How to Apply Decals to Furniture
A decal is a plastic, cloth or paper that has a pattern or image printed on it, which can be transferred to another surface, usually with the help of water. Mostly, decals consist of an image painted on a varnished paper base. The decal is soaked in warm water for some time and then applied carefully onto the surface of furniture. It is an easy and quick way to bring life to even the dullest pieces of furniture. Hardware stores and home centres often sell decals, but for a wide collection of decals you should visit a craft or art supply store.
Instructions
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1
Clean the surface
Thoroughly clean the surface you want to decorate with decals, removing all the dirt, grime and wax. -
2
Soak the decal in warm water
Soak the decal you want to apply in lukewarm water for a couple of minutes or until the paper loosens. -
3
Apply the decal to the prepared surface
Carefully apply the soaked decal onto the surface of the furniture you want to decorate, making sure it has been applied smoothly. After having applied the decal smoothly, peel off the lacquered paper base, following the instructions provided by your manufacturer. -
4
Remove decal while it is still wet
If you are not satisfied with the effect of the decal or feel it is not positioned properly, remove it from the surface while it is still wet. To reapply the same image, you don’t need to soak it this time, just dip it in warm water and apply again. -
5
Removing dried decals
To remove a dried decal you will need special decal removing strips. Soak the decal removing strip in lukewarm water for a couple of minutes, or as directed by the manufacturer, and place it over the ruined decal, making sure the image has been completely covered. Allow the strip to set for half an hour, or as directed, and then carefully peel it off, the decal should come with it. -
6
Make the decal permanent
To make your decal permanent and protect it from any damage, brush a transparent polyurethane over the surface of the decal. Also extend the polyurethane beyond the edges of the decal for at least a quarter inch, this will give a smooth and even look to your decal. Polyurethane is available at any craft store. For smaller projects, you can also use decoupage to encapsulate the image.
