Home decorating can be a challenge. It can also be very expensive and frustrating. When the concept of shabby chic decoration was born, thousands of people began to explore the idea of decorating their entire house with flea market furniture. It can be a great satisfaction to buy a cheap and unpopular piece of furniture and make it look decorative and attractive again. Even an old farmhouse can go from shabby to stylish if clever and inexpensive decorating methods are used.
Decorate cheaply by changing the hardware
Old flea market dressers and desks are great bargains. Some come with the wonderful patina of aged wood. Others may be warped, worn, and need a bit of restoration to bring out their best qualities. Refreshing an old dresser or desk might mean a light sanding and a coat of paint. Old desks can become wonderful dresser tables for a woman’s bedroom when covered in fabric and re-accessorized.
It’s easy to change the look of an old desk by removing the legs and adding more decorative ones. Dresser drawers can get a whole new look simply by removing old-fashioned handles and adding some that are more modern in style.
Cabinets can go from scruffy to fabulous
Many people love the idea of buying and living in an old farmhouse or cottage. Along with the rich history of owning old farmhouses and vintage cabins, the need to remodel some of the interior space may arise. Kitchens are often the first rooms that many homeowners want to make more welcoming and visually appealing.
Older farmhouses may have seriously outdated cabinet hardware. A fresh coat of paint and a change in cabinet hardware can completely turn a kitchen from dowdy to fabulous without the huge expense of a complete remodel.
Transform children’s rooms for less
Antique flea market furniture can really come to life in a child’s room. An inexpensive dresser can be painted bright, kid-friendly colors and decorated with whimsical drawer knobs. A child who likes to sail might have a dresser painted navy blue and white with fun sailboat-shaped hardware for the drawer pulls. A little girl who loves flowers can have her flea market furniture painted pink and yellow with daisy-shaped drawer pulls for decorative charm.
Decorative hardware is versatile
Antique furniture collectors and restorers also take advantage of the different options available when it comes to architectural hardware. Some want to restore an antique part to its original appearance and will replace the missing hardware with reproduction parts. Others want to make a modern piece of furniture look older by adding hardware that has an aged, antique look. This feigned aging process is another dimension of the shabby chic style of home décor.
Buying old parts from the flea market and swapping out some hardware takes a bit of creativity and a bit of know-how when it comes to using a screwdriver, but it can be a lot of fun. The best part of buying furniture at flea markets is the bargain-hunting adventure itself. Even architectural hardware can be found at flea markets, making it easy to start putting together eye-catching furniture designs at affordable prices.
