Has the furniture in your outdoor room worn out due to the harsh Australian sun? Are you thinking of replacing it? Well, not so soon. You can upgrade those furniture pieces and breathe a new lease of life in them.
By adding gold leaf, you can turn those old tables and rustic chairs into glittery, dazzling furnishings.
Gilding the furniture in your alfresco area may seem like a daunting task, but if you are prepared and have the right tools, it can be a breeze.
Diligently follow these steps to create sparkling statement pieces in no time.
Things You Must Have:
- Glue
- Gold leaf sheets
- Sealer
- Foam brush
- Masking tape
Now, you are all ready to gild the furniture.
Step 1 – Prepare The Surface. Here’s How You Can Do That.
- First things first. Clean the surface of the items with a wet, clean cloth. Then, use soap and gently rub the surface with a fresh fabric to remove the dust.
- If your outdoor furniture has bulges, ruptures or scratches, use sandpaper to even it out.
- Clear the sanded bits using a clean cloth.
- Apply a topcoat or a sealer to seal and protect unfinished furniture. The sealer is applied to make sure the gold leaf sticks to the surface easily.
- To ensure that the surface is entirely ready to be gilded, wipe it down with a clean microfibre cloth.
- When the furniture’s surface is clean and dry, draw out lines in a pattern with the help of masking tape. Create a simple yet unique design to simplify the gilding process.
Step 2 – The Application Process
- Use cotton gloves and tweezers to prevent damage to the leaf. (Gold leaves are thin, extremely fragile and can crumble if not handled properly.)
- Start the gilding process by applying a thin layer of adhesive on the furniture’s surface. Distribute the glue evenly. (Water-based size dries faster than other sizes, so choose wisely.)
- Let the glue set for about thirty minutes until it becomes sticky (not completely dry).
- Once the glue achieves that state, start gilding the sides of the furniture one by one.
- Slowly roll the gold leaf sheet on the adhesive with the backing paper facing towards you.
- Rub the gold leaf gently and slowly take off the backing paper, while ensuring there is no more gold leaf left on it.
- Repeat it with other pieces of foil and cover the entire surface that is glued.
- Let the sheet settle for an adequate amount of time. (Make sure the gold leaf has dried completely before you touch it or you will leave impressions on the surface.)
- Take a dry brush to remove extra gold leaf pieces and use the paper towel to even everything out.
- For the areas you have missed, use these extra gold leaf pieces to cover them.
- Then, brush the area again using a soft paintbrush.
- Leave the furniture for 1-2 days. Let it dry completely. This will make sure that the gold leaf sheets have adhered properly.
- Lastly, apply a thin layer of topcoat over the gold leaf. The sealer will not only ensure that the gold leaf sticks to the furniture’s surface forever but also give the surface a more satin finish. Let the sealer dry for two days before you start using the masterpiece you have created. (Use a thin, clean brush to smooth out the entire gilded surface.)
Here you have it, a step-by-step guide to gild wooden furniture for your outdoor alfresco area. After the application of gold leaf, your wooden furniture will look more amazing than it originally was. So, what are you waiting for? Get started and make your outdoor room a living dream already!