My Favorite Tools to Refurbish Furniture

These are my favorite tools to refurbish furniture. These are my “go to” tools that I use on almost every project.

This post was originally published 7/12/22 and updated 6/1/25.

If you are new to this blog: Welcome! My name is Anna and I share information on collecting antique/vintage items, refurbishing furniture and making small crafts/projects. The purpose of this blog is to show you how to use creativity and antiques to make your home beautiful. In addition to information on the blog, you can also follow me on the following social media accounts Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest.

Back Story

Over the years, I have shared numerous posts on how to fix, paint, upholster, and generally refurbish furniture. More times than not, someone has reached out and asked me what specific tool I am using. So, today I am compiling a list of tools I routinely use that are available from online sources.

I don’t think you need the most expensive tools to refurbish furniture but there are some basic tools that are essential. For example, it would be difficult to properly reupholster a sofa without an air compressor. Similarly, it’s difficult to refurbish furniture so that it has a raw wood finish without using a random orbital sander.

These are the most basic tools that I use day in and day out. They have held up well over time. For example, I have had my air compressor and pneumatic staple gun for more than 8 years. Similarly, my zibra paint brushes have lasted for years so long as I promptly clean them after I use them.

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My Favorite Tools to Refurbish Furniture

All the tools I share below were used to refurbish the furniture shown in the graphic above.

This post is divided into two separate categories. The first will be tools I use to refurbish wooden pieces of furniture such as dressers, tables, buffets, and benches. The second category will consist of tools I use to reupholster pieces of furniture such as sofas, chairs, and stools.

Tools for Wooden Furniture

These are the tools I consistently use when working on solid wood furniture. Simply click on the images below and it will take you to the online source. So, let’s jump in – here are my favorite tools to refurbish furniture.

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DeWalt Random Orbital Sander

If I had to pick only one tool in this post that I could not live without, it would be my DeWalt random orbital sander. I use it on 90% of the projects I work on. This is definitely a favorite tool to refurbish furniture.

Sanding Discs

I am a big believer in having a big supply of sanding discs. Nothing is more annoying than running out of sanding discs in the middle of a project. I use 120, 150, 180, 200, and 220 grit sandpaper the most often.

Zibra Paint Brushes

I use these to apply paint.

Zibra brushes are great quality and don’t leave brush strokes on your furniture. As I shared previously, I have had some of my Zibra brushes for years. Anytime I apply paint, I use a Zibra brush. I love Zibra paint brushes and they are definitely on the list of my favorite tools to refurbish furniture.

Wax Brushes

I use these to apply clear wax to wood and painted furniture.

These wax brushes are my go to tool whenever I want to apply natural wax to raw wood furniture. Their specific design helps apply wax uniformly and the bristles help to reach crevices in the decorative details.

Tools for Reupholstering Furniture

These are my “go-to” tools for reupholstering furniture like this chair shown in the photo above.

Air Compressor

I use an air compressor for upholstery projects. This is not only a favorite tool for refurbishing furniture, it is an essential tool.

I literally could not reupholster furniture without an air compressor. Forget those days of using a hand held staple gun, where a staple goes half way into the wood and then you end up banging in the remaining staple with a hammer. An air compressor lets you use a pneumatic staple gun and it provides enough power so that staple will go into the hardest of woods. Also, they are great if you need to inflate a bicycle tire.

Pneumatic Staple Gun

I use this to attach foam, batting and fabric to the furniture frame.

Alas, to use a pneumatic staple gun, you need to have an air compressor. (More on the staple gun later) Having said that, both of these items are a game changer if you want reupholster anything.

Upholstery Kit

I use this to remove old upholstery, staples and tacks.

With my first upholstery project I used a flat head screw driver and needle nose pliers to pull out the old staples. Having the proper tools makes removing old staples and tacks so much easier! Plus the kit is less than $20! I wish I had purchased one of these kits sooner.

Spring Action Sewing Scissors

I use these to trim fabric for upholstery projects.

The key to a good upholstery job is ensuring the fabric is trimmed very closely to the wooden frame of the piece of furniture. In order to get a “close cut” I find these scissors work great. Bonus, they are spring loaded so it saves your hands a lot of work. These are particularly useful if you have small hands or arthritis.

Summary

If you want to learn more about how I use these tools, you might like to read the following posts.

Antique Wash Stand

Green Painted Dresser

How to Upholster a Stool

Thank you for stopping by the blog today! I hope you found some great tools for your next project.