Incorporating Old Furniture to Suit Modern Design 

by | Apr 11, 2023

Preserving your antique furniture through modern design adds a personal touch to your decor without sacrificing its charm.

Plus, modifying or customizing an old piece is giving a nod to the past by giving it a new life.

With some modification or customization, you can create a unique design that blends the old and new seamlessly.

So, let’s discuss the importance of restoring old furniture, and how to modify as well as incorporate custom finishes so that you don’t let sentimental items gather dust in the attic or storage.

The Value of Restoring Old Furniture

Old furniture carries a sense of nostalgia, a connection to the past. 

So restoring them ensures that we keep the happy memories passed through generations while creating a personal touch to your home decor.

Restoring antique furniture is eco-friendly, thus it reduces waste while preserving resources. 

Therefore, by not disposing furniture that might take a long time to decompose and end up in a landfill, you help protect the environment by reducing waste.

Furthermore, restoring ancient furniture is an artistic project that allows your creative juices to flow as you transform the piece.

Modifications on Old Furniture

Old furniture may be beautiful to look at but to make it fit into a modern design scheme, you need to twerk it a little.

For example, you can modify an old dining table that was too big for your space by trimming the length, width, or height. 

You can also restore an old couch with outdated legs by replacing them with modern, sleek ones that match your decor or design theme.

 Modifying old furniture has a ton of benefits, as shown in the table below:

 

Benefit Brief description
Improved functionality You can modify old furniture to make it more functional.

For example, you can add storage compartments to a dresser, change the height of a table to make it accessible for your kids, or add wheels to a bedside table to make it easier to move around.

Cost saving Modifying antique furniture may cost less than buying new ones, especially if you use a professional.
Preserving sentimental value You can preserve sentimental value by keeping an old piece of furniture and modifying it to fit your space while retaining the object’s original character and charm.
Eco-friendliness As pollution becomes more pronounced in the modern era, repurposing and modifying your old furniture can help reduce waste and minimize environmental impact.

Custom Finishes for Old Furniture

Custom finishes are another way to update your old furniture. 

You can personalize your item with custom finishes to fit your house’s color scheme. You are able to convert boring old furniture like a bookshelf into a colorful masterpiece that draws your eyes to it.

For example, you can add a fresh coat of paint or textured stain. You can also remove existing paint to reveal the beautiful wood underneath. 

Changing the upholstery of an old chair and adding new foam will give it a brand-new look and make it more comfortable. 

Through custom finishes, you can select a design or color that matches your space to create a look that ties together all the modern elements of your space.

Placement and Styling

If you modify or customize your antique furniture, how you place it will determine whether you have created a visually appealing and cohesive space.

So, consider the size of your space to create a look that ties in with your decor and design theme. 

The restored antique furniture should not feel forced or out of place but flow naturally with the other elements like furniture, color, and decor in the room.

You can also use the furniture as a focal point and choose decor or accessories that complement the look.

So, no matter where you place the refurbished furniture, remember that designing a beautiful personalized space is all about creating a cohesive look.

Working with Professionals

While DIY( doing it yourself) can be fun and rewarding when modifying or customizing old furniture, you still need to work with a professional. 

A professional will guide you in selecting the right modifications, finishes, and materials to modify your piece while making it functional and durable.

Remember, different binding elements make most antique pieces. In the 18th century, mortise and tenon joints fastened with hardwood dowels, pegs, or clout nails made most furniture in England.

Therefore, to maintain the wooden furniture’s charm, a professional will ensure that they modify or customize the pieces to their full potential without damaging them.

Contact us today to help you with modifying your wooden antiques while preserving their original charm and character. You can also check the before and after photos of some of the work we have done to get an idea of what to expect.