Restoring an old piece of furniture can seem like a daunting task, especially if it’s an antique-- after all, you don’t want to risk ruining the value of anything! However, restoring your antique furniture doesn’t have to be as complicated as some may think. In fact, depending on the condition of the piece, it can be easy-- sometimes, your furniture might not need as much work as you think!

Upcycling. You’ve heard that word around, right? But what does it actually mean? Here’s a quick definition. Upcycling is the process of giving old or used materials a second life. When you upcycle, the used material can either be re-used in the same manner, or it can be re-adapted or repurposed.

Today, finding information is easier than ever. Most people have smartphones with internet access and YouTube. YouTube has become our new go-to for how-to. Want to build a deck? Watch this video! Want to make a cute mask? Just give this video a view. We feel like we can learn and do almost anything. And that’s true for some things, but not for all. Think Pinterest fails.

“All any girl needs, at any time in history, is simple velvet and basic diamonds” – Eva Gabor

So you’ve decided to recover a piece in your home. Congrats! But before you hit the fabric stores or start talking to design consultants, let’s arm you with some upholstery basics that will make choosing the right fabric to fit your lifestyle easy and fun.

Have you been watching some HGTV and now you are ready to do some DIY to freshen up your furniture? They make it look so easy and it comes out great, what could go wrong? The short answer is a lot. It’s important to remember the people on these shows are professionals and have had a lot of practice in their field. The last thing you want to do is ruin the chair that has been in your family for decades by trying to restore it.