What to do with an old chest. Let's bring grandma's old chest back to life. DIY English decoupage of a chest: do it step by step

Do you have a chest whose age no one can determine? You could say we were lucky, since our topic today is restoration of a chest with your own hands. It is still difficult to discern a handmade masterpiece in this peeling box, but soon our ugly duckling will become a decoration of the house. All you need to do is apply a little skill and good taste. We offer two simple options transforming 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 a 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 holding the walls of a chest full of treasures. We paint the “nail heads” gold.

Metal corners We also paint the boxes with green acrylic.

• Old wooden chest.
• Leather and fabric.
• Water stain.
• Parquet varnish is semi-matte.
• PVA glue.

Tools for work

• Screwdriver or screwdriver.
• Furniture stapler.
• Hammer.
• Wide brush.

Stages of chest restoration

How and with what stains are removed

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

— A dark stain from hot water on furniture can be removed like this: rub with half a lemon until the stain turns pale. This operation must be repeated until the stain completely disappears.

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

— Paint stains from glass can be removed with vinegar.

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

— Fresh spots Grease can be removed from cotton, wool, and silk fabrics by sprinkling tooth powder on both sides of the fabric. Place a sheet of white paper on top, press it with a heavy object and leave it 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 purified gasoline or a special stain remover; 2) wash the stains with the solution washing powder or foam from soap shavings.

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 this treatment, wash the area where the stain was with water, dry the fur (but not in the sun!), and then beat out the fur coat with a beater.

- Fat from canned food will be removed with chalk or tooth powder left on the contaminated area overnight.

- If you need to get rid of it urgently grease stain, you can sprinkle it with tooth powder and iron it through the paper.

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

— To remove an iodine stain, you need to moisten it with water room temperature and rub with starch. You can also soak the item in the solution 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.

Restoring a chest with your own hands will make it a home decoration

Do you have a chest whose age no one can determine?

Restoring an interesting old chest

You could say we were lucky, since our topic today is restoration of a chest with your own hands. It is still difficult to discern a handmade masterpiece in this peeling box, but soon our ugly duckling will become a decoration of the house. All you need to do is apply a little skill and good taste. We offer two simple options for transforming old furniture.

Restoration of a chest in vintage style

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

Materials and tools for creativity

• An old chest (if you don’t have one, a wooden box from some equipment will do).
• Abrasive paper number 1 and 2.
• Masking tape.
• Cardboard and transfer paper.
• Palette.
• Acrylic primer.
• Acrylic putty.
• Set of acrylic paints, including gold acrylic.
• Varnish for craquelure. Decorating a chest with your own hands in vintage style involves using the effect of artificial aging.
• Oil varnish.
• Template or decal.
• Round synthetic brushes number 2 and 3, as well as wide flutes.
• Hole puncher.

Stages of work

First, we wash our chest from centuries-old dust and soot, using a rag, a soft brush, soapy water. There is no need to wet it too much; the tree doesn’t like it. Dry the surface and sand it with sandpaper until it is as smooth as possible.

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.

Apply green paint to the primed walls.

After the paint has dried, coat the top craquelure varnish. After drying the varnish, apply a layer of white spray paint.

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 a fun activity.

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

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

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

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

Solving the problem of how to decorate a 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 holding the walls of a chest full of treasures. We paint the “nail heads” gold. We also paint the metal corners of the box with green acrylic.

After thoroughly drying the paint, the chest can be used for its intended purpose: to store various necessary things in it. You can also make it unusual coffee table, screwing furniture casters to the bottom.

Restoration of a chest in the Old Russian style

We will turn the boxes, battered by life, into a merchant's chest, in which girls once kept their dowries.

We will need such materials

• Old wooden chest.
• Leather and fabric.
• Belts or synthetic webbing.
• Curly handles with overlays – 18 pcs.
• Water stain.
• Furniture nails with heads, self-tapping screws.
• Parquet varnish is semi-matte.
• PVA glue.

Tools for work

• Screwdriver or screwdriver.
• Drill, metal and nylon brushes for it.
• Furniture stapler.
• Hammer.
• Wide brush.

Stages of chest restoration

As in the first case, we first wash the chest of centuries-old deposits. 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 the wooden surfaces with a nylon brush.

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

Apply several layers of varnish to the walls.

We cut circles and strips from a piece of brown leather to upholster the corners and corner edges of the box. Trying on the round corner covers. We cut out a sector from one edge of the circle and nail the blank onto the corner with furniture nails. Glue the cut joint with glue.

We apply strips of leather to the edges of the chest. We secure them with furniture nails, placing the hardware symmetrically.

To give the chest a solid look, we screw on the linings from the furniture handles using self-tapping screws. If you don't find screws of the right color, you can paint them with brown paint or nail polish. We place the linings in pairs, with the top and bottom side boxes

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

We cut straps to limit the lid when tilted. We aim 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 held on by tensioned straps.

We measure the box from the inside. We make a pattern for the interior upholstery. Having sewn it on a machine, we put it inside the box. The cover can be nailed along the edges with furniture nails, or it can be shot with a stapler.

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

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 taste of the donor, as well as a criterion of his attitude towards the person being gifted. Of course, receiving a gift in a stylish box is much nicer 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 was known that wood in any of its forms increases morale and lifts spirits!

More boxes, good and different!

Wooden boxes can be used for storing, presenting, and transporting 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, and nails in wooden containers with many compartments. Few people know, but shoes last longer in wooden packaging than in cardboard and plastic boxes, since they have the ability to breathe.

Since ancient times, wooden boxes for wine and beer were considered the most suitable material for storing expensive alcohol - being natural material, wood preserves the excellent taste of collection drinks in the best possible way.

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

And even when you don’t have money for expensive wine, you can be sure: if you buy an inexpensive bottle and pack it in a wooden case, the gift will make a tremendous 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 cargo - both large and small - is carried out in specially made to order wooden containers. Any resident of our country knows this: the post office accepts parcels only in wooden boxes, which provide the maximum guarantee of the safety of the goods.

Magazine boxes

However, wooden boxes serve not only as materials and expensive gift wrapping. Many luxury shops and cafes use only wooden objects in their interiors, including boxes for displaying especially expensive products. Any product will look impressive 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 products at once, which will interest visitors. And if you decorate the boxes with the store’s corporate logo or sign the indicated products, then such a presentation of the products will not leave any of the customers indifferent. By the way, the “Drevoshop” store can happily offer any decoration of wooden boxes using the laser engraving method.

Wooden wine boxes: chic and shine

At all times, it was considered especially chic to store and give wine in wooden boxes and pencil cases. Wood not only emphasizes the aristocracy of the gift, but also preserves the unique aroma of nature’s gifts longer. Moreover, the common closed pencil cases designed for one bottle are becoming a thing of the past. Multi-level designs with sliding lids, as well as slatted boxes, are becoming increasingly fashionable. Yes, almost the same ones in which you usually store potatoes or carrots! It is believed that by slightly lifting the veil of secrecy over a gift, the giver unwittingly invites everyone present to appreciate the internal contents and raises his status in the eyes of others.

A gift in wooden box with personal congratulations or wishes. We offer a wide range of original patterns and inscriptions made by laser engraving. Such packaging will remain in your 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 closets, no wardrobes, no hangers, and everything that was even more or less valuable was stored in it. This applies not only to poor peasant families, but to wealthy merchants and nobles.

Decoupage chest: 5 steps to beautiful decor

It is not for nothing that there are many proverbs and sayings about him, often about the rich, in the old days they said “The chests are full of goodness.”

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

The chest is perfect for styles: retro, vintage, country, Provençal, safari and many others. For colonial or nautical styles this is generally necessary item interior Even for a classic style, you can choose an elegant and discreet piece, such as varnished wood. The difference will only be in the degree of antiquity and the size of the model.

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

There are a huge variety of materials from which chests are made. . This:

• tree,
• metal,
• brass
• and even plastic.

The finish can also be varied. For each interior you can choose your own material.

A wonderful piece of furniture for those who love to make things with your own hands. If you find an old chest in your grandmother's attic, you can sand and varnish it, simply paint it or decorate it with fabric. You can “build” it into the interior by choosing the color or fabric in the room design. Small models can be an excellent accessory; you can purchase several small chests and decorate your 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 a shelf for trinkets. If it has a round lid, then it can only be used functionally as a place to store things. Well, if you are the owner of a large chest - you can dine on it, receive guests or have a buffet. On a low model you can simply sit, relax, or enjoy your favorite show in front of the TV. In this case, you should cover it with a blanket or put several pillows on it.

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

Small chests are very useful thing for every woman - you can store cosmetics, jewelry, and jewelry in them. You can store buttons and supplies for sewing, knitting and needlework, and even medicines. This is also a pretty good gift for a birthday, wedding or memorable date; it will always come in handy around the house. Very convenient chests with drawers– 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, It is comfortable to sit on and put on or take off shoes. It’s still not worth using in a small hallway; it’s usually a large and bulky thing. Use your imagination and you will get a unique and sophisticated room design.

How to decorate a chest with your own hands video:

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Solid wood shop chest

Wooden chest

Solid wood carved chest

Chest with round lid antique

Wooden chest made of solid pine

Solid chest

Chest in Scandinavian style made of solid wood

Country style chest

Classic style chest

Chests made of solid wood are things that have become very popular nowadays, as in modern apartments so private houses. Chests made from various types of wood bring a special warm, hand-made atmosphere and extraordinary charm to the overall interior design in which they are located. Among the real highlights of the interior are wooden chests made in an antique style. They may be slightly different in appearance and design, and also slightly 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 original elements interior, they can add a special charm to the overall atmosphere of almost the entire interior design, bringing you and your guests back several years, and sometimes maybe even several centuries ago, bringing originality and aesthetic appeal. An antique chest is a vintage interior element that will definitely become a real highlight of the room, thereby making it more expressive and stylish.

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

Chest in the interior - ancestors knew a lot about furniture

All this will make your antique chest more attractive and give your interior some 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 home owners with their warmth and amazing originality.

Antique chests are made only from solid wood, from various types of wood to suit your taste. When creating antique chests, we use modern technologies and only high-quality hand finishing, brushing, coating of wood with special oils and varnishes. We make sure that the products we produce wooden crafts antique pieces not only attracted attention with their original appearance, but also inspired confidence with their good quality and durability. A skillfully made antique chest, made by our craftsmen with genuine love, will find a place in any modern interior! We create chests exclusively self made with imitation of aged wood. Our chests are distinguished by their original design, and you yourself can feel the texture of aged wood.

Brushed chests are specially artificially aged chests with a pronounced wood texture that can not only be seen, but also felt with your hands, literally by touch! Brushed wood is unique and very beautiful with its relief lines and grooves. You won’t 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, resulting in a surface with a colorfully expressed structure of growth rings. The resulting effect, if painted accordingly, can be called artificial aging, since time affects unprotected wood in a similar way. After brushing, the wood can be coated with varnish, oil or wax using standard technology.

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

Antique painting is a fashionable trend in decoration. Antiques never lose 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 painting of furniture is an opportunity to create a unique interior detail from an ordinary item. All wooden and metal objects(wooden chest, doors, picture frames, furniture, antique shelves, wooden clocks).

To realize the plan, special antique paints have been invented for wood or metal, that is, with an aging effect. Aging techniques are also varied; you can paint antique furniture yourself using your own ideas.

All parts to be painted must be prepared. Procedure:

1. Clean the part. Previous layers paint and varnish materials should be removed. Small parts, which can be disconnected, it is better to dismantle them. Elements can be aged or replaced with retro analogues.
2. Sand the surface, eliminate unevenness by first applying coarse-grain sandpaper to the surface, then fine-grained sandpaper.
3. Remove excess dust or dirt from the surface.
4. Apply a layer of antiseptic primer. This is protection against rotting and mold formation, and on metal – against corrosion. The primer will promote greater adhesion of the paint to the decorative element.
5. There is no point in putting putty on the indentations on the object. If the item is in perfect condition, without chips or pits, it is better to apply them artificially. Cracks will add authenticity to the item; antique doors look organic or when we paint a table with our own hands.
6. The preparatory work is completed - the main work can begin. Initially, it is worth experimenting in hidden areas to check the aesthetic result.

Interior designers use a number of techniques to artificial aging household items, they are selected based on practicality and aesthetic factors.

Popular techniques

The illusion of a shabby object

The technique is called “brushing”. The technique is widely applicable and looks organic on wooden elements and furniture.

The brushing process looks like this:

1. To pre-exposed preparatory manipulations the surface should be coated 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 a mansion.
2. Add raised abrasion surfaces using fine-grit sandpaper or, alternatively, a metal sponge.
3. Eliminate fresh dust.
4. Repaint the product thin layer paints.
5. To give the effect of greater antiquity, use an abrasive tool in certain areas.
6. The final operation is to wipe the entire surface with fine-grained sandpaper.

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

On video: brushing technique.

Crackle method

A specific craquelure varnish comes to the rescue. The mixture forms small cracks on the coated surface. The object appears as if it has been burnt out by the scorching sun. Craquelure is organic in the processing of wood and glass.

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

1. Apply the first layer of paint and varnish solution to a clean, prepared item. The final cracks will take on the shade of this base coat.
2. The product has dried - it’s time to apply the craquelure varnish in strict unidirectionality.
3. The key color should be applied on top of the previous layer. Because of finishing coating cracks appear.
4. The final step is coating with a protective transparent varnish.

Cracks are formed not only with the help of valuable crackelure. An alternative could work:

1. Apply a coloring pigment to the product (all paints are suitable, except those on water based).
2. When the base layer has not completely dried, coat the product with acrylic of the key color. Finishing layer will dry faster, as a result of which potholes will appear on the item, through which the first layer of paintwork can be seen.

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

Patina illusion

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

Procedure according to the technique:

1. Varnish the wood. From a wide range of products, it is preferable to pay attention to film-forming mixtures; they will make the product durable and resistant to wear.
2. Wait until it hardens completely and apply the patina paint.
3. Wait at least 30 minutes, then begin working on the surface with a metal sponge or sanding paper. The effect becomes brighter when performing manipulations with obvious effort.
4. A soft cloth will help remove any accumulated dust.
5. The final stage is applying varnish.

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

Coloring

Stage-by-stage painting of antique wood in a series of layers turns the products into well-worn ones. life path items.

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

1. To give a touch of shabbyness, apply minor damage with your own hands: holes of grinder bugs (drill randomly with a drill at different azimuths of inclination), scratches and chips along the wood (tap with a hammer, awl or hand saw). The main task is to artificially age the object.
2. Apply the first coat of paint to the product so that the texture of the wood is visible.
3. Go over the top with sandpaper or a wire brush to create abrasions.
4. Apply a second layer of a different color using gentle, 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 wear out over time, acquiring characteristic appearance. It’s easy to add antiquity deliberately:

1. Apply hardened wax to suspected areas of future abrasions, performing movements in the same direction at intermittent intervals. Afterwards, cover with a layer of varnish.
2. If you apply dark wax to existing grooves in wood, it will age the wood many times over.

Using this technique, you can decorate an antique wooden table in an original way 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 influence environment. It is possible to dull the impact:

• You can open the part with your choice of wax or wax mastic. Wax preserves water-soluble paint from deterioration. The wax should be spread with a soft, dry rag or sponge in an even layer, occasionally rubbing;
• It is advisable to supplement the wax with matte acrylic varnish: additional protection will not be superfluous if the item is used frequently. After some time, even if the product has already been painted, acrylic should be reapplied;
• The products do not require careful supervision - just walk over them with a damp, lint-free cloth and maintain shine with wood polish.

Modern storage furniture is very convenient and very easy to care for. But large quantity people would never exchange their grandmother’s old chest, which is made of natural wood, for an ordinary cabinet made of chipboard.

Antique and dear memories from childhood very often do not leave our homes. It seems like a shame to throw them away, but to use them, the fashion is outdated, so they gather dust in their dachas.

Just show a little imagination and patience and your furniture will be transformed beyond recognition. Restoration, which you will do yourself, will help you with this.

We will need:

• stain (water-based);
• parquet varnish (semi-matte);
• belt tape or belts;
• furniture handles 18 pieces (curly with overlays);
• self-tapping screws;
• decorative nails;
• fabric and leather;
• drill with attachments (metal and nylon brush);
• wood drills;
• screwdriver or screwdriver;
• hammer;
• stapler for furniture.

Let's start working with the chest.

The first thing you need to do is clean the chest from dirt and dust and remove all metal fittings. In order to carry out further work, use protective mask and glasses. Remove layers of old paint using metal nozzle to the drill. It will help remove not only paint, but also upper layer soft wood. Treat the already cleaned surface with a nylon nozzle. It is also designed to remove the soft part of the wood. This attachment may not be used if old paint not deeply ingrained.

Clean the surface of the chest from dust and cover it with stain several times. Those parts of the surface that especially protrude should be tinted separately with stain. Cover the surface of the chest with varnish with your own hands. It must be applied in several layers.

At the next stage of work, you will need skills in needlework “cutting and sewing”. Cut several strips of lining from the leather round shape. They are needed to cover the corners and edges of the chest lid. Place the round trim on the corner and cut off the excess so that it fits well on the corner. Glue the joint of the lining with glue, and attach the lining itself to the chest with furniture nails. Place the leather strips on the ribs and attach them using furniture nails. The distance between the nails should be the same, opposite each other.

As decorative elements, use metal overlays from furniture handles. Select the linings that best match the color, arrange them in pairs and fasten them with self-tapping screws in the upper and lower corners of the chest.

On the sides, drill holes for the handles. Attach the handles using the screws that came with them. Cut the belt into pieces of the length you need. Attach them with a furniture stapler to the surface of the lid and base of the chest, from the inside.

This is necessary so that when opening the lid does not fall back.

Now cut out the inner cover of the chest on the fabric. Having previously measured the chest from the inside. Sew the cover on sewing machine. It is better to select fabric for the cover that is close in shade to the chest. Restoration is a very exciting activity. I want to do something new again and again.

When the cover is ready, place it in the chest and attach it along the edges, using furniture nails and a hammer. If all Finishing work finished, then your chest, which you restored with your own hands, is ready. This furniture will serve you for many more years.

The chest is considered the ancestor of a whole series modern elements furniture: wardrobes, wardrobes, chests of drawers, bedside tables and even caskets. Previously, in the absence of any other storage system, all the most valuable things were stored in it. Expensive fabrics, the best dresses given to a girl for her wedding, and jewelry were placed in the chests. During a major move, they were used instead of practical suitcases, which appeared much later. Nowadays, many mistakenly attribute a chest exclusively to vintage elements, which are suitable only for authentic interiors that imitate the decoration of premises of a certain era. In fact, if properly designed, this detail can become a decoration for many stylistic directions. Decorate the “grandmother’s” chest and give it a chance to new life you can do it yourself using scrap materials and a little imagination. In this article we’ll talk 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 roughly divided into:

• Vintage;
• Modern.

The definition “casket” or “chest” is found. This is still the same chest, but made more roughly, not for beauty, but for functionality. Previously, they were used to store food, mainly flour and cereals. The box is a light, elegant 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 chest in which work equipment is stored. Chests differ in size, materials, decoration and lid shape (flat or convex). They can be either bulky cabinet replacements or tiny pieces for storing small items like rings and earrings. Antique chests are the same vintage models that highlight interiors decorated in ethnic (oriental, Russian), rustic or even classical style. Meet original models from 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 does not have patterns and is painted in one of neutral colors. Rough white wooden caskets with slightly cracked paint are ideal for a light Provence look. To highlight the decorative detail, it is decorated with a floral pattern using the decoupage technique. For free country living in the country, “grandmother’s” chests, which often litter attics, are ideal. They have an unsightly appearance, rough surface, but with sandpaper you can get to light shade wood with an original pattern, which is varnished to secure it. The chests also go well with the exoticism of the colonial style, because the settlers transported their belongings in chests, which later became the first pieces of furniture in new houses in the territories they were developing.

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

Materials used in making chests

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

Using a chest in different rooms

Chests are universal. They organically blend into the interior of any room, since an extra storage system will come in handy everywhere. Large models hold clothes, fabrics, linen, blankets, shoes, pillows and towels. Smaller chests can store money, jewelry and be used as an organizer for the workshop. For example, they will perfectly fit brushes, paints, palettes, pencils if the chest will be decorated work room artist. There are only two options for placing the element:

• Central;
• Near the wall.

If the chest is placed in the middle of the room, then its surface is usually used as a tabletop. The choice of color palette and pattern depends entirely on stylistic features design. For strict interiors will suit plain surface, painted neutral, natural shades: brown, white, gray, black. If decor with an accent is needed, 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 a bench).

To make it softer to sit on the top cover, it is decorated with upholstery and cushions.

In the living room

In the living room, chests are used instead 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 seating 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 put away inside when guests arrive so that a coffee pot and cups can be placed on the lid.

In the bedroom

A chest in the bedroom can be used instead of a bedside table or serve as a bed. Inside, as a rule, bed linens, pajamas or spare blankets/pillows are stored. An 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 little space in the bedroom and there is nowhere to place a closet, then the chest will be a real salvation for cramped rooms, thanks to its versatility. IN Lately Matryoshka kits appeared on store shelves. There are three or four chests in them, one smaller than the other, stacked on top of each other. The smallest one will replace a box for storing jewelry, 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 houses. Now this piece of furniture will become stylish solution in kitchen design and extra space storage It can be adapted as a mini-cellar, in which jars of pickles or bottles of alcohol will be stored. Traditionally, bulky chests are placed near the sill under the window. They also serve as a bench. When there is very little space in the kitchen, 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

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

In the bathroom

Chests go creakingly well with cramped bathrooms, since there is generally little space left for furniture in such rooms. They are usually located in a free corner, supplemented with storage systems mounted type. The top cover can be used instead of a chair or a shelf for shampoos, soaps, and inside you can place stacks of towels, bathrobes, household chemicals. If there is not enough space, but you really want to get a chest into the interior, then narrow, tall models are used. In this case, it is worth paying special attention to the second parameter, since a person must freely reach the bottom.

It is better to use plastic or metal chests in bathroom design. Traditional wood is abandoned due to its impracticality in an atmosphere of high humidity.

DIY chest decor

Decorating a chest can be done using a number of popular techniques. Most often, old caskets are used as experimental samples, which for a long time gathered dust, being forgotten, which is why they acquired a very unsightly appearance. There are several ways to correct the situation:

• Decoupage. The technique involves transferring or implanting images from napkins and printouts onto the surface of the chest and then securing it.
• Painting. The casket can be decorated with your own hands with a variety of thematic patterns. 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 “as a rough draft” and then filled with paints.
• Artificial aging using brushing. Only suitable for wooden chests. Their surface is treated with a special hard brush with metal bristles. It scrapes out soft wood fibers, resulting in an original texture. To emphasize the relief, it is coated with varnish.
• Painting. The easiest way to decorate. The chest is simply coated with paint of one color or a combination of several shades on different parts furniture.
• Decoration with fabric or leather. Materials can be combined. Moreover, you can cover either one lid or the entire surface of the chest with textiles.
• Decoration with fittings, beads, eggshell, pieces of ceramic tiles.
• Decoration with strips of brass, leather belts with rivets, padlock and letters forming an inscription.
• Decoration forged elements(rings, chains to limit the opening of the lid, hinges, handles, corners) and threads.

This is not an exhaustive list of options for transforming chests. All you have to do is use your imagination and skill. The methods can be safely combined with each other if the interior style justifies it. Let's consider a master class on aging a chest using the method of firing and brushing, followed by decoupage.

Master class on chest decor

A layer of varnish, paint or other type of coating is removed from the wood. The cleaned surface is lightly fired so that it becomes slightly smoked. Then, using a brush with metal bristles, 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, press the brush with great force. Certain areas can be processed 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 selected in advance and the smoothness of the surface must be left untouched, since the relief will affect the quality of implantation of the image. After completing the brushing process, prepare the surface for decoupage. It is painted, and after the paint has dried, it is covered with two layers of water-based varnish. During 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 same composition is applied to the decorated surface of the chest. Then the image cut out from the sheet is immediately applied face down to it. It is covered with cellophane and excess varnish and air bubbles are carefully removed using a spatula or other tool with a smooth, hard surface. work surface. Now you need to wait 4-5 hours until the composition dries completely. After this, the implanted printout is moistened with a damp sponge and a layer of paper is rolled up with your fingers, periodically helping yourself with sandpaper. The drawing will gradually “be exposed”. When the paper remains are completely removed, the image is once again coated with varnish to secure it. Creating such a decoration will require skill. Not everyone can remove the paper accurately the first time. There are more simple ways image transfer, but implantation is considered the most beautiful.

Conclusion

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

Making your own chests

1. Ancient chest

To create an imitation of an old chest with your own hands, you will need to work with wood. Wood is a classic style that gives things an echo of bygone times. The cost of the material will be low, in addition, it can serve for a fairly long period of time. To do antique chest, you will need a certain amount of materials:

• jigsaw
• pencil
• roulette
• hacksaw
• screwdriver
• self-tapping screws
• dye
• construction gun

1) Make a drawing of the future chest, all the details and cut them out.
2) Assemble the sides and attach them to the bottom using self-tapping screws.
3) The hinged lid must be cut in advance in the form of a semicircle.
4) To make it look antique, you can disguise the screws with special corners.
5) The lock and hinges are the final stage.
6) There is a special varnish that is applied to the surface of the product, giving it the appearance of something from the last century.

The finished appearance of the chest may look like this:

A video tutorial on how to create a chest is presented in the video:

2. Wedding chest

Nowadays, more and more often at wedding celebrations you can see small chests in which a sum of money is stored for the spouses. To do this, it is not necessary to purchase such things in specialized stores. It's easy enough to make a wedding chest at home. You will need a number of things that everyone has at home:

• PVA glue
• cardboard box
• scotch
• decorative elements (beads, beads, ribbons, etc.)
• colored paper

1) First of all, you need to think about the sketch (diagram) according to which the chest will be made.

An example diagram might look like this:


2) Take cardboard box, give it an element of convexity using a stationery knife. It is necessary to make longitudinal cuts, which cannot be made through.
3) Secure the resulting lid with tape to create the shape of a chest.

The appearance at this stage looks like this:

4) It is necessary to close the side gaps with tape.
5) Make a cut 5-7 mm wide so that the envelope with the bill fits freely into the hole.
6) The final stage: decorating the appearance of the wedding chest with colored paper, ribbon, beads, etc.

The result of the work might look like this:

Chest restoration

Design technique

In order to restore the chest to its previous appearance, you can do next view works:

1) Clean from dirt and dust, remove a layer of old paint.
2) Cover the surface of the chest with stain and wait until it dries.
3) Cover the chest with several layers of varnish.
4) Create interior and exterior decor.

Options and methods of decoration are presented in video tutorials:

Conclusion