10 Reasons to Refinish Old Furniture Instead of Buying New

At the heart of every home sits the comfortable couch, dresser, or bookshelf. Furniture is the backbone of our decor, chosen with care and purpose. When such importance is placed in choosing the perfect piece, why invest money and effort into refinishing an old piece of furniture instead of just buying something new?

Let’s be real, it’s certainly easier to flip through a magazine or scroll through the internet and have the “perfect” piece of furniture dropped off at our doorstep. But what if there were 10 compelling reasons to invest in refinishing that dented and scuffed dresser shoved into the corner of your local thrift shop? Or if I could show you how to love Great Grandma’s old china hutch as if you had picked it out yourself?

Before we get started, here is some obligatory legalese for your reading pleasure:

THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS. IF YOU PURCHASE PRODUCTS THROUGH THESE LINKS THEN I MAY RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION AT NO COST TO YOU. I ONLY RECOMMEND PRODUCTS THAT I USE AND/OR HAVE RESEARCHED AND WOULD USE.

AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES AT NO COST TO YOU. YOU CAN SEE MY FULL DISCLOSURE HERE.

Cost

In general used furniture will always cost less than new furniture…unless you’re buying low-quality, mass-produced jigsaw puzzle furniture.

Quality

That jigsaw puzzle furniture will not last as long as solid wood, plywood, or hardboard furniture. The fact is that MDF and Chipboard furniture will weaken at the joints, fasteners will wallow out, and eventually, the wood will sag. Solid wood may also weaken, but it can be repaired. It’s much more difficult to repair furniture that is not made of solid or veneered wood.

Supports Small/Local Businesses

Buying flat-packed cheap furniture typically supports mass production in overseas plants. Alternatively, buying second-hand furniture typically supports smaller, local businesses. Refinishing that furniture also typically involves purchasing supplies from small and/or local businesses.

Better for the Environment

Mass-produced furniture constructed of Chipboard and MDF involves injecting glues and resins into wood material to create a new product. These materials off-gas into the home environment. Then, once the furniture is no longer functional, it is thrown into the landfill, adding these chemicals to the local groundwater.

Learn Helpful Skills

If you decide to undertake the refinishing process yourself, you are guaranteed to develop a new set of skills. You will learn how to make repairs, how different finishes interact, and what types of tools and products work best for your design goals.

Creative Outlet

Refinishing furniture provides a creative outlet. Whether it’s staining, painting, decoupaging, or a mixture of each, refinishing allows creative freedom to create something unique!

Customization Opportunity

Even if you’re looking for something simpler than a wildly creative style, refinishing still allows you to customize your furniture to suit your unique tastes. Perhaps you enjoy the look of walnut instead of golden oak, or you prefer a table with a simple clear coat top and legs painted the perfect blue to match your favorite rug. Whatever your heart desires, refinishing can make it happen.

Transformation Process

One of the most compelling reasons for me to refinish furniture is seeing it transform in front of me! Yes, it’s messy, and at times it is tedious, but when I can look back at the before and after pictures, my heart sings! There is so much joy in revealing beauty in a piece that no one would give a second glance.

Sentimental Value

Another reason to refinish furniture is to preserve sentimental value. Furniture is a link to our past. We look at a chair and see a loved one sitting in it telling stories. That dresser is the one that great grandma brought back from her wedding trip and where she always kept lavender and letters in the top drawer.

Story Telling

Old solid wood furniture is a gift. These pieces hold stories from a lifetime. Some we may never know. But by refinishing these pieces we can breathe new life into them, create new stories, and allow them to shine.

Final Thoughts

While it may be easier to order a piece of bland, boring furniture that probably won’t last a year, I hope you will consider the value of refinishing an old piece of furniture. Rescue it from that dusty corner, and allow it to live an entirely new life reflecting your unique style!

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