Repurpose and Reuse

This picture comes courtesy of Fabulous Finishes. What a great example of repurpose and reuse. We love the bright lime green and it certainly brings a unique touch to the room. Furniture is one of those things that can last a lifetime, and sometimes if you are lucky more than that. With Earth Day, this Sunday, April 22, we wanted to spend some time helping you find uses for those inherited pieces of furniture that just don’t seem to fit your style. As parents downsize, many of us are lucky and thankful to receive some hand-me-down pieces of furniture. However, many times, it is difficult to incorporate the pieces into our existing décor. Here are a few of our ideas and some shared by Thom Filicia, our recent celebrity guest.

Last month we were fortunate to have Top Celebrity Designer, Thom Filicia visit our showroom to launch his new furniture collection. Thom shared some of his views with us on repurposing and reusing furniture. We asked him to tell us what he does with pieces that are handed down, that may have sentimental value but just don’t work with the existing décor. Thom’s Filicia’s furniture collection is made by Vanguard Furniture and both Thom and Vanguard believe in creating sustainable furniture that help protect our planet. Thom also likes to reuse and repurpose pieces whenever possible.

During his talk, Thom told us that “furniture should look collected, not purchased.” Furniture pieces for your home can tell a story and sometimes pieces that have been handed down can bring a unique touch to a room.

Here are a few of Thom's suggestions that could really bring new life to these older pieces.

Paint.  “Try painting the piece”. Painting furniture can give it a new texture and painting it a bright color can bring it to life in an entirely new way.

Refinish.  “Don’t be afraid to refinish”. Refinishing an end table or even a large dining room table can make it look like a brand new piece of furniture.

We all know that quality furniture can last a long time so remember when you are purchasing furniture pick a quality piece. A sofa that can be reupholstered when the fabric gets worn or you are looking for a new look. A classic wing chair in leather or covered in a fabric to coordinate with your existing décor can spice up an old look.

Here is one of our favorite chairs from the Thom Filicia collection. His Vanguard Furniture Thom Filicia Home Collection Contemporary James Street Wing Chair adds a beautiful touch to any living room.

A classic style sofa can stand the test of time and really pull a room together. Here is one of our favorites, the Huntington House Sofa by Lancaster.

What about a classic look for your bedroom? Here is a piece that will never go out of style, our best selling Belfort Signature Westview Traditional Queen Mansion Bed.

A few classic pieces can help you pull the collection you’ve acquired over time into a beautiful polished look. Furniture can be used in so many different ways. A living room end table can work beautifully as a nightstand in a spare bedroom. Maybe your dining room is too small for a buffet unit but will it work in your living room? Think of repurposing it as a sofa table. If you inherit a sofa, look beyond the fabric. You can reupholster it and it can become the star of a room.

A trip to Belfort Furniture may inspire you to purchase a piece that will work well with what you have inherited. A visit to our gallery or warehouse can really spark your creativity.

If you are still stumped on what to do, visit the Belfort Furniture website and set up an appointment for one of our designers to help you. Our expert designers can help incorporate your pieces and create an entirely new look.

Belfort Furniture is conveniently located in the Dulles area of eastern Loudoun County, Virginia, easily accessible from Loudoun and Fairfax Counties. Whether you live in Northern Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, or Washington DC, we have the selection, styles and prices that make Belfort Furniture worth the trip! Belfort Furniture was voted “Retailer of the Year, 2012”, by National Home Furnishing Association and has been voted best furniture store in Loudoun County for 17 years in a row.