Dare to DIY: Refurbishing pros share their best tips for beginners

With the recent explosion of TV shows that specialize in do-it-yourself projects, remaking an old piece of furniture can seem like a breeze.

Except it isn't.

Not only does refurbishing a scuffed end table or outdated dresser take time; it also takes tools. A little know-how doesn't hurt, either.

Susan Hall, owner and "paintologist" at Shoppe La La in Cape Girardeau, is an old hand at transforming unwanted or out-of-style tables, cabinets, hutches and other pieces into the focal points of a room.

Paint rests on a shelf at Shoppe La La in Cape Girardeau.Glenn Landberg

She says the biggest consideration when attempting to remake a piece is to understand what you're getting into on the front end.

"Most of the time when a DIY (project) fails, it's because (the person) doesn't have the knowledge of how to use the products properly," she says.

Hall, who has been painting walls and furniture for more than two decades, has built her downtown business around teaching clients what to use and how to use it -- or, conversely, what to use and how not to use it.

Jason Coy applies a coat of primer to a sofa at Shoppe La La in Cape Girardeau.Glenn Landberg

While many people stop in to commission Hall to re-imagine their old things herself, some want to figure out how to do it on their own. And she's fine with that.

When she's not hosting classes on how to use mineral-based chalk paint, she's advising the curious about unleashing their inner artisans.

"We take you through each step of priming, painting, distressing if they want (a piece of furniture) distressed, and doing the finishing coat," she says.

Jason Coy applies a coat of primer to a sofa at Shoppe La La in Cape Girardeau Thursday, March 31, 2016.Glenn Landberg

Shoppe La La in Cape Girardeau.Glenn Landberg

The key to this approach is patience, because layering takes time.

If someone picks up an old end table at a yard sale with the intention of repurposing it, the first step is to place it on a drop cloth to protect the work area.

Next, clean off any dirt or grime with a light sanding followed by a good wipe down. Hall recommends using a 50-50 mixture of vinegar and water and a few drops of liquid Dawn dish detergent.

Once that's complete, it's time to prime the piece and, when the primer dries completely, begin painting with a good, mid-grade brush.

Because chalk paint requires less prep work, Hall says she prefers it to other kinds of paint, such as latex. Chalk paint is porous, however, so when it's finished drying, it requires a clear topcoat or sealant, which can be flat or glossy, depending on the intended look of a piece.

By line:Jason Coy applies a coat of primer to a sofa at Shoppe La La in Cape Girardeau.Glenn Landberg

Jerri Wyman, owner of Brick Street Antiques & Collectibles in Cape Girardeau, is particularly interested in layering paint colors to achieve a distressed look.

"With my technique, I like to put (paint) on and then take it off," she says.

To do that, she says she prefers using brushes with natural bristles because they can hold a lot of paint and it goes on more smoothly.

Shoppe La La in Cape Girardeau.Glenn Landberg

A favorite technique of Wyman's is to create a French provincial look by applying an undercoat of darker paint followed by a top layer of off-white.

Then she'll sand the piece to expose the darker color in enough places to give it a weathered, shabby chic appearance. Sometimes, she'll sand enough to expose the original wood, too, further adding to the aged mystique.

By line:Susan Hall, owner of Shoppe La La, applies a coat of paint to a small table.Glenn Landberg

If, for some reason, she's not happy with her results, Wyman has learned over the years that it's always possible to remove mistakes and try again, however frustrating starting from scratch might be.

"With a painted piece, it's not permanent," she says. "You can paint it again."

A key item that's easy to overlook in remaking a piece of furniture is simply adding new hardware, especially if its original knobs and handles are dated or unattractive.

"Sometimes, I think just changing the hardware can create an entirely different look," Wyman says.