching seat covers for the chairs. This will ensure that your dining furniture is the focal point of the room!
3. Go Chic With A Faux Marble-Look Dining Table And Chairs
Many of us would love the timeless look of a marble dining table with 6 chairs – that is the ultimate luxury look for our kitchen or dining area. But there are two factors that make this a tad difficult – a) real marble is expensive, so unless you have a huge budget, it’s not always feasible, and b) marble dining furniture requires a lot of maintenance and care, which is not always practical especially if you have kids.
But what if you could get that elegant, timeless marble look on your current dining table, at less than half the cost and with no worry of maintaining it? That’s possible with a marble-effect print contact paper (with a sticky back adhesive) – just make sure it’s a good quality, thick and durable one!
Another option is to spray paint the table top with marble-effect spray paint, but this requires a little more time and effort. First you would need to sand the table down to remove as much of the original finish as possible. Don’t forget to fill in the dents (if any) with wood filler. Then prime the table with a suitable primer. Lastly, spray paint with the marble-effect spray-paint colour of your choice.
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Add A Stenciled Or Tile Design Or Go For Glass
If you don’t want wood or marble, then there are a number of other options available. A stenciled or tile design table top looks very contemporary and artistic and will transform your dining room.
A glass top will give the illusion of more space and open up your dining area – if you’re working with a wooden table, you can keep the wooden borders and just put glass slabs in the middle. The mix of materials adds a nice touch.
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How Can I Update The Chairs?
The easiest way to update your dining chairs is to change the seat covers. Go for something that either matches your new updated table or is in complete contrast to it.
If you’ve got plain wooden chairs, then something as simple as spray-painting or stain-painting them will give them a new look. Or you can even just add some funky cushions to re-hash the look.
