Most of us know decoupage is a really fun craft. But it's also brilliant for giving larger items a refresh. It's cheap and ever so cheerful, too. In this article we show you how to decoupage furniture to give it a new lease of life!
Decoupage is also a clever way of using up all those little bits of wrapping paper or wallpaper that many of us collect and have in our stash. You can even use patterned napkins!
You could also try cutting out your own abstract shapes from coloured paper and glueing them in overlapping layers for a really individual and funky look.
What is decoupage?
Decoupage is a really popular craft. It's a super-quick way to transform a plain object made of wood, glass, ceramic or plastic, turning it into something fabulous. It's very calming and meditative and requires minimal tools: just paper, glue and scissors.
You simply cut out pictures or shapes from paper and glue them onto the surface of a plain item such as a cardboard initial or a white ceramic vase to give it a zhuzh! But you can go as large as you want, and furniture is ideal.
How long will it last and how do I clean it?
How long your item lasts depends on how well you finish it, how often it is used, and the atmosphere it is kept in. A seat needs a durable finish, such as yacht varnish. It works best over dark papers as it can make white look slightly yellow. There are many water-based varnishes that work wonders, especially with plenty of applications.
How to decoupage a chair
This project was designed by Marcie K and originally appeared in issue 151 of Mollie.
Photography: Steve Sayers
Styling: Sarah Malone
