If you’re looking for a DIY project to get stuck into or want to upcycle materials, you can transform your home by creating your own furniture. You could even breathe life into old furniture by restoring them to enhance your home.
It can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to creating furniture. This guide can aid you with the whole process, allowing you to start your own DIY project and easily create your own furniture for your home.
Make a plan
Before you even begin the building process, it is ideal to decide what you want to create for your home and outline a plan with your vision. Within this plan, it is vital to consider the style of your home and how you want to add to it or change it. This will help guide you on what to make.
Once you have selected what you want to build or restore, and which room the furniture is for, you should try and draw the furniture to put measurements onto and see your vision clearly. This will help you build the furniture and follow a visual representation to avoid anything going wrong. Plus, it gives you something to stick to, so you don’t go off track too much or get confused about what you want.
Think about the materials you need
Once your plan is in place, you need to consider the materials needed to carry out the project. This allows you to purchase what you need in plenty of time and start the build. For example, if you want to create an elegant armchair, or refurbish one, you may need to purchase cut-to-size MDF for the base and a fabric you love that suits your style.
Think about the tools you need
When you have all the materials needed, you need to think about tools to use for the building process. Any DIY project involves some sort of tools so see what you have available and what you may need to purchase. For example, with an armchair, you may need dowels, wood glue, decking screws, double-ended screws, a drill, a jigsaw, and a circular saw.
Create a dedicated space to build
Now you have everything you need for the project, find a dedicated space within your property to build. This could be a suitable-sized shed, garage, barn, or even a suitable area within your home. It has to be somewhere that won’t damage anything in your home as a mess will be created when you start to build. You don’t want your living room full of sawdust or stained with paint!
Measure before you start
When you are set up in your dedicated space, you need to measure your materials and the space you want your furniture to go in. This is ideal to ensure that your piece of furniture will fit into the space and that you have enough materials to do the job. Once you have your measurements, you can cut the materials to the size you need.
Ensure to have safety measures
However, before you cut or build, safety is key. Ensure you have the correct safety measures to protect yourself during the project. Essential safety measures to have for any project are:
- Gloves- cut resistant
- Safety goggles
- Ear protection
- Dust mask
Think about the work you’re about to do and what you need to protect yourself from to ensure you have the ultimate form of protection.
Build or refurbish your furniture
After you are protected with various safety measures, it’s time to build. Make sure to have your diagram in a visible place to refer back to and have your measurements displayed clearly, to avoid any cutting mistakes. If you’re building an elegant armchair, the base can be easy to assemble but when it comes to the fabric, it can be quite difficult to stretch it over the base. If you are new to building furniture, it is always best to do your research and follow a step-by-step guide as you build.
Make sure it’s level and square
As you are in the building process, it is best to check that your build is level and square. You don’t want to finish your piece of furniture and then realize it doesn’t sit level and it’s not square! You can use a speed square to check if your project is square and a spirit level to see if it sits level.
Add the finishing touches
Once you have finished building your project, you can add the finishing touches. This can be whatever you like. If your furniture is made completely of wood, it may be best to sand and varnish as a finishing touch to have a smooth and protected piece of furniture that lasts for years to come.
Other finishing touches could be painting your furniture with a color you love that suits the space. For an armchair, you could add fabric cushions for added comfort and a luxurious feel to your creation.
Place wherever is best in your home
After the finishing touches have been done, and paint or glue has dried, your piece of furniture is ready to place into your home. If you already have the space in mind, then it’s time to find out if your creation fits. However, if you’re unsure about the space or changed your mind, find another similar-sized area in your home where the furniture will work. For example, if you’ve built an armchair and planned for it to be in the living room, you could move it into a bedroom for a cozy reading corner.
Follow this simple guide to help you create your own furniture for your home or transform an old piece. You can elevate any space within your home with a unique and stunning piece of furniture and proudly display your creation.
