Refinishing Old Oak Bedroom Furniture ..help!?

That sounds like a lot of work and like it will be hard to visualize the results.

I suggest looking in thrift stores and want ads for a new set of used furniture and then painting it.

I got a nifty 50's oak bedroom set from a thrift store for $50 and painted it two different shades of blue. Anyone can paint and then you have a better idea of what your results will look like.

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From your description of the furniture this is most likely partical board or plywood with a thin oak veneer over it making it appear to be oak but most likely not. The furniture made from the 1980 s to the present has such a thin layer of veneer on it or just a photo finish of veneer on it that sanding it or trying to strip it with a chemical would just take off the veneer and leave you with plywood or MDF which neither is very attractive or has any quality. You would be much further ahead by purchasing some Howard s restore a finish and applying it with a medium fine steel wool pad. This would give the furniture a like new finish that does not require and stripping or sanding. Good Luck

Don't give up if you aren't happy with it. Your bedroom should be a haven. Painting furniture is always an option but has to be primed. If you so decide to refinish, go for a darker stain and a hand rubbed waxed finish. Polyurethane sealers will make it look too shiny and new.

I just painted my laminate cabinets. If I can make those look great, you can make a change in your furniture. Use a primer and if it is laminate --2 coats. Then 2 coats of paint with a good brush. If you like modern--try painting black and replacing with silver handles. You could do a faux finish to make it look like tropical furniture. Try HGTV website and the hardware store. You may have to keep the top a single color and just faux the rest.

No need to sand unless you have peeling areas. Oil base paint should be fine give it a couple of days to dry. Be sure surface is clean and smooth and use good quality brushes or rollers for the best finish.

Well if it isn't really wood, you couldn't refinish it. Especially if it is plastic. Spray paint would probably be your best bet.

I'd take off the cheesy fake marble. I wouldn't try taking off the curlicues...I would paint all of the furniture white...it will look great and modern! For the frost mirror finishing, you can sandpaper it off. And don't give up!

I think painting it a real cool color (like pink?) and going with some really funky wallpaper to complement it would be neat.

I think it is worth it to try fixing it up and taking the cheesy accessories off.

We commissioned an artist to do this with our headboard.