11 easy découpage ideas to rejuvenate old furniture and furnishings

Arriving in Europe between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the decorative technique called découpage (from the French découper, which means to cut out) is today, one of the most practiced crafts by artists, restorers, enthusiasts and beginners. It lends itself to being chosen for many types of work and adapts itself to many different objects and materials. It is also easy to do and gives excellent results.

Over the years, the technique has evolved to give life to different finishes and techniques. Basically, using découpage means decorating materials using cut-out designs to be laid down with layers of glue or by using stencils and paint. Precisely because these characteristics of simplicity and versatility, this popular technique lends itself perfectly, for example, to renovating old furniture or furnishing accessories and giving them a new splendor and lease on life.

Be it wood, glass, ceramic, plastic and even canvas, any object can come back to life and can end up looking more beautiful than the original. Take a look at the ideas we have detailed for you below:

An old wardrobe, inherited or bought in some flea market or antiques shop, can become a fabulous piece of decor for your interior. Paint it in a color you like - perhaps a nice pastel paint - and apply floral decorations using the découpage technique. By changing the knobs, the wardrobe will practically become a completely different piece of furniture, while retaining its vintage shape and lines.

The same can be done with an old chest of drawers. The combination of vintage shapes and fresh colors of floral motifs is a winning one and always has a pleasant, romantic touch that enhances the environment.

A wooden chest of drawers can be renovated and decorated in an wonderful way using the stencil technique. White floral motifs on light wood or in a pastel color (appropriately weathered) immediately creates a shabby chic look that is one of the most popular when it comes to renovation and decorating.

And what do you think about decorating the bottom of an old, repainted bookcase using découpage? The bookcase will be greatly enhanced, but so will the books that will be placed on it.

Another very special idea is to decorate furniture using actual photos. You can use old ones, for an feel that invokes a vintage age, or you can use modern ones (perhaps from important moments in your life). The "wow" effect is guaranteed and the emotional impact of an object decorated like this will certainly be enormous.

The same can be done with other furnishing accessories such as a lamp, for example. Vintage photos on such an object can become even more fascinating because they will be seen in from behind, filtered by the light - just like slides projected onto a screen.

Among the types of styles or themes most often used in découpage projects, is one which utilizes old comics. Try decorating an old chair like this for a pop, contemporary effect. The result will be exceptional.

You can do the same with a coffee table. Decorating it with pages from comics can make a great difference - perhaps to liven up a somewhat boring living area.

Also inspired by the pop art theme, is the use of regular newspaper sheets. Decorating an old table is another very original idea.

As for other furnishing accessories, trays are usually the most populr for découpage project, especially by those who are beginners to the technique. Try decorating an old tray to give it a new life. The satisfaction you will feel, once the work is finished, will be worth the effort.

And finally, you can go wild with plates, bottles and demijohns (jars). The older they are, the greater the enthusiasm will be to rejuvenate and beautify them.

What are you waiting for? Pop out and buy what you need to give new life to your vintage objects and furniture. Great work!