How To Decide To Refinish Something Or Paint It

I scored a bargain on a dresser in a piddling thrift shop here in boondocks this calendar week. I got super excited about information technology because I only paid $35 for the dresser AND the mirror. That's practically complimentary! Nosotros've been doing some decorating in my daughter'south room and she would love a dresser with a mirror (she doesn't take a mirror right at present.) Her furniture is white and I thought this dresser would be so so so cute with a coat of white paint.

vintage dresser

I tweeted out this photo and exclaimed "I tin can't wait to pigment it!" and information technology seems some people were a trivial concerned that I was going to slap some paint on here. In that location were questions around how peradventure refinishing it was the meliorate way to go. I know, in the photo it looks precious. Merely in real life? Not so much. Information technology'due south really shell up. At any rate, I thought it would exist helpful to do a post on how to know when to refinish and when to paint.

How to tell if you should paint that second hand furniture find - or not!

Refinish:

If the piece is valuable or an antiquarian (trust it to a professional person who can tell you lot if refinishing might be a mistake or a expert idea.)
If the slice is sturdy and in relatively good shape.
If damage is surface only (scratches are only in the stop and aren't deep plenty to go into the wood.
If the slice has historical or sentimental value and maintaining information technology's current look is of import. (in this case, I'd argue to not touch the finish at all.)
If there is inlaid wood (small pieces of wood carved and set into the slice.)
If refinishing would increment the value.

Pigment:

If the piece is not of high value.
If there are pieces of veneer that are missing (great tutorial here)
If damage goes through the finish and into the woods.
If it makes sense to fit the decor of your existing room.
If painting would increase the value instead of diminish it.
If changing the stop allows information technology to take on new life.

Now, I'm equally much of a purist every bit it gets. I Beloved the await of beat up antiques. I find the scars tell the story of the slice and it shows us it has a history. But this wee dresser? It is not precious. The construction is not delicate, the interior wood is chip to say the least. Joints are messy and 'commercial' looking. This was non a lovingly hand crafted piece of fine art. Information technology was built for sale, most likely at Sears, in the 1940s or 50s. This dresser had wooden handles which had been sprayed with flecked gold paint to make them look like something other than wood. The petal motif looks like inlay, only it'south not. information technology's merely stained darker at that place. While I practise recollect it has beauty in the state I show it in here, I think it will be put to much meliorate apply, painted to suit my little girl'south room. She will fill it with her clothes and information technology will serve a purpose again.

Come across the Afterwards Photos HERE