| Whether you’ve invested in a lovely set of antique | | | | Restore or Repair |
| bedroom furniture, inherited an heirloom collection or | | | | Once you’ve established that you’re not dealing |
| got lucky at a flea market, fixing up a collection of | | | | with museum quality antique bedroom furniture, decide |
| antique bedroom furniture presents questions that | | | | whether you want to restore, redesign or just repair |
| aren’t found with new furniture. | | | | the items. Even if the furniture is not valuable now, a |
| Asking Before Tasking | | | | true collectable can increase in value if cared for |
| The first question is how much is too much? | | | | properly. |
| Refinishing antique bedroom furniture can reduce its | | | | Think twice about cutting a hole in the back of the |
| value. A quick investigation into its history and worth | | | | armoire to run the television wires. Determine how |
| can provide this answer. Check for the mark of the | | | | much work the pieces need. If a leg is missing from an |
| manufacturer or craftsman and any indication of the | | | | end table, there’s probably no reason not to |
| year it was made. If there is such information, do all of | | | | replace them all. You don’t need to kill yourself |
| the pieces of your set match in this regard? If the | | | | matching hardware if the top of the dresser is rotted |
| furniture is valued because of its origin, having a | | | | through. |
| matching set is that much more valuable. | | | | If you acquired the set because you like the period |
| How much refinishing does it need? Minor repairs | | | | look, do the work or have it done. By all means, retain |
| shouldn’t diminish the value of the set and an | | | | the unique character of the furniture. Even if it’s not |
| ordinary cleaning won’t hurt at all. Except for the | | | | worth a great deal of money, that unique character is |
| replacement of the parts that really enhance the value, | | | | a kind of value that antique bedroom furniture has. |
| restoring the furniture should be fine. If the set has | | | | So first, determine the possible value. Second, decide |
| faded hand-painted details, etched glass insets or | | | | how much repair is needed. Third, try to restore the |
| one-of-a-kind hardware, think before replacing with | | | | antique bedroom furniture to its original glory. Fourth, if |
| something that matches the new lamps. If your idea | | | | that’s not possible, resize, refinish, reuse. Although |
| was to have a bright orange bedroom set, check with | | | | owning antique bedroom furniture is a responsibility to |
| an expert to make sure you’re not painting over | | | | the ages, this stuff is yours. Enjoy. |
| your retirement fund. | | | | |