Hospitality Furniture

Around the holidays, we start thinking about new things. New things we can buy for others, new things others can buy for us, and new things we can buy for ourselves and our businesses. But if your budget won’t allow for brand new outdoor bistro chairs, you might want to consider renovating, rather than replacing, the ones you already have.

Why renovate? It’s usually much less expensive than buying all new furniture, and it extends the life of the furniture you already have. If you’ve got a piece that you’re attached to, renovation should definitely be your first choice. You also have control over the renovation; since most renovations are “do it yourself” projects, you have the chance to immerse yourself in making your furniture look better. It can be fun, challenging, and you might even learn some things along the way.

Here are some common items you’ll need to give your furniture a face lift: sandpaper, paintbrush (50mm), wax or varnish remover, steel wool, primer, and top coat. Remember, these items are just the most common ones; plenty of web sites have information about more specialized items you can use on certain surfaces and finishes, so do a little research before you begin any project.

Some quick tips to remember are: If your project has a wax finish, that finish can only be removed with a wax remover and steel wool. To remove varnish, use varnish remover with steel wool or a medium grade sandpaper.

Once the previous coat of wax or varnish is removed, apply the primer. This will make the top coat go on more smoothly. Always work with the grain and work the paint down into any crevices. Wet paint can make wood fibers rise and create a rough finish; let each coat of paint dry completely, then sand it with a fine sand paper to smooth it out before the next coat.

Apply two full finish coats to make the piece look its best. Keep the final brush strokes in the same direction and spread the paint evenly. Avoid getting too much paint on the brush; this will cause runs and clumps. Remember, if you find yourself in over your head, you can always call an expert for assistance.