Section
Furniture & finishes
Reviving old pieces, painting and waxing safely, and picking fabrics that cope with family life.
A good secondhand piece often outlasts anything new you could buy for the same effort. The trick is knowing what you are working with: the timber, the old finish, the joints, and whether a coat of paint from decades ago contains lead.
These guides walk through preparation, painting and waxing, gentle restoration and upholstery choices, with safety notes where older finishes are involved.
Articles
- Chalk-style paint on old furniture: a careful step-by-step guideHow to use chalk-style paint on old furniture: cleaning, scuffing, blocking bleed-through, coats, distressing, wax or lacquer, curing and lead-paint safety.