Restoring antique furniture to its former glory can be an expensive and painstaking process, but it's also the best way to keep its value intact. If a piece of antique furniture has been with your family for generations, you no doubt think of it as family too, and if so, don't you owe it to your "family" to do your best in resuscitating it?

Antique Furniture Restoration Tips to Bring Life to Old Pieces

Tip #1 Leave it to the professionals. Antique furniture pieces are irreplaceable. It's highly unlikely that you're going to find an exact replica. If you try restoring it yourself, the slightest mistake can lead to its total destruction. Are you willing to risk that?

Tip #2 Know the extent of the damage. Museum curators, furniture experts, and restoration professionals are usually able to give estimates and detailed analyses - it can be free of charge in some cases - of what you need to fix and how much it will cost.

Tip #3 Know your choices. Antique furniture restoration always offers you choices. Most times, full restoration is associated with greater risks so you'll usually be asked if you wish to fix only the damage that's most easily fixed then implement an alternate solution to other parts when restoration seems risky.

Know what else you need besides money to have your antique furniture restored. Would you have to scour the market for a fabric match? Are there gems that you need to replace? How much time will restoration take? Know exactly what restoration entails.

Tip #4 Find the ideal antique furniture restoration expert for you. Consider the following factors when choosing an expert:

EXPERIENCE - How long has he been in the business? Does he have any experience in working with similar projects? Can he give you any referrals and proof of his expertise?

SKILLS - What makes him qualified for the job besides his years of experience? Does he possess any educational degrees that could help him in this job? Does he have any specialized skills?

RATES - Restoration projects are always expensive so it's best to know beforehand how much he's going to charge you for giving your antique furniture a second lease on life.

Lastly, look for someone you feel easy and comfortable around. This way, if you find any part of the process uncomfortable, you won't hesitate in inquiring about it. Choose someone who knows that you're the boss, and what you say goes because you care the most for the item.