Many of us have special antiques in our homes that are looking a little worse for wear. It’s no surprise, after all – these pieces have brought joy for generations, and with all the natural movements of a lively home, they’re bound to pick up some knocks and scrapes.
As interior tastes and styles change, the thought of refinishing our much-loved antiques often comes to mind. Whether it’s a good idea is often a highly personal decision, but as someone with many years of experience caring for and selling English antiques, I hope to share a few insights that might help you make up your mind.
What Does Refinishing Involve?
To understand why refinishing can impact the value of an antique, it’s important to understand what it involves.
As the name suggests, refinishing is the process of replacing the finish on a piece of furniture. It’s mainly associated with wood, which is often treated with varnishes and waxes when used in furniture to help protect it over decades of use.
Over time, through natural causes and bumps and scrapes that remove the varnish, wooden furniture can lose some of its sheen, making it appear dull. It can also develop a patina through the natural ageing process, which is an appealing factor for many but can lead to uneven colours on the furniture.
Refinishing is usually used to fix some of these issues. There are various steps in the refinishing process:
- The existing finish is stripped off, usually through sanding.
- The surface is cleaned and smoothed to prepare it for a new finish.
- A new finish is applied. This could involve staining, waxing, varnishing and/or painting.
Does Refinishing Devalue Antique Furniture?
Refinishing does come with advantages, particularly the ability to change the appearance of furniture to suit your style. However, when it comes to selling, refinishing almost always devalues an antique.
One of the most appealing things about antiques is that they remain functional despite decades of use. In that sense, all the little bumps and scrapes are just signs of a life well lived, and proof of the exceptional craftsmanship and materials that went into making them.
Once you start changing aspects of the antique from what it was originally, it loses that lustre. Whether you’re changing a knob on a chest of drawers or replacing the old varnish with a new one, suddenly it’s not all about the craftsmanship of those who made it in the first place.
This devaluation is even more profound on historically significant pieces or antiques prized for being from a certain era, such as Victorian antiques.
When to Refinish Antiques & When to Leave Them Alone
Of course, the value of an antique is often only part of the consideration when deciding to refinish or not refinish a piece. As a general rule, refinishing is something to explore if:
- The antique only has sentimental value: If it’s a family favourite that you don’t plan to sell elsewhere, then giving it a new finish could help it last longer.
- You want to update it for your home: Refinishing is popular for giving wood furniture a different colour, either through paint or a lighter/darker varnish.
On the other hand, refinishing antiques should be avoided if:
- You plan to sell it: As discussed, refinishing almost always diminishes an antique’s value.
- You want to maintain its patina: Refinishing will also destroy any natural shades or tones the wood has developed over its lifetime, which is often a popular feature of antiques.
It’s also worth noting that, in cases where the antique looks particularly worse for wear, some refinishing may feel unavoidable. Still, even these antiques will lose value if refinished in an unprofessional manner. In these cases, you may wish to explore professional antique restoration, which often uses period-specific materials and processes to maintain the spirit of the original piece.
Hopefully, this helps you decide whether you should refinish your favourite antiques. Here at Parson’s Nose, we love celebrating the small blemishes on much-loved antiques and strive to leave them in their original condition whenever possible.
Our woodworker, Eric, inspects every piece that comes through our warehouse and stores to ensure it’s properly handled and cared for before being put on sale and shipped to your home to be enjoyed by many more generations to come.
We stock new English antiques every week, so keep an eye on our collections or sign up to our newsletter for updates and discover something uniquely special for your home.
