5 ways to change a look with new furniture hardware

Accessories are often the part of a room that defines its style. As such, hardware is an ideal way to personalize the overall look of a room. Moreover, it is surely much more economical than replacing a whole suite of furniture! Let us look at five ways it is possible to change the look of a room by replacing its hardware.

Handles

Swapping a set of drawer handles on a cabinet from the original, very ornate brass style that seems to be standard fare on cabinets from across a wide period, with a set of straight-line chrome handles, can instantly change the look of a whole room. Brass handles cast shadows, and do not reflect light well, while chrome handles impart an innovative theme along with catching a room's light dramatically. They instantly say 'style'!

Knobs

Many people avoid changing original, but worn wood knobs on antique buffets and similar furniture pieces. Though you could just refinish, replacing them with glass knobs from the same period as the original will breathe a completely new life into the style of the furniture's piece. Oftentimes, handcrafted pieces were not originally adorned with fancier hardware, simply because of the economics of the original pieces price. Glass knobs can take a utilitarian item and make the item speak 'lavish'.

Lampshades and Pulls

Lampshades come in numerous styles, yet people often just assume that if a lamp came with a particular shade, that is the only style that will work. Not so! Try a shade with a bit of fringe to soften a room's look. Shades that have silhouettes of cowboys or trees can be the perfect addition for a southwest styled room.

Both table and floor lamps, along with ceiling mounted lamps that have pull cords, can have new life breathed into them by simply replacing their pull cords. Such a small item, it is also more times than not, overlooked unless one breaks. By removing a plain chain style on a corner table lamp, and replacing it with a chain of crystal beads, you have brought an element of grandeur into an often-overlooked corner.

Legs

Surprisingly, many of us do not think of replacing the legs of an item, and most times, they would be correct. However, a settee or footstool that has seen better days, revamped with both a reupholstering and a new style of feet, can be accomplished. One example that represents this would be a leather cover footrest complete with brass tacks and elaborate carved wood feet. After the item has been reupholstered, finishing the look with round, metal feet can bring that tired item soaring into present day with a solid, clean look.

Trim

Continuing the example used above, the brass tacks on the leather styled footrest would be an ideal item to upgrade during the reupholstering. Brass was used often and everywhere during a wide time range of furniture making, including today. Just as often, during furniture reupholstering, these are often replaced with nearly identical tacks. The problem with brass is that unless cleaned often, it tarnishes and dulls. Furniture tacks in a black enamel or chrome to match the new feet, will add a great dimension to the items new look.