Crafts & Restoration

Furniture Restoration

Rescue Real Furniture, From Wobbly Wreck to Heirloom

12 lessons4 modules9h 45m durationbeginner level

Instructor: StretchLearn Faculty

About this course

This course takes a tired, wobbly, or damaged piece of furniture and walks it through the full restoration arc: diagnosis, stripping, surface repair, color, and a lasting finish. You will learn how professionals identify wood species and existing finishes, re-glue chairs with hide glue, flatten and patch lifted veneer, and choose correctly between varnish, oil, and wax. No software or design tools are required, just furniture, hand tools, abrasives, and finishing materials, plus the judgment to know when to restore and when to leave the patina alone.

Curriculum

Module 1: Reading the Piece: Wood, Finish, and Whether to Restore3 lessons

Identifying Common Furniture WoodsPreview45m
Dating a Piece from Joinery and Hardware🔒45m
Testing and Identifying the Existing Finish🔒50m

Module 2: Stripping and Surface Preparation3 lessons

Chemical, Heat, and Abrasive Stripping🔒50m
Sanding Through a Correct Grit Progression🔒50m
Cleaning, Reviving, and the No-Strip Refresh🔒45m

Module 3: Structural and Veneer Repair3 lessons

Re-Gluing Loose Joints and Chairs🔒50m
Working with Hide Glue and Reversible Repairs🔒45m
Flattening, Patching, and Filling Veneer🔒55m

Module 4: Color and Finish: Staining, Topcoats, and Distressing3 lessons

Staining and Dyeing for Even, Controlled Color🔒50m
Choosing and Applying a Topcoat: Varnish, Oil, or Wax🔒55m
Distressing and Aging for an Authentic Look🔒45m