Wooden furniture is well regarded for its durability and longevity when properly maintained. Not everyone has the time or skills to look after their furniture, though, and life tends to come with unexpected dings and dents.
That’s one reason of several some people prefer to wrap their wood furniture in vinyl. While a cover will prevent the look and texture of the wood from shining through, it will keep it safe, especially in homes with teething pets and children.
There are other reasons to consider vinyl wraps, and that means knowing how to apply one yourself is a handy trick indeed.
Why Wrap at All?
As previously mentioned, there are a couple reasons you might want to wrap your furniture. Perhaps the weather where you live is unfavorable to wood, but you don’t want to remove or replace the pieces you have.
Perhaps you want change the wood’s color or style to better match your own without having to paint, stain, or replace the furniture. Maybe you just want a different look for a change of pace.
Regardless of the reason, with vinyl wrapping you can find the color choices to match just about any style. In fact, finding the right vinyl for the job is probably the easiest part of the process.
Once you’ve found your perfect brand, size, and color of vinyl, that’s when the real work begins.
Prep the Furniture
Before you can apply the wrap, you need to prep the piece you intend to cover to ensure that the vinyl properly does its job and adhered safely and securely to the furniture.
Basically it just means taking everything off the piece and thoroughly cleaning it. You can buy cleaners meant for helping with wrapping, but rubbing alcohol works just as well in most cases.
Once the piece is cleaned, make sure it dries before you apply the wrap. All grease or dust needs to be removed as well, so it might take a few goes to ensure the surface is ready.
Larger pieces, such as solid wood hutches by Amish furniture makers, will take longer to clean, so make sure to remember the nooks and crannies.
Ready the Vinyl
While the furniture dries is a good chance to get started with the next step, which is preparing the vinyl for application. Having selected your chosen wrap for whatever reason, be it color, style or some combination thereof, you now get to measure it for cutting.
To ensure you have enough wrap, measure it carefully, with at least an inch margin all-around to ensure you have some space to make sure the wrap fits properly. If you’ve ever cut wrapping paper for a package and realized too late it wasn’t large enough, that is the same feeling you’ll get if the wrap is too small.
Of course, you can’t do much about the base width of the vinyl, but the standard sizes are designed for that, so as long as you buy the right roll, you should be fine. And, of course, remember to measure twice, cut once.
Remove the Liner
The vinyl will have a protective line to keep it from sticking before application, similar to the kind used on adhesive decals. To start the application process, carefully peel back the first six inches or so of the liner.
Now’s the time to actually apply the wrap. Very, very carefully, with a flattening tool like an application card or squeegee handy, start to place the wrap on the furniture. As you go, flatten out any potential bubbles and make sure the wrap is evenly applied.
This can be tricky work, so feel free to take your time and do not rush the process. as you go, peel the liner free.
Finishing Touches
There will likely be a bit of extra vinyl left from the application. Removing it will require a very sharp blade, like a razor or an Exacto knife.
Either way, carefully -and this cannot be stressed enough with these sharp knives -carefully, trim off the extra vinyl. For best results, cut at a 45 degree angle to ensure a sharper, cleaner look.
Once that’s done, look over your work. You may notice a few bubbles managed to sneak in at some point. With a card or squeegee, flatten them out to get the smooth finish you desire.
Repeat Until Complete
Having wrapped one section of the furniture, it’s now time to continue until the entire piece, or the portions you want wrapped –maybe just the seat of a stool, for example- are covered, trimmed, and smoothed to your contentment.
The process can take some time, and you should do it slowly and carefully to ensure a smooth, even wrap as well as making sure you don’t hurt yourself. If you need to take a few breaks or re-measure pieces before finishing, that’s okay.
It’s better to take your time and ensure the job is done right than have to start all over again because you got sloppy.
Nothing is Forever
While wrapping your furniture might take some time, getting the desired look is well worth the price. Remember, though, that if you change your mind or style, that’s okay.
The vast majority of vinyl wraps are meant to be removable, so if you decide to change the color or go back to the old wooden look, all you have to do is remove the old wrap. Carefully, of course, so you don’t risk damaging the wood.
That means you don’t have to worry about how to get rid of old furniture. With the right color and style of vinyl wrap, you can make your piece fit nearly any décor scheme and protect it from dings, dents, and baby puppy teeth.
Vinyl wrapping might be an involved process, but it’s certainly worth the effort for keeping your furniture stylish, safe, and long lasting.
Just remember to wipe it down once in a while, and the furniture will weather the sands of time.
