Collecting antique furnishings can be a satisfying hobby. If you have recently acquired an antique piece of furniture, you may have thought how it might look better with a little restoration. However, you should know that some restorative efforts can greatly impact the value of your antique furniture. Follow these tips for cleaning up and successfully restoring your antique furniture.

Leave As Much Of The Original Finish As Possible

True restoration efforts should be about preserving as much of the original aspects of a piece as possible. If you have considered refinishing a piece of antique wood furniture, bear in mind that refinishing does not have a place in restoration or preservation. If you refinish a piece, it takes away the original finish, leaving the piece naked of its valuable originality, something that may be impossible to copy today. Some antiques were finished using resins from trees or insects. Today, many of the finishes like polyurethane are made from man-made chemicals. A true piece of antique furniture is over 100 years old, so trying to re-create the original finish can be impossible. For maintaining the value and originality of your pieces, leaving them just as they are is best. Simple cleaning with a feather duster can be done without using oil-based furniture polishes sold today. Waxing with bees wax only is best for providing protection against moisture.

Deal With Issues Like Missing Drawer And Door Handles

If you have an antique piece of furniture like a wardrobe or a dresser, you may need to replace a knob if you plan to actually use it every day. For replacing these kinds of parts, finding old furnishings with similar hardware is a good idea. Reputable antique dealers can help you locate missing parts like handles or knobs. If you visit flea markets and yard sales regularly, keeping an eye for handles and knobs is important. You may be surprised what you can find that will help make a particular piece of antique furniture functional without interrupting its originality or value. One great benefit of finding antique items at flea markets and yard sales is you can usually get them at an extremely low price.

Antique furnishings can be used to decorate your home with the past. Making sure you maintain your antique furniture's originality is vital for the past to be recreated properly. Even if you never plan to sell your antiques, maintaining their originality helps to also preserve their historical appeal.