Provence style furniture is not difficult to create with your own hands V Lately DIY furniture is gaining popularity. This trend has not bypassed such a style as Provence. Therefore, if there is no store anywhere in the district where you can order such furniture, then it is quite possible to make it yourself. In this style, it is important to take into account many nuances and useful recommendations.
A style called "Provence" appeared in France in the 19th century. It was named after one of the regions of this country. The capital of the same style was the city of Marseille.
The prerequisites for Provence appeared in the middle of the 17th century. People wanted to get closer to the village from the annoying city bustle. Entire families of industrialists and lawyers begin to furnish their own houses with their own hands in a style reminiscent of this style.
The Provence style, widespread throughout the world, has French roots.
The main features of the style are:
- sunshine play,
- natural lightness,
- naturalness,
- open space.
Stylistic decisions
- massive floor. Classic variant suggests the presence of wooden or. With the help of special floor tiles, you can easily achieve this effect.
- Walls. Wallpaper in the well-known sense in this style does not exist. In this case, this design is most suitable brickwork or inaccurately applied plaster.
- Furniture should ideally create a sense of antiquity. Make it with your own hands so that the guests get the impression that it has been passed down to each other for many generations.
- Details. Any, even the smallest details must be carefully thought out and planned. In this style, even the most ordinary napkin can carry a certain semantic meaning.
Provence style secrets (video)
Several ways to age furniture surfaces
Artificially aged furniture looks as good as genuinely antique. However, it is much easier, faster and cheaper to make it.
Of the ways in which you can age furniture yourself at home, there are three main ones:
- Mechanical. Thanks to this, artificial scratches, cracks and other damage appear on furniture.
- Chemical. In this embodiment, substances such as craquelure varnishes, ammonia, stain and much more are used.
- Thermal. With the help of an open flame or a soldering iron, the effect of antiquity is achieved.
Necessary tools and materials for making furniture in the Provence style
For professional restoration furniture will be required:
- acrylic paint,
- matte polyurethane glaze,
- varnish on oily and water bases,
- gold effect paint
- sandpaper,
- desired stencils.
Decoupage is an integral part of creating a Provence style with your own hands.
Artificially aged furniture surfaces are a clear sign of Provence style
In the Provence style, they may not necessarily be made in cream or white.
Do-it-yourself steps
All work goes like this:
- All fittings are dismantled and cleaned of old paint and varnish.
- Acrylic paint is applied to the surface.
- Using a stencil, they make a drawing with their own hands, which must be left alone until it dries completely.
- An oil varnish is applied to the surface and left for several hours.
- After that, the product is covered with a layer of water-based varnish.
- With the help of a hair dryer, the effect of a specific flowing pattern is created. The product is left in this position for 3 hours.
- With a stiff small brush, the remaining varnish is applied to the product.
Via eggshell and craquelure varnish creates an artificially aged surface
The main strokes that give the surface individuality are best applied without a stencil
Upholstered furniture and upholstery
With the help of a furniture stapler, you can thoroughly transform upholstered furniture. First of all, you need to choose a fabric.
It must be:
- soft,
- having a pattern with natural elements or geometric shapes,
- no flashy flowers.
Finding such a fabric is not difficult. It is enough to climb into the grandmother's chest or into the attic.
In addition to the method written above, there is another way to give furniture the effect of antiquity. An interesting technique will help in this matter, in which a two-component crackle varnish is used. It is applied in several layers. Using a brush with natural bristles, the layers are applied in an even thin layer. The varnish dries in 40 minutes.
The second layer is applied in the same way. The more cracks you want, the thicker the layer itself should be. To dry the surface faster, you can dry it with a hair dryer. When the varnish dries, then all the resulting cracks are rubbed with oily dark paint, gold powder or bitumen. To fix the effect, another layer of colorless varnish is applied.
upholstery upholstered furniture in the kitchen can be combined with wall decoration in the same style
Chest of drawers and its decoupage with their own hands
Provence style furniture is made from:
- tree,
- gland,
- vines.
Designers categorically do not recommend using materials such as chipboard, MDF and PVC.
If you still have a grandmother's chest of drawers, then it can be made as new and even better. It is enough to do a light decoupage with your own hands.
The manufacturing instructions are as follows:
- First you need to paint the chest of drawers in light colors.
- Wait for the paint to dry completely.
- With sandpaper on the surface, chips and simple scuffs are made.
- The chest of drawers is covered with wax on top.
- When the paint is completely dry, the chest of drawers is upholstered with soft fabric, which depicts natural patterns.
- It is also important to use forged elements. A chest of drawers will look much better if it has wrought iron handles or legs.
Do-it-yourself mono to create a unique design of any furniture
Provence style does not have to include scuffs
In general, a chest of drawers is not the only piece of furniture to which decoupage can be applied. The main thing is to use materials and color shades correctly in order to achieve coziness and comfort in any room.
Of course, you can also buy a new high-quality chest of drawers at a hardware store. But many people are faced with the fact that this piece of furniture is expensive and many simply cannot afford it. Therefore, decoupage in the Provence style is simply a delightful solution to this problem.
Provence style kitchens (video)
With the Provence style, you can and should experiment. After all, one of the most exciting home activities is creating furniture with your own hands. The resulting furniture products will serve you for a long time, and will delight your eyes with their appearance for a long time to come.
Provence style furniture design (photo)
A combination of romance and comfort, tenderness and sophistication, antiquity and taste. All these words refer to the sweetest and most subtle direction in interior fashion - the Provence style. To furnish a room in the spirit of the French countryside, it is not necessary to purchase expensive accessories. It is not difficult to paint furniture in the Provence style with your own hands.
The style originates in the 16th century in the French outback. Exquisite, like endless lavender fields, it stretches through the ages and penetrates into modern interiors. Romantic and neat Provence is extremely popular today.
Provence style features:
- Light weightless shades, white and pastel colors.
- Lace, ruffles, floral designs and noble textiles.
- Antique or aged furniture.
- Neighborhood of color lightness and immediacy of metal - nickel-plated handles, forged furniture legs.
- Worn-out tree, whether ceiling beam or bedside table.
Most often, the direction is used for arranging bedrooms. "Lace" theme fits perfectly into the comfort living rooms, enveloping them with an angelic refinement.
Often, old French motifs are also used in kitchen design. The style perfectly combines botanical patterns and wicker furniture, collected in a unique atmosphere of rural life.
France do it yourself
To acquire furniture in the southern French style, it is not necessary to purchase masterpieces of famous designers. You can make wonderful interior elements with your own hands using one of the wood processing techniques.
Provence style provides for the neighborhood of wood and metal. However, the embodiment of such a cocktail, consisting of glossy gloss and chrome elements, is not written off as French motifs. Only ancient melodies played on worn gilded stools are allowed.
To age furniture, the following techniques will come in handy:
Choice of materials, painting
After visiting the grandmother's attic and choosing a chest of drawers, they begin to process it. Regardless of which type of processing was chosen, the Provence style requires the designer to lighten the "object of creativity."
Painting is done at home using the most common means. For example, water-based paint for finishing ceilings. This coating is easy to apply, dries quickly, and also mixes well with other paints, acquiring the desired shade. To embody Provencal motifs, it is enough to choose blue, gray, pale purple or lemon tones.
If the design of the furniture allows, it is advisable to disassemble and paint it in parts. In this case, the tabletop and walls can be taken out to dry in fresh air, which will significantly speed up the process.
Step 1. Preparing the surface for painting involves removing the existing coating. For this use sharp knife or spatula. To sand the countertop, it is enough to process it with sandpaper with a large grain.
Step 2 After removing the old paint, proceed to the primer. Apply acrylic primer to wooden surfaces. This coating will allow the paint to "cling" to the surface.
Step 3 The paint is applied with a wide dry brush in a thin layer. If the shade of the wood contrasts with the tone of the paint, veins are allowed through which the wood will shine through.
Step 4 You can apply a thin layer of paint with an aerosol. Spray the aerosol at a distance of half a meter from the surface.
Advice! In this case, the wood is rubbed with candles before painting. Paraffin penetrates the texture of the wood, preventing its uniform staining.
Step 5 Finishing the dried coating is carried out using a foam rubber sponge with a rough surface. Sanding spray-painted furniture with sandpaper is not recommended, unless rough chips are included in the designer's plan. In other cases, coarse grain can damage a thin layer of paint.
Advice! Rub the edges and corners of furniture. With light efforts, without undue pressure, spend a sponge along the ends of the shelves and drawers.
Step 6 Lacquer can be used as a finishing coat. However, the Provence style is incompatible with gloss, so the varnish must be matte. It will not only emphasize the effect of antiquity, but also preserve the texture of the tree. After the first layer of varnish has dried, a second one is applied.
Furniture decoupage
Decoupage - business card Provence style. Floral ornaments are called classics of rustic style. Light pastel colors are in perfect harmony with botanical patterns.
Using napkins
Napkins are the easiest way to decorate painted furniture with colorful patterns. Even a novice master will cope with such a task.
Napkins are the easiest way to decorate painted furniture with colorful patterns.
To work in the decoupage technique you will need:
- painted surface;
- sandpaper with fine grain;
- napkins for decoupage or ordinary tablecloths with a pattern;
- container with water at room temperature;
- PVA glue;
- scissors;
- soft brush.
Step 1. Work begins with surface preparation.
Step 2 It is advisable to remove the old paint from it, after which the countertop is thoroughly washed with soapy water and sanded. If depressions have formed on the surface, they are hidden with putty. You can start the main front of work only after the table has completely dried.
Step 3 As a primer, you can use white or pastel acrylic paint. It is applied in two layers, each of which is thoroughly dried. At the same stage, the corners are sanded, if necessary, to add the effect of antiquity.
Step 4 At the same time prepare napkins. The top layer with a pattern is separated from it. The necessary part of the picture is cut out with scissors, leaving a few millimeters around the contour. Often, newspaper clippings are used as an ornament.
Step 5 The cut elements are alternately lowered into the water for a few seconds. Remove them carefully so as not to damage a thin napkin. Pictures are applied to the surface front side up. With a soft-bristled brush, carefully coat with glue, carefully processing every millimeter of the picture.
Advice! To remove air bubbles without damaging the napkin, a plastic file is applied to it. Smooth the surface with a dry elastic brush, removing irregularities. After that, the file is carefully removed.
Step 6 While the napkins moistened with glue dry, you can paint the gaps in the countertop that are not covered with pictures. They are painted with a brush, abundantly dipped in paint, without touching the edges of the drawings.
Depending on the type of paint, complete drying can take up to 2 hours. After that, the table is covered with two thick layers of acrylic matte varnish. The more intensively the table will be used, the thicker the finish layer should be. Ready product dries in about 3-4 days.
Textile option
Decoupage with guipure implies the same algorithm of actions as decor with paper napkins.
Age-old cracks or craquelure technique
The spirit of antiquity and centuries-old history can be conveyed not only with the help of floral patterns. In the Provence style, the craquelure technique is actively used, which allows you to effectively age even completely new surfaces.
To work in the craquelure technique, you will need furniture that will be transformed, as well as a special one-step craquelure varnish. In addition, the master will need sandpaper, acrylic paints, brushes and other creative little things.
A novice designer can practice in mastering the technique on small elements. For example, decorating a chair.
The entire surface of the chair must be carefully sanded. The layers of old paint are removed with a knife and the wood is cleaned with sandpaper. As in the case of the table, the resulting holes can be repaired with putty. When the "patches" dry, go to the main part of the work.
The craquelure technique involves cracking a layer of varnish, through which the “lower” paint will appear.
For the Provence style, a white chair is perfect, so a dark shade is taken as the inner layer. For example, the "graphite" tone, obtained by mixing white and black paints until the desired shade is obtained.
Wherever cracks are required, one-step craquelure varnish is applied. In order for the cracks to be “different-sized”, the layer thickness is varied. However, it should be applied in one layer.
When the varnish dries, the chair can be covered with top paint. For a uniform coating, it is advised to use not a brush, but a foam rubber sponge. Places where cracks are expected are covered in one layer. All other surfaces are painted over twice.
When the product is completely dry, start sanding. Treat the stool carefully using a rough sponge. They overwrite the places that, presumably, have worn out the most over the years. In places of wear, dark paint will appear, adding a dozen years to the chair.
The final chord in creating an antique chair will be decorating it using decoupage technique. Patterns with inscriptions should be printed on the printer, turning the picture in a mirror.
The dried finished chair should be covered with a finishing acrylic varnish so that the pattern does not wear out over time. The highlight of the chair will be a chip, scratch or wormhole caused intentionally.
Application in the interior
It is not difficult to fit furniture created independently into the existing Provencal interior. If it is made in light pastel colors and evokes romantic thoughts, half the battle is already done.
Bedside table only slightly worn. Metal straps bring their colorful notes.
Waxed and then stained wood is a stylish stave for accessory melody.
Waxed and then stained wood - a stylish stave for accessories
Chips, scuffs and decoupage - Provence in its most sophisticated incarnation.
The textile pattern echoing the ornament on wood is the aerobatics of the French direction.
Provence - perfection in the details.
Provence style - perfection in the details
Grandma's chest? Why not?
Shelves for cups and other little things will fill the atmosphere with comfort.
Lightness and charm, tenderness and color.
There are not many flowers. Botanical ornament is a spring melody of style.
Botanical ornament - spring style melody
"Pajama" motifs are a permanent classic of the French theme.
"Pajama" styles - a classic French theme
Elegance is in the details. Thoughtful secondary accessories are a prerequisite for a competent Provence.
Secondary accessories - a condition for competent Provence
You can strengthen the position of decoupage with live plants.
Non-standard color schemes within the kitchen will color the mood of the inhabitants in bright colors.
Winning combination.
Provence style - an interior woven from wheat fields and the morning sun of France. You can create an atmosphere of weightless chic with your own hands by inhaling new life in old furniture. Enough to master simple techniques restoration and aging of wooden surfaces.
Video - Conceptual renovation in the Provence style
Vintage style periodically returns to our lives. It can be reflected in models of clothes, accessories, design of living quarters. Different time brings its own features into fashion, and if things that can be shaken off the dust of time and presented as trendy are not preserved in grandmother's chests or attics, home craftsmen create them with their own hands.
Elegant chest of drawers in Provence style, restored by hand
Fashion periodically returns, and today many people have grown an interest in the Provence style, which is distinguished by its emphasized simplicity and provinciality (“Provence” means “province”). His homeland is France, but he is not associated with the wealth of royal palaces, but with simple peasant home decoration, fresh milk, lavender fields.
Provence creates a cute homey feel and a comfortable indoor environment.
Its characteristic features are:
- pastel colors in home design, furniture;
- use in the design of floral patterns;
- sewing, flounces, ruffles on tablecloths, curtains, napkins;
- various figurines and all kinds of souvenirs made of porcelain, ceramics, fabrics.
A distinctive feature of this style is the use of floral motifs.
For its design, it is not necessary to look for some unusual things: you can choose from furniture that is idle in the attic or in the barn what will be on the crest of fashion. There are other, economically justified options.
Beautiful living room decorated in Provence style
Artificially aged Provence style dining room furniture
In order to issue trendy interior You don't have to spend crazy money. It can be done at home without any special material costs, using simple tricks. One of the ways to transform modern interior decoration items is to make old furniture in the Provence style with your own hands.
Beautiful do-it-yourself furniture decoupage in Provence style
At the same time, the transformation of familiar things at home has a number of positive aspects:
- you can do all the work, without looking at the time;
- the furniture will be decorated in those colors that the master likes;
- if old interior elements already existing in the house are used, the family budget will practically not suffer.
Registration old furniture for the hallway do it yourself
What should be Provence style furniture
Household items made in this style decision are distinguished by a certain lightness and conciseness, reflected in the color scheme. It is dominated by white color, baked milk and lavender. Provence was close to nature and simplicity, so all interior elements belonging to it are made of natural materials: wood, stone, fabric. As it is customary to define today, this is an eco-style. It is also reflected in the equipment of the room, in interior items: simple, rather old tables, chairs, wardrobes, wrought-iron beds, napkins and linen tablecloths - everything creates a unity of design.
Any antique item can be restored, repainted and given a decorative role in the Provence style.
Do-it-yourself Provence-style furniture performs, in addition to the main functionality, also a decorative role. She must be:
- old or aged, with scuffs, chips or traces of wormholes that appear with prolonged use of furniture;
- necessarily - painted with light paint that has lost its luster;
- made from natural wood: walnut, oak or chestnut.
Do-it-yourself antique wooden kitchen cabinet
Concerning color solution, the style requires delicate, pale, somewhat burnt shades:
- white and milky;
- beige;
- olive green;
- lavender or sea colors,
- ocher, terracotta.
Pastel shades for the bathroom in Provence style
Strange as it may seem, but old wardrobe with peeling paint - the most trendy element when decorating a room in this style.
Chic roomy closet for the bedroom in Provence style
furniture aging techniques
One way to turn modern furniture into country-style decor items is to age them. At the same time, it is possible to achieve such an effect various methods. The most effective and commonly used are:
The most commonly used chemical aging method, using various processing techniques and materials.
This type of work does not require serious financial investments - it is usually used water-based paint corresponding color shade. Before applying it, the area is treated with an acrylic primer for wood. After complete drying, light-colored paint is applied or a ready-made artificial patina is used.
Advice. The finish coat is best done using a matte varnish - it is more appropriate for this style.
A simple option for processing furniture, for which the old paintwork is cleaned from the treated area with sandpaper. Then the surface is rubbed with paraffin, and then paint is sprayed from a can.
We spray paint from an aerosol can - it is more convenient when painting cracks and other hard-to-reach places
At the same time, there is absolutely no need to achieve an even coating layer: individual non-paints will correspond to Provence.
To create the effect of wear and layers of paint translucent from under each other, you can apply paint with a sponge
After drying, the painted wood is treated with a clean hard sponge, which removes excess material. It is important not to overdo it here, so as not to remove most of the applied coating.
We clean off the excess layers of paint with sandpaper
To enhance the effect of aging, craquelure varnish is used.
Craquelure (decorative cracks) - the most difficult and unpredictable way to age furniture
In addition, design techniques are used to give the dwelling the appropriate style features:
- the use of fabrics that reflect the features of the style;
- production of additional curly design elements;
- selection of traditional colors for this style;
- treatment of furniture with paint with the effect of gilding;
- decoration with stylized accessories.
Patination gives the interior an atmosphere of noble antiquity and luxury
Necessary materials
The set will be determined by which item is being aged and which method is used. If you plan to decorate the whole room in an eco-style, you need to prepare an extended list of them, which includes:
- upholstery fabrics for chairs or sofas, matching the color of the interior;
- wooden blocks for the manufacture of overhead curly elements;
- acrylic paints of the desired colors and shades;
- acrylic primer;
- matte water-based varnish without a specific unpleasant odor;
- fine-grained abrasive materials;
- PVA glue for woodworking;
- decoupage napkins;
- fixing materials;
- foam sponge;
- paraffin or candles.
Attention! Chipboard, PVC, MDF are not suitable for furniture in the Provencal style. Furniture made of these materials will not convey its features.
Required Tools
Materials and tools for painting cabinets
You can execute the elements using the following set of tools:
- brushes of various sizes;
- electric jigsaw or chisels for cutting decor elements;
- spatulas or a knife for removing paint.
Manufacturing process: step by step instructions
Bedside table before restoration
To decorate furniture in an eco-style, you can use the one that was removed from the sheds and attics. This is the most successful budget option. The manufacturing process will depend on what kind of interior items we are talking about, but there are general rules associated with the aging process, which makes them especially colorful and meeting the style requirements a la provance.
You need to start by removing the old paint from the product. If several layers have been applied, it is most convenient to clean them off with a spatula or knife, and then clean them with sandpaper with an abrasive coating of large fractions. If the paint cannot be removed, then further work will have to be carried out on the existing coating.
We apply gray paint and with steel wool we pass in the direction of the wood pattern
Aging is carried out with paint; it is applied to the surface of the furniture with a flat brush. After complete drying, you can start sanding the treated area, then proceed to decorating.
We take a wet rag and wipe the black stripes until they become barely noticeable, at the end we need to pass a dry rag over the surface of the dresser
For this you can use:
- elements carved from wood, decorated with floral ornaments, which can then be nailed or fixed with screws;
- if there is no ability to draw, you can transfer the image to tracing paper, and then cut it along the contour and transfer it to a wooden surface;
- the craquelure technique, widely used in decoupage: it gives the effect of an old cracked surface;
- decoupage napkins with drawings in the Provence style, which can be transferred to the sideboard or wardrobe doors.
On the bottom of the drawers, you can lay a fabric to match and glue it in the corners
If there is no artistic ability, you can use ready-made fittings that will help give the furniture elements the appropriate features. Provencal style: legs, door handles, curly pads for keyholes.
Such a handle can be bought separately and screwed to the chest of drawers.
If the work is done correctly and in compliance with the relevant instructions, furniture made in this style will give the room a feeling of comfort and coziness.
Ready cabinet after restoration with your own hands
Video: Do-it-yourself Provence style interior. Veranda design.
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I want to forget about the hustle and bustle of long working days on the way home. It does not matter whether we are standing in a crush on a bus, subway or riding in the seat of our own car - we all rather want to be in the warmth of our home. Home cosiness and comfort are easy to create with the right environment, which Provence-style furniture can give..
Provence is a style of amazing beauty, grace and at the same time simplicity. In this article we will tell you what it is, using the example of furnishing residential premises.The style is based on the French traditions of the country house furnishings and the combination of the interior with natural motifs.
Provence style furniture in the living room
If you have an idea to furnish a living room in Provence style, then you need to buy suitable furniture for it. not as simple as it seems at first glance. the main task- do not overdo it with delicate tones and different accessories.
Provence style furniture in the bedroom
To properly furnish the bedroom, they start with the selection of textiles: light curtains will create right mood. Now you can decide how to arrange the furniture in such a way as to emphasize beauty and advantage.
We assign the main place to the beds: you want to fall into this cloud of soft tissues from the threshold, and elegant decorative trinkets will beautifully frame the sleeping place.
Article
Modern furniture stores offer huge selection furniture in modern style. But an increasing number of buyers prefer to make Provence furniture with their own hands. The reason is simple: modern style, especially its most fashionable trends like hi-tech and minimalism, is not to everyone's liking.
The interiors seem faceless and uncomfortable, but if you want to relax with your soul at home, then you have to choose another option. It was then that less functional and modern ones came to the rescue, but such cozy solutions in Provence style.
Cozy interior Provence style houses
The Provence stylistic direction was formed in one of the provinces of France, from which it got its name. It is believed that Provence as a style was formed in the 19th century, although the first prerequisites for its emergence began to appear 200 years earlier - at a time when cities were actively developing in France.
Despite the simplicity of solutions and the "rustic" origin, Provence was considered an elite style.
Even then, some people were tired of the endless bustle of cities, and they sought, if not to change their place of residence, moving closer to nature, then at least to give their apartments and estates rural charm. Despite the simplicity of solutions and the "rustic" origin, Provence was considered an elite style. It was in this solution that they preferred to decorate the rooms of families of lawyers and large industrialists.
The main elements of Provence are:
- openness;
- the use of only natural materials;
- light, "sunny" colors;
- ease.
Provence is characterized by some details that allow you to create the right mood in the room. First of all - a massive floor, which will only emphasize the lightness of decor elements and furniture. To create a similar effect as floor covering wood or stone is traditionally used, however, imitation tiles are acceptable natural materials.
Furniture should look like antiques
The walls in the rooms are not covered with wallpaper. Instead, ordinary brick or stone masonry is used, inaccurately painted or plastered.
The focus in Provence is on furniture. First of all, it must be old. However, a new one is also suitable if you first do the aging of furniture in the Provence style with your own hands. In any case, the furniture should look like antiques.
As for decor items, they need to be selected very carefully and their placement carefully thought out so as not to “overdo it”. Sometimes one simple napkin is enough to give a certain mood.
What should be Provence style furniture?
As already mentioned, the Provence style dictates two basic rules regarding the furniture used: it must be made of natural materials and with forged metal decorations. Chrome-plated fittings, glass details, modern wardrobes - all this is categorically not suitable for such an interior. Therefore, it is better to purchase ready-made or make furniture in the Provence style with your own hands.
All components of the interior are traditionally kept in bright colors, less often bright colors are used.
All components of the interior are traditionally kept in bright colors, less often bright colors are used. The facades are decorated with bright drawings depicting landscapes, plants, animals or still lifes. Wicker chairs, intricate carvings, antique cabinets and chests, tables and chairs with carved legs, wrought iron cornices - all this will convey a unique atmosphere. French province. Beds for a Provence-style bedroom require the simplest in design, but with unusual carved or forged motifs.
As for upholstered furniture, the same rules apply here as for other interior elements. The frame of armchairs and sofas is usually kept in light colors - cream or beige. And you can transform it very simply - with the help of fabric. It must be pleasant to the touch, soft, in soothing colors. Drawings with floral motifs or geometric shapes are only welcome.
Provence style bedroom bed
furniture aging techniques
There are a huge number of ways to age new furniture, so you can choose the most convenient one from them. Aging furniture in the Provence style with your own hands allows you to end up with interior elements that will look exactly the same as genuine antiques, but will cost much less.
Ammonia for aging furniture
All methods are divided into 3 groups:
- mechanical aging involves the artificial application of scratches, chips, cracks and abrasions on the surface of the furniture;
- with thermal, the effect of antiquity is created due to the effect of an open fire on the surface of the furniture;
- chemical involves surface treatment with stain, craquelure varnish, ammonia.
If desired, any of these methods allows you to quickly get Provence furniture with your own hands, without spending too much effort. But with any processing method, you must first prepare the furniture. This process is also not difficult - just clean the surface and remove all fittings, removable shelves and drawers to make it easier to access furniture.
Bedside table in decoupage technique
Remove all old varnish or paint from the surface with fine-grained sandpaper. Then the furniture must be carefully rubbed with paraffin, not missing a single area. You need to rub, moving along the line of wood fibers.
Then the entire surface must be covered with one or more layers of paint. Aerosol paints are well suited for this, as they allow you to evenly paint the surface, treating all the cracks and hard-to-reach places. Only then can you begin to age the surface.
Methods for aging furniture
To choose how to age the surface, you can familiarize yourself with a master class on making Provence furniture with your own hands.
Paraffin for aging furniture
In order to visually age the furniture, it will be enough to wipe the surface with a sponge after paraffin treatment and staining.
Important! It is important not to overdo it here, because if there are too many "bare" areas, the effect will not be achieved.
After such processing, it is necessary to fix the result. To do this, you need to process the furniture with one or two layers of varnish.
Another way to make Provence furniture with your own hands is to use "steel wool", which is sold in the household department. This material is also called metal wool and is intended specifically for polishing furniture.
black steel wool for furniture processing
For processing, you need black steel wool. The surface must be prepared - remove the old coating and re-coat with paint (as in the first case). Then, with metal wool, “walk” over the surface with confident movements. The result is a layer of "soot". After that, hold with a damp cloth so that part of the "soot" is partially erased, then wipe with a dry cloth. You will get beautiful "scuffs". The fittings must be processed in the same way.
An original way to get Provence-style furniture is to age it with crackle varnish. Two-component varnish must be applied in at least 2 coats with a brush with natural bristles. The more layers there are, the more cracks will result. The varnish should be left to dry for 40 minutes. You can speed up drying with a hair dryer. Cracks need to be treated with dark oil-based paint or bitumen, then apply another layer of varnish, but already ordinary.
Before decorating, it is sometimes necessary to update the look of old furniture. This is perfect for painting. In the same way, you can hide the “unsuitable” material for the Provence style, from which the furniture facade is made.
The Provence style is characterized by light muted tones.
If the furniture is old, then first you have to eliminate all surface imperfections. If there is already an old layer of paint, it must be removed, otherwise the surface will be uneven. In addition, the old paint will begin to crumble over time, so for a long time to please attractive appearance there will be no table (or other piece of furniture). Delete old paint need with sandpaper. First you can use with larger grains, and then with smaller ones. It is better to unscrew the handles and all fittings so that you can process the area under them.
Usually, the Provence style is characterized by light muted tones - beige, cream, light gray. It is necessary to paint over facades, surfaces, corners and internal shelves very carefully, leaving no untreated areas. After the paint has dried, the surface can be covered with a layer of varnish. Let the varnish dry, and then walk with a dry cloth over the surface.
Sandpaper for removing old paint from furniture
Clean furniture handles with a steel brush, wipe well and put back in place.
If the design provides for internal drawers, then you need to put a piece of fabric in the same tone on the bottom and fix it well with glue.
Provence furniture decoupage technique
After aging, you can additionally decorate furniture in the Provence style with your own hands. Decoupage will look good on new furniture, and will add charm to the familiar old one. In order to perform all the actions, it is not necessary to have artistic abilities.
Plant motifs, pictures with pets, flower bouquets, still lifes and rural landscapes are best suited for the Provence style.
Images do not need to be drawn on your own, you can pick them up on the Internet, for example, in needlework groups, or purchase special napkins with a pattern. If the drawing is supposed to be printed, then it is better to do it on a laser printer, otherwise the colors will be washed out.
Important! Plant motifs, pictures with pets, flower bouquets, still lifes and rural landscapes are best suited for the Provence style.
If the surface is already artificially aged, then you can immediately proceed to applying the image. If not, prepare the surface first in the usual way: remove the old paint with sandpaper, apply light paint and wait until it dries.
Decoupage will look good on new furniture, and will add charm to the familiar old one.
Let the glue dry. In the first hour after gluing, air bubbles sometimes appear. To make them smaller, before applying the glue, the pattern can be put in water for a few seconds. During gluing, the hands should also be slightly damp. Bubbles are important to notice and eliminate in time so that the drawing does not deteriorate. After that, next to the pattern, gently rub with sandpaper to make scuffs. Apply a layer of varnish on the surface, and after drying, apply powder for patination in several places. Apply 2 more coats of varnish to fix the result.
The desired decoupage effect can be achieved in another way. To do this, you need a fabric with a bright floral pattern, which you need to upholster the furniture. Complete with forged elements and stylish fittings.
Before you get to work, you need to choose a sample of the pattern and choose colors. For painting, acrylic paints of white and one color close to white, but darker by several tones, are suitable.
First you need to paint the surface in two layers. It is necessary to paint white, and the second layer - darker.
After painting furniture in the Provence style with your own hands, you need to wait until the paint dries completely, and you can apply drawings to the facades and sides. You need to apply a sketch with a pencil, but before painting, be sure to rub the contours a little, since after painting the pencil is sometimes noticeable. Apply a layer of oil varnish on top and wait 3.5 hours. After that, apply a water-soluble varnish. If after that you blow a little hair dryer over the surface of the picture, it will turn out to be slightly smeared.
