Decoupage Furniture

 

There are many mixed opinions when it comes to the crafty art of decoupage. Many believe it’s too difficult or complicated, and that you have to be a design pro to complete any task no matter how large or small. You then have the select few that have taken on the challenge of decoupage and realised that once you know what to do, it’s actually not complicated at all, in fact it’s really fun, and quite addictive too! There’s nothing more satisfying than stepping back and taking in the finished product after putting so much time and effort into it, and better than that, you have your own, custom made furniture to enhance your interiors and put a personal stamp on your home!

 

Prepare Your Surface

 

First things first, prepare. As the saying goes, if you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail! It’s so important to make sure that your selected item to decorate is in the correct state for decoupage. If you’ve chosen a piece of furniture, make sure it is dry, dust-free and clean, as this will ensure your decoupage stays in place and has a smooth finish. If you’re unsure, give your item a quick clean and wipe down, just to prevent any imperfections or issues when the materials are drying.

 

Sorting Your Images

 

Your pictures are the most important feature when it comes to decoupage, as they transform your item from ordinary, to personal and full of character. Select your images carefully, ensuring they’re exactly what you want on your item, as once you begin to stick them down it will be too late to change your mind! You can choose all kinds of exciting images from photocopies of poems, clipart, stories and so on. You could even go as far as using travel tickets, brochures, menus and so on to log your travels in one bold piece!

 

Arrange the Pictures

 

This step is often missed out by many, and can result in your decoupage task going horribly wrong. Preparation is essential with decoupage, and arranging your pictures onto your chosen item to ensure they fit as well as look good is key. Position the pictures onto your item as you would want them to be stuck, as this way you can see whether or not they look good, are the right size and also if you have enough to cover the piece. If you don’t do this, you may find that you’re caught without enough pictures, or that the chosen pictures don’t look as good once actually positioned on your item.

 

Glue with Caution

 

It may go without saying, but it’s really important to glue with caution. Whilst using glue is straight forward and simple, it can’t be undone, so making sure you don’t many any careless mistakes is essential. Take your time when adding glue to your images and chosen item, this way if you do make any small mistakes, it’ll be easier to rectify.

 

Final Touches

 

If your chosen item is an oak chest of drawers or desk, consider the choice of varnish for your sealant. You don’t want to apply anything that will react to the material, so take this into consideration before you begin to apply any old varnish to your item. Once you’ve applied the right sealant for your item, make sure there are no bubbles in the surface, and if there are, pop them with a pin or utility knife and use your fingers to smooth the surface down.

 

It’s essential to leave your item to dry properly before using it, as if you fail to leave it long enough you may find that the ink may smudge on the pictures, or your sealant may smudge and dry without a smooth surface, which can’t be rectified once dry!