Eco Friendly Home Furniture Design Ideas

Antique furniture can be described in many ways - beautiful, nostalgic and EXPENSIVE. But fear not, you can give your non-antique piece an antique look with a few simple steps. Just set aside a can of elbow grease and a free afternoon and get ready to get distressed!

First off, take all the hardware and glass off the furniture. I’m talking about handles, mirrors, glass table tops etc. Think of it this way, if you don’t want to get stain on it, take it off!

After you’ve removed the pieces and parts, start taking off any finish. Stripping the varnish or paint or what have you is crucial - so spend the time and energy and do a thorough job. Ask your local hardware store which stripping agent to use depending on what you are stripping.
Once the furniture has been stripped, take a rubber mallet and give the piece a few whacks. Don’t break it, obviously, we just want to give the piece a look that says “I’m a hundred years old and I’ve seen my share of wear and tear!” A few well-placed scratches with a screwdriver might suit your furniture piece also.

Once you’ve taken all your aggression out, sand down any rough spots, then just lightly sand the rest of the piece to give your stain the perfect surface to sink into.

Staining furniture is fun, and you don’t need to be a talented artist to get a great result. With one old cloth, apply the stain in small sections and then gently wipe off with a dry cloth. When you lightly wipe off stain just after you apply it, more stain will build up in the distressed areas which creates a great antique look. Keep up the Mr Miyagi style wipe on wipe off until the entire piece is covered. Let that dry, then repeat - until your furniture is the color you want. I’ve stained pieces 6 times before!

When your piece looks like you want it, get some polyurethane and apply a light coat over the whole thing. Give it at least 36 hours to dry completely before you start using it, I like to let my stained wooded furniture pieces dry in the sun.

A bench is a lovely item that can decorate the house, provide extra seating, and it can be moved around and used anywhere in the house. This Artist Bench in Black Empire Finish is no exception and will add a boost of elegance and be the perfect accent piece for the hallway, under a window or even in the bedroom. This unique hand-painted bench features a black empire finish on solid woods. The Artist Bench in Black Empire Finish was built for long-lasting comfort and style. Exquisitely designed, this stunning and functional bench would make a perfect addition to any home’s decor.

This Roma Contemporary Bench can spice up a variety of different areas. Perfect at the foot of a bed, beneath a window in the living room, in the foyer of a gallery, or beside the fireplace, this modern bench is a chic solution to additional seating. The Roma Contemporary Bench is stylishly upholstered and designed with an avant-garde approach. With many metal finishes and lots of upholsteries to choose from, it’s easy to match any décor! Made in the USA, you can be certain this bench will provide years of lasting quality and aesthetic appeal.

This great little storage bench will perfectly accent an entry way, and provide you with a convenient way to store some extra things. Perfect for storing shoe polish or dog walking items, this Walnut Bench with Storage has two large doors that open to reveal a large storage space. The Walnut Bench with Storage is a tightly designed piece that won’t take up a lot of room, but will help organize your entry way. Finished in Walnut, this piece will fit easily in traditional or contemporary decors.

This Home Styles Swing Open Bar is fun on wheels. Stunning solid hardwood construction, two flip top side extensions, a brass foot rail, storage for glasses, and a locking liquor cabinet. A great gift for the man of the house; he’ll be telling his friends about it for years!

This Modern Coat Rack is an outstanding organization tool for refined spaces. Mobile resin clothes hooks line the top of the steel structure, while an aluminum ring on the pole provides a convenient umbrella stand. The Hanger well serves stylish entrance areas, living rooms and bedrooms. Plus, most Kartell products are easily recycled and the pieces can be separated into elements made of a single material to simplify the recycling process.

Ideal dining setting begin with awesome furnishings. The Continuum Buffet is surely an exquisite addition for any dining room. Carefully This will add texture and drama to your dining room setting. The Woven Detail Buffet is surely an exquisite addition for any dining room. Carefully designed and constructed of cherry veneers designed and constructed of cherry veneers and select hardwood solids, it features one laminated pullout, three drawers, silver liner in center drawer, four doors, and one adjustable shelf behind doors.

Both contemporary and traditional at the same time, and capturing clean style with a flair and purity. The Cherry Wood Apothecary Console in All-American Cherry features two doors, one adjustable shelf behind each door and one stationary shelf. Established in English-based American design, its clean lines reflect a fresh approach to the simple simplicity that is well suited to urban sensibilities of today.

The dramatic Bordeaux credenza and glass china top offers an outstanding French country look. The credenza features a raised lattice pattern on top and a distinctive designer finish in an antique white and medium gray base tone with heavy crackle. These generous storage pieces are uniquely designed to bring out a gorgeous dining room.

This Art Deco Style Sideboard screams old Hollywood glamour. Traditional styling and Art Deco design, make this Art Deco Style Sideboard a stylish accessory to any dining room. Behind the left and right doors are an adjustable wooden shelf, and behind the center glass doors are a lighted display area.