What we really save when we save old furniture
- Gina Gaurisas-Wilson
- Jan 9
- 3 min read
Using the furniture that we inherited or are going to inherit can bring a sense of family continuity, personal identity, and comforting connection. After all these years, I still have vivid memories of my teenage home filled with Mid Century Modern furniture, and I wish I had kept something.
Francine Russo’s Scientific American article “Why we become so attached to our belongings” explains that people with sentimental attachments to things view them as extensions of themselves. And although the research was not only about furniture, we know personally that furniture can provide a feeling of comfort that comes from connection to family. Other research shows that the feelings are reciprocated: loved ones experienced comfort knowing their furniture was going to relatives, who in turn, would take good care of the belongings just like they did.
A sense of responsibility comes with inheritance. But what do you do with a sizable china cabinet from your grandmother that doesn’t fit or go with anything at home? The simplest option is to refinish it with a color that harmonizes with your other furniture. You could get it repurposed or resized to fit in your space. With that kind of design change, the character can be kept intact while new elements enhance the style. It all depends on your needs and style. Grandma likely would love for you to find room for the china cabinet.
Most of the pieces that I've restyled have been inherited and kept stored away for years until my clients decided it was time to reuse them. Most wanted to incorporate them into their daily lives and be useful. A few pieces were passed on to their grown children.
One client inherited her mother’s100-year-old dining table that had been in the family for a long time. She wanted it to be repurposed into a desk for herself.
A couple had an old cupboard that had been used as a pie safe at the grandparents farm. They wanted it to be repurposed into a bar cabinet for their beach house.
A vintage baby crib that had cradled many babies in the family was repurposed for another client into a small bench for the grandchildren and a hanging structure to function as a display of children’s art and favorite toys. The identity of the original crib was maintained in the new pieces by retaining important design elements that made the crib distinctive.
When I transform old furniture, I do it with care and respect for the history of the piece and what it means to the owners. I use my design expertise to guide the choices about function and aesthetics.
Some options for incorporating an old piece into the home can at first glance seem daunting. Don’t give up. Follow a few easy steps. First consider how you would like to use it. Then determine the best place for it. What do you like best about the piece, and what do you dislike about it? Is it the finish, the legs, the hardware, the functionality, the size? Most of that can be altered while maintaining the character of the furniture.
Another option is to leave old furniture as is and just clean it carefully to remove grime, and maybe polish the hardware.
Mixing old furniture with contemporary styles brings a charm and uniqueness to the home. There are a few do’s and don’ts that serve as a guide for harmonious results. In Mixing old and contemporary furniture I talk more about how to make it easier and rewarding.
Here's what we really save when we safe old furniture:
We preserve the connection that comes from taking the time to restyle and reuse, which can feel like an act of respect and love.
We prevent waste when we reuse the old because less goes to the landfill, fewer trees are made into new furniture and crates to ship them, and there’s less pollution and devastation of forests and the communities that depend on them.
We save money, shopping time, and aggravation. It’s less expensive to refinish old furniture than to buy new in solid wood of comparable quality to what you have. Additionally, ready-made new furniture doesn’t come customized to you. Old restyled furniture is tailored to your needs and style, and you can get exactly what you want.
Whether you decide to just refinish or transform, get it done professionally if you can. You will be happier with the results, and the furniture will live longer. The investment will be worthwhile because you can pass it on later to someone you love.
Thanks for reading!
I don't monitor this post, but I would like to hear from you! Feel free to contact me with questions or comments at gina@furniturerestyler.com