The kind of furniture in your apartment says a lot about you. It stands as a statement of your personal style and gives guests an immediate impression of your home as soon as they walk through the door. Apartment residents like to take pride in their space, and work to keep their homes looking their best. This, however, can be an expensive task when it comes time to replace your old furniture. Fortunately, there is another, more affordable option to buying new furniture that can give you quality results in a fraction of the cost – refinishing used furniture.

When refinishing furniture for Alachua, FL apartments, you can start with an old piece of wooden furniture; this could be something you already had, or something you picked up at Goodwill or a flea market. Once you have the piece you are going to refinish, there are a few simple steps you should follow:

• Work in a well-ventilated area, preferably outside, and make sure to put down newspaper or an old blanket to protect the flooring.
• Strip the old paint by using a chemical stripper. Always wear rubber gloves and a mask when using chemical strippers to avoid coming into contact with these strong substances. Make sure to read the label on chemical strippers to ensure that you are using them properly. Start by pouring some of the stripper onto your furniture, spreading it evenly until the entire piece is coated.
• Let the stripper sit for the time specified on the label (usually about 30 minutes). Using a plastic of metal scraper, test a small area to see if the old stain can be easily removed. Once it can, lightly scrape down to the wood. Smaller tools like a toothbrush can be used for hard to reach areas. If you find the wood to be uneven once the old stain has been removed, you can give your furniture a quick sanding.
• Apply the new stain to your furniture by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Two or three coats may be necessary depending on the kind of stain you are using and your personal preference.
• Once the stain has dried, apply your finish. Make sure your furniture has dried completely before moving it to its new spot inside your apartment.

At One 51 Place, you can be sure your apartment will be as modern and classy as your newly refinished furniture. To learn about our spacious floorplans, as well as the many benefits that you get when you live at One 51 Place in Alachua, Florida, contact us today.