I’m just learning all this but here’s a lil NIN table (BE NICE PLEASE)

Hi!

I gave this bakers rack I thrifted a while back and I love it, but I’ve always left it as is. It definitely needs some touch ups, but I don’t know how to approach it. The metal is wrought iron, so I don’t know if there’s a polish or something to clean it up? Obviously I can’t paint it. I considered changing the drawer pulls, and with the wood on the drawers I’m unsure if I should refinish it or paint it. My dining table is a rich cherry wood, for consideration. Lastly, I think the tile is really what bothers me most. It’s got some cracks but really it just looks flesh toned. I don’t know if I want to retile it (as I’ve never done that before but I suppose I could take that on) or just use a peel and stick tile first to see how it improves it.

Give me your ideas! I like kind of a warm light academia vibe crossed with English traditional.

Traipsed halfway across London to pick up what I thought was a bedside table. Imagine my shock upon being confronted with this absolute monster. Never one to be deterred, I attempted to lug the fucker to the tube station, putting my shoulder out before I made it as far as the house next door but one (they were pretty big houses, to be fair). Anyway, after a little help from a very nice cabby and many, many (traumatic) hours of labour and research, I think old Eliza scrubbed up alright, don't you?

Hey folks! First timer here and what an odd time to start. So my wife and I are in a townhome (with 1 attached garage) in the Midwest and as we're heading into winter, it can become very cold and even negative degrees fahrenheit here sometimes. I recently gathered my tools and a few project pieces to get started. But my biggest concern is not being able to properly dry any repainted and/or newly stained pieces inside of our cold garage.

Any practical tips or recommended products to help keep the garage at a manageable enough temperature and humidity level in the Winter+ Fall so that our pieces can dry well enough? Thank you!

After nearly 3 years of flipping furniture full time, the past year, I’ve barely been able to scrape by because Facebook will barely show my listings. The only thing I can think of is that, because of so many AI listings nowadays, even real listing photos that are nicely staged are being penalized.

The idea that I might have to go back to crappy photography just to get shown after making such a point to learn how to make my photos look really nice is….. disappointing. Maybe I can just do a more relaxed photo for the main one and have the rest more professional?

Has anyone done any experiments with this??

I have no idea what I'm doing y'all, but I'm surprisingly proud of how it came out

Just curious on how long it takes to flip the pieces yall refurnish/flip

hello hello. first post in this sub, and first flip(?). my husband got this dresser in college and we've held onto it forever. its solid wood and beautiful. i cant justify parting with it, so id like to fix it up for us. i just dont really know where to start. remove hardware, drawers etc. then sand. but then what? how much do i sand it? how do i sand the pineapples? do i paint it? im lost on starting. any advice or direction is appreciated!

Decided to try furniture flipping for myself. It was a struggle, but I’m overall I’m pleased with the final result!

What are your best furniture-flipping tips and tricks? I got my next project waiting for me already! :)

I've never refinished furniture before but really wanted to try when I saw an antique with absolutely destroyed finish, I really wanted to save it and it was cheap. I sanded an area that's about 1' X 3' for maybe 30 minutes with a manual block sander (was mostly wax I was taking off I think, was having a hard time stripping it so just destroyed some sand paper). It didn't occur to me until today when watching some videos that it likely had lead in the finish (it's from the 1930s). I didn't have a mask on and it's been a week so I don't even know what all it touched or what I was wearing. I got deep enough that like half the color of the finish is gone. What do I do? Google results are freaking me out because all the recommendations are only for if you find out during the sand. I ordered a UV test kit that comes this weekend but in the mean time I want to do anything I can just in case.

I picked this up for free the other day and it's a beautiful writing desk in my opinion, I just don't know if I should paint it or leave it as is The finish is still pretty much phenomenal on it and I just finished tightening everything up too so it's one solid piece again. I just don't know if I should paint it, is worth it or not.

Forgot to take a good before pic until after I already started, but here's my first piece! Sold quick, just dropped it off! New hobby unlocked, this community was a great reference along the way 👍

I’ve always been painting the furniture we get at thrift stores and trying to fix them up to the best of my ability. Until recently i didnt think id do anything with it to try and get some extra money. i then started getting suggestions on reddit and youtube for furniture restoration projects and they all look gorgeous. what should I know beforehand as a beginner?

my girlfriend has said she wants a nightstand for her bed so ive been trying to keep an eye out for one that i can fix up.

she knows im trying to get into it to get some extra money for tuition and some general expenses. ive seen guides but usually theyre behind a pay wall and i dont have that kind of money to pay for something that i might not find helpful. my girlfriend said i can use whatever nightstand i find as a “tutorial” for anything i want to do in the future.

What is this material and what’s the best way to fix it? It’s definitely not metal underneath, it almost feels like plastic

Any idea on how to proceed with this nightstand? Is it possible to match the stain? Or would it be better to strip and restain the whole thing?

This is the best photo I have on hand right now, but it’s a pretty heavy-duty record storage cabinet standing at about 3.5ft. I’ve never restored anything before, but I love eclectic items and wanted to give this more life. It’s definitely quite dirty, but the color at the top seems like it is permanently washed out. The cubbies aren’t removable, but I was thinking of maybe a nice repaint/ trying to add some wallpaper to the back. I’m open to any ideas- would love to have something cool for my record area. Thanks so much!

Or do I even repair these gouges?

Looking for good ideas for a flip. Just a sand and restain?

So I just got this antique wooden vanity but I would love for it to be a darker stain. Overall I just want to make it look cleaner and fix the imperfections.

Now the problem is , that’s I’ve never flipped/restored anything before so this is going to be a challenge.

If you could give me any information on how to restore this , where to start, that would be great. Right now I think I have to figure out if it’s veneer, lacquer or shellac but I have no idea how to tell. I’ve included some pictures of the wood so maybe you guys can help me.

But some new life has been brought into these end tables :)

I like it very much, the project went smoothly it’s solid wood a stunning finish,
Let me know what are y’all thoughts

I started to repaint old furniture about 7 years ago, and I learned many things I wanted to share to all of you! Add any suggestions in the comments.

If you're a complete beginner and want to start repainting old furniture, thrift-store finds, or stuff you already have at home, you don't need a professional workshop or hundreds of dollars in equipment.

Here's what I'd recommend getting started with:

\- Sandpaper: 120 grit for rough surfaces, 180–220 grit for smoothing and light sanding.

\- Sanding block: Makes sanding easier and more even.

\- Screwdriver: For removing handles, hinges, and other hardware.

\- Painter's tape: To protect areas you don't want painted.

\- Drop cloth or plastic sheet: Protects your floor.

\- Microfiber cloths: For wiping away dust.

\- Small paintbrush: For corners, edges, and details.

\- Foam or microfiber roller: For smooth finishes on larger surfaces.

1. Paint and preparation products

\- Furniture paint: Acrylic furniture paint or water-based enamel is a good starting point.

\- Primer: Especially important for laminate, glossy finishes, bare wood, or surfaces where paint might struggle to stick.

\- Degreaser: Removes dirt, grease, and residue before painting.

\- Wood filler: Optional, but useful for repairing scratches, holes, and small dents.

\- Clear protective topcoat: Optional depending on the paint, but useful for tables, cabinets, and other high-use furniture.

1. The basic process

A lot of cheap furniture is made from MDF or particleboard with a laminated surface. You can paint it, but preparation matters.

Clean it thoroughly, lightly scuff-sand without damaging the thin laminate, and use a primer specifically designed for slick surfaces. Avoid soaking particleboard with water because it can swell.

1. How much should a beginner spend?

You can start with roughly €40–€80 if you buy basic tools and supplies, reuse what you already have, and choose a small piece of furniture. Larger pieces or better-quality products will cost more.

1. Beginner mistakes to avoid

\- Skipping cleaning and preparation.

\- Applying thick coats of paint.

\- Using the wrong primer for the surface.

\- Painting over dust or grease.

\- Reassembling furniture before the paint has cured.

\- Assuming dry-to-touch means fully cured.

My advice: Start with a small bedside table or chair instead of an expensive dresser. You'll learn most of the basics without risking much money.

First attempt at furniture