Modern Living Room
To tone down the French froufrou of an antique settee, team it with sleek pieces, like a marble-topped coffee table and a globe lamp. Walls in deep, moody charcoal help counter the sweetness of the pink upholstery and let the abstract print on the wall pop. Graphic pillows are surefire updates.
Make these pieces functional and appropriate for modern lifestyles by painting, refinishing, refurbishing interiors, or adding upholstery to an antique bed frame or armchair to bring it a sense of modern comfort.
I sanded my wood countertops well, then vacuumed and wiped them down with a damp cloth. I'm using water based wood dye so there's no issue with using a water dampened cloth to clean off all the sanding dust. You can purchase dyes in liquid or powder form.
Sometimes staining your old furniture will look like a better option than painting it. This way, you will reach its fresh woody appearance. Start with stripping the wood. Use sandpaper to sand lightly your piece and then clean or vacuum the dust away.
If you really can't make that dark wood finish work in your space, consider painting over the piece with a fresh color. Play it safe with a neutral hue that blends with the piece's traditional look, or choose a bold accent color to make it really stand out.
Lay a brightly patterned runner across a wood dresser or table. Opt for bold bedding or wall art in a bedroom outfitted with wood furniture. Table lamps, vases, and planters in a rainbow of colors can also help cheer up dark wood furniture.
If sanding is your least-favorite step, then it's certainly possible to paint furniture without sanding. But to do so with favorite results, you should clean the wood's surface AND use a high-quality primer and/or paint. You can also use liquid paint remover to scrape off the old paint.
Much of the value of antiques comes from their age. The patina, or surface wear or oxidation, of a piece is evidence of its age and history, so in most cases, it is prized by collectors. If you destroy the patina during the restoration process, you can dramatically decrease the value of the item.
High humidity should also be avoided. Fluctuating temperatures can cause wood to swell, shrink, or absorb water. Keep furniture away from windows and vents to ensure your antique does not suffer from structural damage like cracks or gaps.
An easy way to make a traditional living room look more modern is to accent with modern decor pieces such as area rugs, lighting, black-and-white photography or contemporary art. You can modernize a traditional living room by adding bold and unexpected colors on the upholstery or the walls using paint or wallpaper.
Following the 80-20 color rule is really simple. It states that the majority of your room – 80% – should be decorated in neutral colors, such as whites, creams, beige or pale pastel hues. The remaining 20% is where you can let your creativity shine, opting for statement colors and patterns.
Stick with Neutral Tones and Pops of Color!
Pops of color are fun and can be used to create a focal point, but they should be used sparingly, so they don't overpower your space. Use color to highlight the natural beauty of the wood and metal by choosing light hues like cream or white.
One way to style your dark wood furniture is to contrast it with light colours. This doesn't have to be a stark black-and-white contrast, but making use of lighter-coloured neutrals is a good way to go. Warm neutrals such as soft greys, stone and beige variants will pair very nicely with dark wood.
Light colors go very well with dark flooring. Pale, cool blue walls work especially well in a dining room, if you're looking for a lively pop of color. Calming blue and blue gray shades can bring contrast to the dark wood to brighten your space.
Shades of Light
Light wood finishes are trending all over the place and look exceptional when teamed up with darker colors like black and navy. We love the stylish golden wood finish on this table by Tiffany Duckenfield who paired it the stark black chairs giving it a sleek modern sophisticated look.
My first tip for working with dark wood furniture is to use tones (paint, bedding, pillows, artwork, curtains, etc.) that compliment the wood tone – usually warm, neutral colors. In this design, I painted the walls BM Revere Pewter – a warm gray.
'What's old is new again,' agrees Etsy's 2023 collections curator, Martha Stewart, adding that 'brown furniture is alive and well'. But while dark wood appears to be on the up, Etsy has observed a 24 per cent decrease in searches for Scandinavian decor, raw or light wood (14 per cent) and beige decor (29 per cent).
First, paint walls a pale neutral, then choose artwork, accessories, and accent furniture in lighter or colorful hues to balance the darkness of the furniture. Light gray walls, white trim, and cream-colored accents keep the couch from feeling too heavy.
Home remedies for restoring old wooden furniture
You can remove surface dirt and old layers of wax polish with a home-made mix of four parts white spirit to one part of linseed oil. If the finish is still looking a bit lifeless, pour some proprietary wood reviver onto a cotton cloth and buff vigorously.
Create aged wood texture
A wire brush attachment will remove soft areas of wood and let the grain shine. Fit the attachment into the drill and run the bristles back and forth over the wood, going with the grain. Repeat until the wood is textured. Finish by lightly sanding the surface with a fine-grit sandpaper.
A New Coat of Paint…
A lick of paint can really liven up an older piece of furniture that might have seen better days. Of course, oak has a glorious natural grain that looks fantastic with a bit of polish but sometimes a change of colour can really revitalise a piece.