How to Refresh Antique Wood Furniture

Dear CJ,

I recently acquired a few antique pieces from my late Grandmother. She was very dear to me, and I have good memories of her sharing stories about how she acquired them.

Unfortunately, over the years, they have worn and are lacking some of the beauty they once had. Some day I might invest in having them refinished, but for now I just want to breath some new life back into them without the expense or hard work of sanding them down and refinishing.

What do you recommend to refresh antique wood furniture?

Kind Regards,

Nicole D.

Dear Nicole,

Thank you for reaching out to me! You came to the right place to learn more about refreshing antique furniture, because I have several antiques throughout my 1893 Farmhouse that I have refreshed without stripping them down and refinishing.

I also have many clients who have asked this same question over the years. So keep reading, and you will discover my secrets.

Here are my suggestions for giving your antique wood furniture a fresh look...

Lemon Oil

This is perfect for antique wood furniture that has become dry and lackluster over the years. It will take several applications over a period of time, but little by little you will see the natural beauty of the wood take on a fresh look. It’s like moisturizing your skin. If your skin is naturally dry, a quality moisturizer gives it a youthful look over time. Here’s a quality Lemon Oil you should try.

My Mom gave me a Duncan Phyfe table that the previous owner left with the home. It was perfect timing since we had doubled the size of our 1893 Farmhouse and needed to fill several spaces, including the dining room. I intended to have it refinished eventually; it desperately needed it. But after weeks and months and years of applying lemon oil, it took on a refreshed look. 26 years later, believe it or not, I never did have it refinished; it looks beautiful as it is in our formal dining room. It pairs well with the silk window treatments and Chippendale Chairs I found at an antique store.

Old English Scratch Cover

This is a great way to cover scratches without restaining. Old English Scratch Cover does a great job of refreshing your antique wood furniture quickly and conveniently. Once it soaks in you might see the scratches again but using it consistently over time they tend to dissappear and blend into the natural wood color it was originally stained.

This product is great for covering scratches and bite marks from our furry friends, too.

I recommend using a paper towel or an old rag you can discard afterwards. Wear disposable gloves to protect your hands.

Furniture Doctor

In my community, we have a guy who goes by the name of “Furniture Doctor” who specializes in touching up dings and dents on location. He’s reasonably priced and does a nice job of filling in where needed. It’s a nice way to refresh antique wood furniture without paying the full cost of refinishing the piece.

Usually, they have been trained at furniture stores where they were on location to repair any small dings and dents that occurred in shipping to the furniture they received for customers. So they are very good at making it look new again.

Replace Hardware

Another simple way to refresh antique wood furniture is to replace missing hardware or replace existing hardware. Van Dyke’s Restorers is where I find authentic reproduction pulls, brass claw feet covers, and tassel pulls that you might not find on other hardware websites.

If you’re still struggling, consider my Local or Online Design Services!

I’m here to help!

Your Home Loving Expert,

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