Particle board furniture is usually a really cheap option when you need to decorate your home on a tight budget, but the furniture does not always withstand constant use or time. If you’re noticing your particle board bookcase, end table, or coffee table starting to peel, chip, or fade, refurbish the item instead of tossing it.
Mending and painting old furniture will help you save money and put the items to use for longer ( who doesn’t like getting more than they paid for ? ). You can even give the item a new look with stencils, different colored paint, wallpaper, or decoupage. Use whatever you already have on hand to save even more money.
Remove water marks
When water sits on particle board furniture for a long period of time, it can create bubbles and permanent stains on the surface. Don’t fret, with patience and a bit of elbow grease, you can repair and remove these blemishes. To remove water-damaged sections of particle board furniture, you will need to remove the damaged areas. The size of the water damaged area will determine how much you will need to remove and replace with new wood.
For large water damaged areas, such as the bottom of a dresser or bookcase, you will need to remove the damaged areas and replace with new pieces of particle board. If the furniture item is not that important or sentimental, you may want to evaluate the cost of the repair versus purchasing a new piece of particle board furniture.
Repaint
Whether you’ve repaired damaged areas on the particle board furniture or you just want to give it a new look, paint the item. Before painting the item in your choice of color, sand the entire item with high grit sandpaper to remove any old finish, lacquer or gloss. This will help the primer and paint adhere better to the item.
After sanding the item, apply primer to the surface.
– Use a gray if you plan on painting the furniture item in a dark color.
– Use a white primer if you plan on painting the furniture item in a light color.
Depending on the current color of your furniture and the color you want to paint them item, you may need to apply multiple coats of primer and paint to get the best result.
Let any and all primer dry completely before applying any paint. Be sure to let each coat completely dry before applying the next one so that paint dose not become tacky and to get the best results.
Repair chips and cracks
Particle board furniture can easily chip when hit with the vacuum cleaner or from constant wear and tear. Cracks can also occur when a heavy item is placed on the surface. Luckily, you can repair these blemishes with wood glue and reinforcements to repair the crack.
