The best flea market finds are
often in less-than-ideal condition. The thrill of the hunt is in finding items
with potential, not necessarily the items that are ready for use. These easy
fixes can quickly revamp your finds and prepare them for their new home.
1) For Furniture: Try Paint or
Paper
The easiest fix for any furniture
is to simply cover up the problem. If the drawers are cracked or splintered,
try an adhesive contact paper that will stay in place and prevent damage to the
drawer’s contents. Contact paper or wallpaper can also be used as decorative
detailing for the front of dresser drawers, the top of a table, or the back of
bookshelves. Chips, dents and scratches can be covered up by paint with a
built-in primer. An acrylic latex primer will help paint adhere to the existing
finish if it is especially glossy or slick.
2) For Fabric: Patch with
Unconventional Materials
Often, fabric with a traditional
iron-on patch will look exactly like what it is—a patched fabric. However,
fabrics should add to the character of the piece and a good patch should look
like it belongs. Instead of reaching into the mending basket for a matching
patch, try using a coordinating fabric with colorful stitching. Also, crocheted
doilies can add a decorative detail to ordinary fabrics. For upholstered
furniture, consider reupholstering a piece, such as the arms of the chair,
rather than the whole piece or inset the decorative fabric in the tear to
create a “peek-a-boo” effect. In many cases less is more, but adding several
patches in addition to the necessary patch can create a more balanced look.
3) For Rusted Jewelry or Hardware:
Coat with Clear Nail Polish
Rust, tarnish, and oxidation are
all part of the natural wear of metal decorative items. For small items, clear
nail polish can seal the item so that it’s ready for use. Larger items may
require the additional support of a clear sealer that comes in either a bottle
or spray can. These sealers will prevent future wear to the items and will also
keep the mess contained behind a clear barrier.
4) For Miscellaneous Items: Spray
Paint
Spray paint is a great way to
quickly give cohesion to pieces. Creating a monochromatic color scheme can
quickly unite unrelated items. Decorative figurines painted a single, unifying
color can be used on a bookshelf or side table to look like a collection,
rather than a mish mash of objects. Spray paint can also enhance the look of an
item quickly. Consider updating lamps to a modern, high-gloss color or make a set
of frames look good as new.
5) For Almost Perfect Items: Make
Them Worse!
Many items at flea markets have
just enough wear to look “used” but not enough wear to have “character.” One or
two scratches on a dresser can seem like imperfections, but a hundred scratches
will achieve the distressed look that is popular for shabby chic and country styles.
Items that are too good looking to be vintage can quickly take on that flea
market vibe by attacking it with some sandpaper to rough up the edges and
adding some mismatched hardware. The
more damage and worn edges, the more your item will look well-loved by the
generations.
