Do-it-yourself chest restoration: instructions from the masters. Decorating a chest Do-it-yourself restoration of old chests

Antique painting is a fashionable trend in decoration. Antiques never lose their value, they only indicate the status of the owner. However, its main drawback is its exorbitant cost. In such cases, the technique of artificial aging of furniture comes to the rescue.

Antique furniture painting is an opportunity to create a unique interior detail from an ordinary thing. All wooden and metal objects are subject to painting (chest made of wood, doors, picture frames, sets, antique shelves, wooden clocks).

To implement the plan, special antique paints were invented for wood or metal, that is, with the effect of aging. Aging techniques are also diverse; you can paint antique furniture with your own hands using your own ideas.

All parts to be further painted must be prepared. Procedure:

Clean up the item. The previous layers of paints and varnishes should be removed. Small parts that can be detached are best dismantled. Elements can be aged or changed to retro counterparts.
Grind the surface, eliminate irregularities by exposing the surface initially to coarse-grained sandpaper, then fine-grained.
Remove excess dust or dirt from the surface.
Apply a layer of antiseptic primer. This is protection against rotting and mold formation, on metal - against corrosion. The primer will contribute to greater adhesion of the paint to the decorative element.
It makes no sense to putty recesses on the subject. If the thing is in perfect condition, without chips and pits, it is better to apply them artificially. Cracks will give the object authenticity, antique doors look organic or when we paint the table with our own hands.
The preparatory work is over - you can deploy the main work. Initially, it is worth experimenting on implicit areas, checking the aesthetic result.

Interior designers use a number of techniques for the artificial aging of household items, select them based on practicality and aesthetic factors.

Popular techniques

Shabby object illusion

The technique is called "brushing". The technique is widely applicable, looks organically on wooden elements and furniture.

The brushing process looks like this:

On the surface previously subjected to preparatory manipulations, apply a layer of acrylic paint, wait for it to dry completely. It is better to choose matte acrylic: the paint will create an aura of antiquity (antique) around the product and the illusion of a long stay in the basement of the mansion.
Add surface relief scuffs using fine sandpaper, or, alternatively, a metal sponge.
Eliminate fresh dust.
Re-paint the product with a thin layer of paint.
To give the effect of greater antiquity in some areas, work with an abrasive tool.
The final operation - the entire surface must be wiped with fine-grained emery cloth.

This method is very costly in terms of effort: a person will have to work hard on the rapid aging of the tree.

On the video: brushing technique.

crackle method

A specific craquelure varnish comes to the rescue. The mixture forms small cracks on the coated surface. The object becomes as if burned out under the scorching sun. Craquelure is organic in the processing of wood and glass.

Exact instructions on the method, from which you cannot deviate:

Apply the first layer of paint and varnish solution to a clean prepared thing. The final cracks will take on the shade of this base coat.
The product is dry - it's time to apply the craquelure varnish in strict unidirectionality.
A key color should be applied over the previous layer. Cracks appear due to the finish coating.
The final step is a protective clear coat.

Cracks are formed not only with the help of valuable crequelure. It can work alternatively:

Apply a coloring pigment to the product (all paints are suitable, except those that are water-based).
In case of incomplete drying of the base layer - cover the products with acrylic of the key color. The finish coat will dry faster, resulting in ruts appearing on the thing, through which you can see the first coat of the paint and varnish product.

The craquelure technique pleases connoisseurs with pieces of furniture stylized as Country or Provence.

patina illusion

Metal products acquire blue-green streaks over time. So, due to precipitation, a patina appears after a certain period of time. You can achieve the effect yourself with the help of patina paint, which is ideal when deciding how to paint antique furniture.

Procedure according to the technique:

Varnish the tree. Of the wide range, it is preferable to pay attention to film-forming mixtures, they will make the product durable and resistant to wear.
Wait for complete solidification and apply patina paint.
Wait at least 30 minutes, then start working on the surface with a metal sponge or sanding paper. The effect becomes brighter when manipulated with obvious effort.
A soft cloth will help to remove the resulting dust.
The final stage is the application of varnish.

It is noteworthy that the unique details of the interior with a patina effect do not need individual care, and there are no difficulties in transferring the technique to antique wood products with your own hands.

Coloring

Gradual coloring of antique wood with a series of layers turns products into objects that have seen their way through life.

The technique describes how to paint antique objects in this case:

To give a touch of shabbyness, do minor damage with your own hands: burrows of grinder bugs (drill randomly with a drill at different tilt azimuths), scratches and chips along the tree (tap with a hammer, awl or hand saw). The main task is to artificially age the object.
Apply the first coat of paint to the product so that the texture of the wood is visible.
Go over the top with an emery cloth or a metal brush so that scuffs form.
Apply the second layer of a different color with neat, light strokes, shading in some areas.

The technique is based on the perception of old wood due to its transition of color and texture.

Artificial pollution

In life, all household items are rubbed over time, acquiring a characteristic appearance. It is easy to add antiquity deliberately:

Apply hardened wax to the suspected areas of future abrasions, performing movements in one direction with intermittent intervals. After - cover with a layer of varnish.
If you apply dark wax to existing wood cuts, it will age the tree many times over.

Using this technique, you can originally decorate a semi-antique wooden table with your own hands. Such a piece of furniture will sparkle in a new way and create the impression that it is a real antique.

Aftercare for false antiques

Products are subject to environmental influences. It is possible to blunt the impact:

You can open the part with your choice of wax or wax mastic. Wax keeps water-soluble paint from deterioration. Wax should be spread with a soft, dry rag or sponge in an even layer, sometimes rubbing;
It is advisable to supplement the wax with matte acrylic varnish: additional protection will not be superfluous with frequent use of the item. After some time, even if the product is already painted, acrylic should be applied again;
Products do not require careful supervision - it is enough to walk over them with a damp lint-free cloth, maintain shine with a wood polish.

It has long been firmly established in interior design. Therefore, even in the most modern apartment, you can now see an old chest of drawers or a chest that will not seem like some kind of foreign object, but, on the contrary, will attract the eye and noticeably enliven the space.

In addition, it can store clothes, shoes, children's toys and books, and can also be used as a table or bedside table.

To restore an old chest, we need:

Sander
screwdriver or screwdriver
sandpaper set
paint brushes
putty on wood
acrylic primer or stain
acrylic lacquer

Step 1. First of all, you need to clean the metal parts from rust or old paint. After that, they can either be sealed with masking tape, or carefully unscrewed with a screwdriver so that they do not interfere with further work.

Step 2 Using a grinder or an emery bar, clean the surface of the chest from old varnish or paint. If you want to show the natural texture of the wood, you need to sand more carefully, first with coarse sandpaper, then with finer sandpaper. If the restoration of the chest involves painting, it is enough just to remove the cracks in the paint and prepare the work surface with a fine “sandpaper”.

Step 3 In the event that the chest is badly damaged and there are deep cracks in the wood, cover them with wood putty, let it dry and sand these places (preferably by hand).

Step 4 Wipe the chest of dust and start applying the primer. For fully sanded surfaces, use wood stain - it will give the wood the right color and highlight its texture. The stain should be applied in several layers, depending on how rich the color you want to get.

Step 5 After the primer dries, paint the chest in the chosen color and after a while varnish it in two or three layers.

Step 6 Now you can screw the metal parts into place. If desired, they can also be painted in any suitable color. If, nevertheless, it was not possible to clean the handles and rivets from rust, they can simply be replaced with new, modern or “antique” fittings.

Your super chest is ready! Take him into the living room.

You can decorate the chest in a variety of ways: from artificial aging with the help of craquelure varnish, to decoupage and hand painting. The main thing is to show imagination and be patient, and your “new” old chest will please the eye for many years.

Do you have a chest whose age is no longer taken by anyone? We can say lucky, because our topic today is the restoration of the chest with our own hands. It is still difficult to see a masterpiece of hand-made in this peeling box, but soon our ugly duckling will become a decoration of the house. All it takes is a little skill and good taste. We offer two simple options for the transformation of old furniture.

Masking tape.
Cardboard and transfer paper.
Palette.
Acrylic primer.
Acrylic putty.
Oil varnish.
Hole puncher.

Stages of work

Solving the problem of how to decorate the chest in an original and inexpensive way, we lay rows of confetti cut with a hole punch on wet putty. This will be an imitation of nails fastening the walls of a chest full of treasures. We paint the "nail heads" in gold color.

We also tint the metal corners of the box with green acrylic.

Old wooden chest.
Leather and fabric.
Water stain.
Semi-matt parquet varnish.
PVA glue.

Tools for the job

Screwdriver or screwdriver.
Furniture stapler.
A hammer.
Wide brush.

Stages of chest restoration

How and what stains are removed

- A greasy stain on the wallpaper can be removed by applying to it for 2-3 minutes a piece of soft thick cloth moistened with pure gasoline and slightly wrung out. The fat dissolved in gasoline will be absorbed into the fabric. Tooth powder impregnated with gasoline is used for the same purpose. When the powder dries, it must be brushed off the wall with a brush. An old stain will have to be treated twice.

- A dark mark from hot on furniture can be removed as follows: rub with half a lemon until the stain turns pale. This operation must be repeated until the stain disappears completely.

- Stains from light liquids on furniture can be removed by soaking a sponge in vegetable oil, and carefully running it along the wood fibers. You can also use a paste of mayonnaise or vegetable oil mixed with salt (apply, leave for two hours, then rinse). A mixture of linseed oil with turpentine (1: 1) is also suitable (similarly).

- Paint stains on glass can be removed with vinegar.

- A stain on leather shoes can be removed with gasoline or onion juice.

- Fresh grease stains from cotton, woolen, silk fabrics can be removed by pouring tooth powder on them on both sides of the fabric. From above you need to put a sheet of white paper, press it with a heavy object and leave for a day. Clean off the powder with a dry brush.

- Grease stains on silk fabrics can be removed with a pinch of salt diluted in ammonia.

- Grease stains from a fur coat can be removed in two ways: 1) wipe the fur in one direction with a cloth moistened with refined gasoline or a special stain remover; 2) wash the stains with a solution of washing powder or foam from soap chips.

How to update old furniture on a budget: 13 cool ideas

At the same time, rub the solution or foam into the fur so as not to moisten the leather base. After such treatment, wash the place where there was a stain with water, dry the fur (but not in the sun!), And then knock out the fur coat with a beater.

- Fat from canned food will be removed with chalk or toothpowder left in a contaminated place overnight.

- If you urgently need to get rid of a greasy stain, you can sprinkle it with toothpowder and iron it through paper.

- Yellow stains on linen from the iron can be removed with a solution of borax (2 teaspoons per 1 liter of water), after which you need to rinse the item and dry it. If yellowness remains, wipe this place with an onion cut in half and rinse with soap and cold water.

- To remove the stain from iodine, you need to moisten it with water at room temperature and rub with starch. You can also soak the item in a solution of ammonia and water (1 gram per glass of water) and then wash in soapy water.

- Iodine stains are easily removed with ammonia.

- Lipstick stains can be cleaned with alcohol.

Do-it-yourself chest restoration will make it a home decoration

Do you have a chest whose age is no longer taken by anyone?

Restoring an interesting old chest

We can say lucky, because our topic today is the restoration of the chest with our own hands. It is still difficult to see a masterpiece of hand-made in this peeling box, but soon our ugly duckling will become a decoration of the house. All it takes is a little skill and good taste. We offer two simple options for the transformation of old furniture.

Restoration of chest in vintage style

Once upon a time, English lords and miladies, moving on horseback, carried their belongings in wonderful trunks. There was no Internet at that time, and artisans created things slowly, excelling in the art of decoration. Let's also try to create an English travel chest from an unsightly box, trimmed with an elegant pattern.

Materials and tools for creativity

An old chest (if there is none, a wooden box from under some equipment will do).
Abrasive paper number 1 and 2.
Masking tape.
Cardboard and transfer paper.
Palette.
Acrylic primer.
Acrylic putty.
Acrylic paint kit, including gold acrylic.
Varnish for craquelure. Decorating a chest with your own hands in vintage style involves applying the effect of artificial aging.
Oil varnish.
Template or decal.
Round synthetic brushes number 2 and 3, as well as wide flats.
Hole puncher.

Stages of work

First, we wash our chest from age-old dust and soot using a rag, a soft brush, and soapy water. It is not necessary to wet it strongly, the tree does not like this. We dry the surface and clean it with emery cloth to the fullest possible smoothness.

We cover the chest with acrylic primer. After waiting for it to dry, we seal the handles and corner edges of the box with masking tape.

We apply green paint to the primed walls.

After the paint dries, cover with craquelure varnish on top. After drying the varnish, apply a layer of white paint from a spray can.

After 10 minutes, a network of cracks should form. After half an hour, the paint will dry, and the craquelure effect will appear in all its glory. Decorating a chest with your own hands becomes an exciting activity.

If there is no stencil with a beautiful pattern, we translate the drawing through carbon paper. We paint the whole picture (except for unopened buds) with gold acrylic paint.

When the acrylic dries, outline the roses with a gold outline. After drying the contour, paint over it with pink acrylic, then shade the petals with light pink.

We cover the golden contour with craquelure varnish. After keeping the varnish for 30 minutes, we cover the stems, leaves and buds with green acrylic.

Remove tape from corners. Mix putty with green acrylic paint and paint over the edges.

After thorough drying of the paint, the chest can be used for its intended purpose: to store various necessary things in it. You can also make an unusual coffee table out of it by screwing furniture rollers to the bottom.

Restoration of a chest in the old Russian style

We will turn a box beaten by life into a merchant's chest, in which the maidens once kept their dowry.

We need these materials

Old wooden chest.
Leather and fabric.
Straps or synthetic webbing.
Figured handles with overlays - 18 pcs.
Water stain.
Furniture nails with hats, self-tapping screws.
Semi-matt parquet varnish.
PVA glue.

Tools for the job

Screwdriver or screwdriver.
Drill, metal and nylon brushes to it.
Furniture stapler.
A hammer.
Wide brush.

Stages of chest restoration

As in the first case, first we wash the chest from age-old layers. When deciding how to restore the chest beyond recognition, we take a drill with a metal brush attached and methodically clean the surface, removing the old coating along with the top layer of wood.

We process wooden planes with a nylon brush.

We clean the dust with a brush and cover the chest with stain, paying special attention to the processing of protruding elements.

We apply several layers of varnish to the walls.

Cut out circles and stripes from a piece of brown leather to upholster the corners and corner edges of the box. We try on round overlays on corners. We cut out a sector from one edge of the circle and nail the workpiece to the corner with furniture nails. Glue the cut joint with glue.

We impose strips of skin on the ribs of the chest. We fix them with furniture nails, placing the hardware symmetrically.

To give the chest a solid look, we fasten the lining from the furniture handles using self-tapping screws. If there are no self-tapping screws of the desired color, you can paint them with brown paint or nail polish. We have the linings in pairs, on the upper and lower sides of the box.

We drill holes for handles in the side walls of the chest. We fasten the handles with screws.

We cut the belts to limit the cover when tilted. We shoot the ends of the tapes to the inside of the base of the box. We shoot the opposite ends to the lid. Our task is to make sure that when opening the chest, the lid does not fall back, but is kept on tight straps.

We measure the box from the inside. We make a pattern of the interior upholstery. Having sewn it on a typewriter, we put it inside the box. The cover can be nailed with furniture nails along the edges, you can shoot with a stapler.

The restoration of the chest is completed. Looking at this beauty, we ourselves are surprised how we could see the prototype of a magnificent exclusive thing in an old wooden box.

Wooden boxes: simplicity and sophistication

Exquisite design is not only an opportunity to emphasize the special status of a gift, but also an indicator of the donor's taste, as well as a criterion for his attitude towards the person being presented. Of course, getting a present in a stylish box is much more pleasant than in a plastic bag, regardless of the contents of the gift. And if the packaging is made of wood, then the joy of the gift becomes even stronger, because in ancient times it is known that a tree in any of its incarnations increases good spirits and cheers up!

More boxes, good and different!

Wooden boxes can be used for storage, presentation, transportation of any items. Painted or carved wooden boxes are an invariable attribute of any fashionista's bedside table. It is most convenient to store household items, threads, nails in wooden containers with many compartments. Few people know, but shoes last longer in wooden packaging than in cardboard and plastic boxes, as they have the ability to breathe.

Since ancient times, wooden boxes for wine and beer have been considered the most suitable material for storing expensive alcohol - being a natural material, wood perfectly preserves the excellent taste of collectible drinks.

The second life of an old chest - restoration and decoration techniques

And even when you don’t have money for expensive wine, you can be sure that if you buy an inexpensive bottle and pack it in a wooden case, the present will make a huge impression.

Wood is a unique material, it is not only extremely dense, but also very plastic. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the transportation of valuable goods - both large and small - is carried out in a specially made to order wooden container. Any resident of our country knows this: parcels are accepted at the post office only in wooden boxes, which give the maximum guarantee of the safety of the goods.

Store crates

However, wooden boxes serve not only as materials but also as expensive gift wrapping. Many elite stores and cafes use only wooden items in their interiors, including boxes for displaying especially expensive products. Any product will look spectacular and expensive in a wooden presentation box - from tangerines and champagne to watches and jewelry.

Products located on several boxes at once, forming a slide or rack, look especially unusual. Here you can place many names of products at once, which will interest visitors. And if you decorate the boxes with the store's corporate logo or sign the indicated goods, then such a presentation of products will not leave indifferent any of the customers. By the way, the Drevoshop store is happy to offer any decoration of wooden boxes using the laser engraving method.

Wooden boxes for wine: chic and shine

It was considered a special chic at all times to store and give wine in wooden boxes and pencil cases. The tree not only emphasizes the aristocracy of the gift, but keeps the unique aroma of the gifts of nature longer. Moreover, the common closed cases designed for one bottle are a thing of the past. Multi-level structures with sliding lids, as well as slatted boxes, are becoming more and more fashionable. Yes, yes, almost the same as in which it is customary to store potatoes or carrots! It is believed that by slightly opening the veil of secrecy over the gift, the giver involuntarily invites everyone present to appreciate the inner contents and raises his status in the eyes of others.

A gift in a wooden box with a personal congratulation or wish will be especially pleasant. We offer a wide range of original patterns and inscriptions made by laser engraving. Such packaging will remain in memory for a lifetime and will be valued no less than its contents!

Chest in the interior.

The use of a chest in the interior is quite rare, although it can fit into almost any design. If you look from the point of view of history, the chest is almost the only piece of furniture of our ancestors. In the old days there were no wardrobes, no wardrobes, no hangers, and everything that was more or less valuable was stored in it. This applies not only to poor peasant families, but to wealthy merchants and nobles.

Chest decoupage: 5 steps to beautiful decor

It is not without reason that many proverbs and sayings have been composed about him, often about the rich, in the old days, they said so: "The chests of good are full."

Therefore, if you are going to make any antique or ethnic style interior, a chest will not be superfluous in any of them. It will give the interior a unique personality. Remember when you last saw it in the interior of the apartment, and you will understand how it will distinguish your home from others if you have this item.

The chest is perfect for styles: retro, vintage, country, Provencal style, safari and many others. For colonial or nautical styles it is a necessary piece of furniture. Even for a classic style, you can pick up an elegant and discreet item, such as lacquered wood. The difference will be only in the degree of antiquity and the size of the model.

Meanwhile, the chest can also be used functionally. In every home there are items or things that are used very rarely (or even never) that cannot be thrown away. Either they are sometimes necessary, or very dear to you, or maybe you store something in reserve, use this item as a mezzanine.

There are a lot of materials from which chests are made. . It:

wood,
metal,
brass
and even plastic.

Finishing can also be varied. For each interior, you can choose your own material.

A wonderful piece of furniture for those who like to do something do it yourself. If you find an old chest in your grandmother's attic, you can sand it and varnish it, just paint it or decorate it with a cloth. You can "embed" it into the interior by choosing a color or fabric in the design of the room. Small models can be a great accessory, you can buy several small chests and decorate the interior with them.

In the living room, the chest is almost always used like a coffee table, sometimes it is used as a lamp stand or knick-knack shelf. If it has a round lid, then it can be functionally used only as a place to store things. Well, if you are the owner of a large chest - on it you can dine, receive guests or have a buffet. On a low model, you can just sit, relax, or enjoy your favorite show in front of the TV. In this case, you should cover it with a blanket or put a few pillows on it.

The chest in the bedroom is great chest of drawers replacement. You can store bed linen, towels or seasonal items in it, you can put a bedspread and decorative pillows on it from the bed before going to bed. In addition, it creates a very cozy and kind atmosphere.

Small chests are a very useful thing for every woman - you can put cosmetics, jewelry, jewelry in them. You can store buttons and accessories for sewing, knitting and needlework, and even medicines. It is also a pretty good gift for a birthday, wedding or memorable date, it will always come in handy in the household. Chests with drawers are very convenient - you can sort small items in them.

In the hallway, the chest can be used as a bench. Even if the lid is not flat, comfortable to sit on and put on or take off shoes. In a small hallway, you still shouldn’t use it, usually it’s a big and bulky thing. Use your imagination and you will get a unique and sophisticated design of the room.

We decorate the chest with our own hands video:

Solid wood chest

Wooden chest

Chest carved from solid wood

Antique round lid chest

Wooden chest made of solid pine

Solid chest

Chest in the Scandinavian style from solid wood

Country style chest

Chest in classic style

Solid wood chests are things that have become very popular in our time, both in modern apartments and private houses. Chests made of various types of wood bring a special warm, man-made atmosphere and extraordinary charm to the overall design of the interior in which they are located. Antique wooden chests can be attributed to the real highlights of the interior. They may be somewhat different in appearance and design, as well as somewhat different in design features. But in any case, they will take their own living place in your apartment or private house.

Antique solid wood chests are original interior elements, they can add a special charm to the overall atmosphere of almost the entire interior design, bringing you and your guests back for several years, and sometimes even for several centuries, bringing originality and aesthetic appeal. An antique chest is a vintage element of the interior, it will definitely become a real highlight of the room, thereby making it more expressive and stylish.

Additional decor can give even more originality to a wooden chest - additions in the form of metal inserts, forged products, carved elements, wicker elements and leather.

Chest in the interior - the ancestors knew a lot about furniture

All this will make your antique chest more attractive and give your interior some kind of completeness. It often happens that antique chests can even become the main tuning fork, the central element of the interior, attracting the attention of guests and warming the owners of the house with their warmth and amazing originality.

Antique chests are made only from solid wood, from various types of wood to your taste. When creating antique chests, we use modern technologies and only high-quality manual finishing, brushing, wood coating with special oils and varnishes. We make sure that the semi-antique wooden products made by us not only attract attention with their original appearance, but also inspire confidence with their good quality and durability. Skillfully made antique chest, made by our craftsmen with genuine love, will find a place in any modern interior! We create exclusively handmade chests with imitation of aged wood. Our chests are original and you can feel the texture of aged wood.

Brushed chests are specially, artificially aged chests with a pronounced wood texture, which you can not only see, but also feel with your hands, literally by touch! Brushed wood is unique and very beautiful with its relief lines and recesses. You will not be able to just admire it, you will want to feel the relief of an aged chest again and again. Brushing or aging the surface is a special process for finishing wood. It consists in the fact that soft fibers are selected from the top layer of wood with a special brush, as a result of which a surface with a colorfully pronounced structure of growth rings is obtained. The resulting effect can, if properly stained, be called artificial aging, as time affects unprotected wood in a similar way. After brushing, the wood can be varnished, oiled or waxed using standard technology.

If your goal is to create an unusual and interesting interior design, then you can do this, for example, with the help of unusual, perhaps even antique things, such as antique chests from solid wood. Since truly old chests made of wood are very rare today, and the price is appropriate, it is necessary to replace them with more modern counterparts. But they look unusual in any interiors. And modern designers have come up with a huge number of applications for them. Chests are antique furniture, which was widely used as many decades ago, and regained its former popularity, thanks to a large number of advantages. The main advantage of chests is their uniqueness. This is a stunning piece of furniture that will infuse the noble spirit of antiquity, exclusivity and mystery into the room.

The chest is considered the ancestor of a number of modern furniture items: wardrobes, wardrobes, chests of drawers, bedside tables and even caskets. Previously, for lack of a different storage system, all the most valuable things were stored in it. Expensive fabrics, the best dresses, a wedding gift for a girl, and jewelry were placed in the chests. During a major move, they were used instead of practical suitcases, which appeared much later. In our time, many mistakenly attribute the chest exclusively to vintage elements that are only suitable for authentic interiors that imitate the decoration of the premises of a certain era. In fact, with proper design, this detail can become an adornment of many stylistic trends. You can decorate the "grandmother's" chest and give it a chance for a new life with your own hands using improvised materials and a bit of imagination. Let's talk in the article about what you can combine this colorful element with and how to update it yourself.

Chest in different styles

There is no generally accepted classification of chests. They can be conditionally divided into:

Vintage;
Modern.

There is a definition of "casket" or "casket". This is the same chest, but made more roughly not for beauty, but for the sake of functionality. Previously, they were used to store food, mainly flour and cereals. The box is a light, refined variation of the chest, the bottom of which is made of wood, and the side walls are made of bast. On ships, lockers are used - a marine analogue of a casket in which working equipment is stored. Chests differ in size, materials of manufacture, decor and the shape of the lid (flat or convex). They can be both bulky closet replacements and tiny pieces to store small items like rings and earrings. Antique chests are the same vintage models that emphasize interiors decorated in ethnic (oriental, Russian), rustic or even classic style. There are original models of frosted glass or plastic. Such options are suitable for high-tech, minimalism and luxurious loft. The main thing is that the smooth surface of the furniture should not have patterns and be painted in one of the neutral colors. Rough white chests made of wood with slightly cracked paint are ideal for a light Provence. To emphasize the detail of the decor, it is decorated with a floral pattern using the decoupage technique. For free country in the country, "grandmother's" chests are ideal, which often clutter up attics. They have an unsightly appearance, a rough surface, but with the help of sandpaper you can get to a light shade of wood with an original pattern, which is varnished for fixing. And also the chests go well with the exoticism of the colonial style, because the settlers transported belongings in chests, which later became the first pieces of furniture in new houses in the developed territories.

Chests are historically associated with wedding preparations, but now instead of storing dowries, they hide money donated by young guests. Such models are decorated with lace, rhinestones, satin ribbons and beads. The simplest options are made from ordinary cardboard and, as a rule, have a hole for envelopes in the lid, like a slot in a mailbox.

Materials used in the manufacture of chests

Classic chests are made of wood. A little later, the element was first decorated with metal, and then completely made from it. The combination of wood and iron is considered the most reliable. Modern models are even made of plastic, but it does not differ in durability, although it is lightweight. Another disadvantage of PVC parts can be the unpleasant smell of plastic. Beautiful, neat chests are made of twigs using the weaving technique. They are also light in weight, but are used exclusively for storage. Such a chest cannot be used as a chair or table.

Using the chest in different rooms

Chests are universal. They organically merge into the interior of any room, as an extra storage system will come in handy everywhere. In large models, things, fabrics, linen, blankets, shoes, pillows and towels are folded. Smaller chests can store money, jewelry and be used as a workshop organizer. For example, brushes, paints, palettes, pencils will fit perfectly in them, if the chest will decorate the artist's workroom. There are only two options for placing an element:

Central;
Near the wall.

If the chest is placed in the middle of the room, then its surface is usually used as a countertop. The choice of color palette and pattern depends entirely on the stylistic features of the design. For strict interiors, a plain surface painted in neutral, natural shades is suitable: brown, white, gray, black. If you need decor with an accent, then the chests are made in purple, red, blue, green, yellow.

In the hall

In the hallway, the chest performs two functions at once:

Storage of shoes, umbrellas, canes.
Place for changing shoes (replacing the bench).

To sit on the top cover was softer, it is decorated with upholstery and decorated with pillows.

In the living room

In the living room chests are used instead of a coffee table. If it is equipped with wheels, then mobile furniture can be transported to another room if necessary. As a rule, such a colorful element is placed in the center of the recreation area inside the "circle" formed by the sofa and armchairs. If the area of the room allows, then the casket can be installed under the window as a separate area for reading or drinking tea, overlooking the street landscape. It stores books and magazines, which are cleaned inside when guests arrive so that a coffee pot and cups can be placed on the lid.

In the bedroom

The chest in the bedroom can be used instead of a bedside table or serve as a bed. Inside, as a rule, bed linen, pajamas or spare blankets / pillows are stored. The old chest located at the foot of the bed looks great. You can sit on it or use it as a table. If there is not enough space in the bedroom and there is nowhere to place a closet, then the chest will become a real salvation for cramped rooms, thanks to its versatility. Recently, matryoshka sets have appeared on store shelves. There are three or four chests in them, one smaller than the other, stacked into each other. The smallest one will replace a jewelry box, and the larger ones can store documents, cosmetics or money (instead of a safe).

In the kitchen

Previously, chests were not placed in the kitchen. They were located in the most secluded corners of the houses. Now this piece of furniture will become a stylish solution in kitchen design and additional storage space. It can be adapted as a mini-cellar in which jars of pickles or bottles of alcohol will be stacked. Traditionally, bulky chests are placed near the windowsill under the window. They also serve as a bench. When there is very little space in the kitchen, then such furniture can be pushed under the table if it is placed against the wall (so as not to interfere with diners).

In the children's room

The chest in the nursery will help create a real fairy tale. For the girl's room choose gentle shades: white, pink, lilac. Additionally, the surface is decorated with a floral pattern. Inside you can put toys or books, things. The original solution will be a doll house in a chest. It is divided into miniature rooms and decorated with toy furniture. In the boy's room, the chest will become a continuation of the nautical style. A wooden box with metal inserts can turn into a pirate treasury, a magical treasure that is hidden on the “island” of your apartment.

In the bathroom

With cramped bathrooms, chests are combined “with a creak”, since there is little space left for furniture in such rooms. They are located, as a rule, in a free corner, complemented by hinged-type storage systems. The top cover can be used instead of a chair or a shelf for shampoos, soaps, and stacks of towels, bathrobes, and household chemicals can be placed inside. If there is not enough space, but you really want to get a casket in the interior, then they use narrow, high models. At the same time, special attention should be paid to the second parameter, since a person must freely reach the bottom.

In the design of the bathroom, it is better to use plastic or metal chests. Traditional wood is being abandoned because of its impracticality in an atmosphere of high humidity.

DIY chest decor

Chest decoration can be done using a number of popular techniques. Most often, old caskets are used as an experimental model, which for a long time gathered dust, being forgotten, from which they acquired a very unsightly appearance. You can fix the situation in several ways:

Decoupage. The technique involves transferring or implanting an image from napkins and printouts onto the surface of the chest with its subsequent fixing.
Painting. The casket can be decorated with a variety of thematic patterns with your own hands. The painting looks original on ethnic chests. If the designer does not have brush skills, then stencils will come to the rescue, the contours of which are outlined “on a draft”, and then filled with paints.
Artificial aging with brushing. Only suitable for wooden chests. Their surface is treated with a special hard brush with a metal bristle. She scrapes soft fibers of wood, resulting in an original texture. To emphasize the relief, it is varnished.
Painting. The easiest way to decorate. The chest is simply covered with paint of the same color or a combination of several shades on different parts of the furniture.
Decorating with fabric or leather. Materials can be combined. Moreover, you can cover with textiles both one lid and the entire surface of the chest.
Decoration with accessories, beads, eggshells, pieces of ceramic tiles.
Decorated with stripes of brass, leather straps with studs, padlock and lettering forming an inscription.
Decoration with forged elements (rings, chains to limit the opening of the lid, hinges, handles, corners) and carvings.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of options for transforming chests. It is enough to connect your imagination and skill. Methods can be safely combined with each other, if the style of the interior justifies it. Consider a master class on aging the chest by firing and brushing, followed by decoupage.

Chest decor master class

A layer of varnish, paint or other type of coating is removed from the wood. The cleaned surface is fired at a light degree so that it is slightly "smoky". Then, with a metal bristle brush, they begin to clean the wood from soft surface fibers. You need to move along them to get a neat, natural relief. To make the texture rougher, the brush is pressed with great effort. Individual areas can be treated more strongly if they need to be emphasized. Accents are usually marked along the edges of the area where the picture will be located. This place must be chosen in advance and the smoothness of the surface left untouched, since the relief will affect the quality of the implantation of the image. After the brushing process is completed, the surface is prepared for decoupage. It is painted, and after the paint has dried, it is covered with two layers of water-based varnish. In the process, the dried composition is lightly sanded to give the surface additional smoothness. A layer of acrylic varnish is applied to the printout with a mirror image. After it dries, the procedure is repeated and the decorated surface of the chest is covered with the same composition. Then immediately apply the image cut from the sheet face down to it. It is covered with cellophane and excess varnish and air bubbles are carefully driven out with a spatula or other tool with a flat, hard working surface. Now you need to wait 4-5 hours until the composition dries completely. After that, the implanted printout is moistened with a damp sponge and a layer of paper is rolled up with your fingers, periodically helping yourself with a sandpaper. The drawing will gradually "bare". When the paper residues are completely removed, the image is varnished again to fix it. Creating such a scenery will require skill. From the first time, not everyone can accurately remove the paper. There are simpler ways to transfer an image, but implantation is considered the most beautiful.

Conclusion

The homeland of the chest is the East. It was used everywhere in any premises and kept a variety of things: from weapons to kitchen utensils. Oriental chests were used instead of ottomans for reclining in moments of rest. They were necessarily decorated with pillows and a bedspread. In Italy, caskets were generously decorated with elegant forging. Only wealthy people could afford large chests, while the poor were content with simple wooden elements of modest size. Not a single Russian hut could do without a chest. It was he who became the prototype of the first suitcases.

Difficulty: medium
Working time: 21 days
Materials: old chest, burner, sandpaper, otex primer, acrylic paint, acrylic lacquer, accessories, papier-mâché, roller, wax, decoupage glue

This is the story of one chest, the beginning of which is very similar to the stories of other chests, but the end is pleasantly different!
The chest is not mine. It was brought to me by a customer with a request to refresh, restore and make it functional. His date of birth is 1913! The photo shows that it has been actively used all the years and has been battered a lot in its entire long life.

Initial state:

The chest was painted with several layers of paint, and different colors. The inside is covered with wallpaper, there are even two layers of wallpaper on the lid. Many chips, and very deep and in important places. The hardware is not working and needs to be replaced. There is a crack at the bottom. The legs are rotten (not visible in the photo).

STAGE 1: Purification.

1. The first thing to do is to remove all fittings. If the hinges and the lock were simply unscrewed, then the handles had to be messed with. Even a nail puller had to be used, but mostly pliers, a screwdriver, masculine strength and a great desire. Everything was done without damaging the chest. Thanks to my husband. Here you can not do without male power.
By the way, the handles, it seems, were screwed on later. I don't think there were such screws in 1913.

2. Next, you need to clean all the paint from the surface of the chest. To do this, we need a burner and a metal spatula. We heat the paint with a burner and immediately remove it with a spatula. It is very important to work quickly so that the paint is still soft and pliable. But do not overdo it with a burner, otherwise you can set fire to the surface of the chest itself.
Remember about safety! We do everything outdoors.

We used a huge burner that we had for a long time. But for these purposes, the usual one, which is sold in any hardware store, is quite suitable. For example, such.

Pay attention to how easily everything is removed with such sausages. The wood is visible under the paint. And in very good condition, and this is to our advantage.

3. After we remove the paint from all sides, everything needs to be sanded, since the surface remains not completely flat. I worked as a grinder.

4. Now you need to wash the chest inside from the paper. Usually it is glued to the paste, so it is very easy to wash it off with plain water. Wet the paper, leave it for a while. Then we clean it with our hands, a spatula and a metal sponge.

STAGE 2: Preparing for decoration.

1. After the chest is washed and dried, we proceed to the restoration of those parts that we have broken out. I'm not a carpenter, so I can't carve pieces of wood. I had to think long and hard about an alternative method. There is no photo of this process, but I will try to explain everything in great detail.

We are preparing a mass of papier-mâché from ordinary gray toilet paper and PVA glue. When papier-mâché hardens, it becomes very strong, and this is exactly what we need. Since the holes were deep, and one was even through, we put papier-mâché in several layers. Moreover, the layers must be thin so that they do not tear during drying (up to about 1 cm thick). Each layer should dry very well. For reliability, I dried each layer for two to three days. And so several layers. Where the holes were smaller, 1-2 layers were enough. Where deep, it was necessary to impose 6 - 7 layers. Therefore, this process was delayed for almost 3 weeks.
When everything was ready and the papier-mâché was dry, I covered it with putty to make it as level as possible with the surface of the chest. Next is the skin.

2. Now WARNING! very important point. We prime. For priming furniture, I use only Tikkurila Otex primer. There is it in almost all hardware stores.
Why this primer:

It adheres very strongly to the surface and you do not risk that in the process of using the furniture, some piece will fall off;
it covers the surface well. There are many stains on the chest of unknown origin, and if they are not covered with a reliable primer, they can show through layers of paint over time;
it self-levels and practically does not require sanding.
dense and opaque.

I primed with a foam roller. Some places in two layers. Then some more putty and sanded.

1. Next are the standard steps for creating interior items in the shabby style. Picked up a napkin. Under her color picked up the first coat of paint. I have it was sienna natural in its purest form. I painted on the chest those places that will be visible in places of scuffs.
2. I waxed the places where I want to see scuffs. I have a colorless wax from Stamperia. Another very good Liberon wax, which is in hardware stores.
3. The second paint color was milky. I mixed white paint, ocher and a little natural sienna. I buy white paint at the hardware store in large cans. This time I bought DULUX, I really liked it. I painted the whole chest with a roller. I had to paint in two layers.
4. Made scuffs. For abrasions, I used coarse sandpaper #40, soft sandpaper #100 and just such a brush.

Rubbed a little bit of everything. The main thing is that the result is exactly the one that suits you. It is important to rub along the fibers, then the scuffs will be beautiful and harmonious. Here in the photo new legs are already glued, because. those had to be disposed of. Then I also made scuffs on them.

5. Pasted a napkin. I have a standard napkin 33 * 33 cm. I removed two extra layers and left only the top layer, which is with a picture. Trimmed the edges to make them easier to hide under the paint. I first glued the napkin to clean water with a fan brush. From the middle to the edges. Then, while it was still wet, I went over it with decoupage glue. I used Turi glue, but you can use any other.

Some scuffs were visible through the napkin. It looked very beautiful.

6. To hide the edges of the napkin, I carefully sanded them after the napkin had thoroughly dried. Then she went over the milk paint again on the lid, going onto the napkin.
7. All covered with acrylic matte varnish. I have 3v3 polish. Very good reliable varnish that dries quickly, does not shine and does not yellow.
8. Even with all the scuffs, it seemed to me that something was missing. And I added a stencil. After several layers covered the entire chest with varnish.

9. To keep the style consistent, I patinated the entire chest with bitumen. I always use the real Tahir bitumen. Although it stinks, the effect is amazing. No water patina can replace it. I applied bitumen with sponges. Periodically diluting it with a solvent. Then I wiped off all the excess with a soft cloth and sandpaper.

STEP 4: Interior decoration.

1. Made everything easier inside. On a clean, dry tree, I applied several layers of milk paint. Drying each layer. Inside nothing was patinated and did not scuff. It was supposed to store fabrics and yarn. So we decided to just make a clean, flat surface.

2. Of course, I varnished everything inside so that I could wash it.

3. At the bottom, as you remember, there was a gap. I couldn't make her. So I made an inset bottom. I took a sheet of thick interwoven cardboard and covered it with milk leatherette. I did not glue this sheet, but simply put it on the bottom. It can be taken out and washed. In the photo, this leaf is not noticeable, as in fact, in life. So he fit into this chest.

STAGE 5: Final.
We ordered accessories via the Internet, because. in our city it is difficult to find such charms. All screwed up and cheers! The chest is ready!
Please note that I turned the bottom of the chest upside down. This is done so that the new fittings do not fall into the places where the old fittings were torn out. After all, I patched up those holes with papier-mâché, but it will not hold the screws in it as securely as I would like. Here is such a trick.

Now this chest is not hidden under a bunch of rags on the balcony, but proudly stands in the hallway and pleases the eye. It also reminds the owners of the grandmother from whom they got this chest.
I hope that the master class will be useful to everyone who is going to remake old interior items.
If the responses are positive, then I will tell you how I restored my table, which I also got from my grandmother.
Thanks to everyone who read to the end.

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