Restore secondhand treasures (for under $10, too)!featured
(I was so tempted to name this post “Dumpster Diving with Keely,” but figured that was bad for the SEO…so, “restore secondhand treasures” it is!)
Have you ever spied a piece that you just knew was a diamond in the rough? Here in Chicago, our alleys are a way station of sorts for pieces not exactly sellable but not ready for the dump, either (well, until it rains, that is). Or how about those finds in secondhand stores that need a little freshening up before they become your new favorite things?
I’m here to help you restore those finds into your new favorite things.
(Pro tip: Some things cannot- and should not- be salvaged from the out-of-doors. The Spruce has a great article about how to treat various wood and fabric stuff. Definitely keep it bookmarked and give it a peep whenever you feel the need to adopt a desk or lampshade.)
First restore! The Sad Buffet:
This guy was shoved into the alley behind our local antique store- and I was there when it happened!- and, while the deep grooves in the surface prevented the attainment of its $300 price tag, it was certainly not trash and seemed like a cinch to restore. (Besides, our home = kids + kittens. A few scratches? Par for the course, peeps.)
-Like I mentioned, you’ll need/want to take some precautions with secondhand wooden furniture. To make sure unwanted, er, guests didn’t hitch a ride in crevices, I left the buffet in the garage for a few days and sprayed down drawers and corners with bug and tick spray. (There are plenty of pet-safe options so the whole household can feel good about these new treasures!)
-Ready to roll? Wipe down the surfaces with a damp cloth or a mild cleanser to get any residual grime out of the way.
-Secret weapon time: Making sure to wear gloves, rub Restor-A-Finish over the entire surface. (I generally tout chemical-free products whenever possible. This ain’t it, but MAN does it get boss results.) It blends in scratches, deepens wood tones, and completely obliterates water marks. If you can’t do a full wood-stripping- or if it doesn’t need a full wood-stripping- this is a great and super quick option! (For future maintenance, I absolutely love Old English’s Scratch Cover for Dark Woods. Take that, scuff marks!)
–Now’s a great time to swap out hardware. My piece’s new drawer pulls were about $2 each from the Home Depot! (Have you ever put in new drawer pulls or knobs? It’s one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to make an impact.)
Hey hey, buffet, whaddaya say? (…About being laden with a ton of food in my dining room?) Favorable? Great.
Second restore! The Unloved Chair:
A little backstory: My husband and I both work from home. He has a fully realized office with a lockable door, an ergonomic chair, and a fancy headset. I…have a desk in the closet of our dining room. My chair is from the set around our kitchen table. And while I don’t want my dining room to look all Office Max-y, a little padding with…. So when P.J. saw our down-the-block neighbors moving out- and leaving stuff in the alley- he grabbed these two cozy guys for me (which also happened to be in a pattern I loved and featured all of my favorite colors). But, they definitely needed a refresh.
-Just like with wood, fabric stuff should be carefully tended before being brought into your home. Luckily, it’s even easier to de-gross potential stowaways from fabric than it is from wood. You know those gigantic industrial garbage bags? The kind that look like you could hide a body? Pretend your new chair’s a body, wrap it up air-tight, and leave it like that for about 3 days. (Yep, this one should live in the garage or out back for a bit, too.)
-Depending on the level of grime, choose your fave fabric cleaner. Pro tip: I love Nature’s Miracle Enzymatic Stain and Odor Remover because it really gets down n’ dirty to, you know, get the down n’ dirty. Saturate, let sit, blot with a clean towel, rinse, repeat, rinse, repeat. Let it sit out in the sun for a full day to ensure there’s zero moisture left in the fabric.
–Any exposed wood needing some TLC? Head to the third step of the buffet rescue! (These chairs only needed a little scratch cover to restore them to their cozy greatness.)
-Using a de-linter or small pair of scissors, trim any loose threads or pilling before stepping back and admiring the heck out of your new showpiece.
Almost enough to make me want to get in my office and get workin’! (…Almost.)
Is this right up your- ha ha- alley?
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