Get matched with top furniture refinishers in Yoakum, TX

The best way to help a family member or friend declutter their home is to hire a professional organizer or cleaner to do it for them. However, you can also help them make a plan to tackle the clutter. Sit down with them and sort through the items, making piles of what to keep, toss, and donate. Focus on one area at a time to avoid overwhelming them. If they have trouble letting go of some items, ask them when they last used each item, what its purpose is, and whether it has sentimental value. The answers to these questions can help you advise them on handling clutter.

You can use most types of wood for a fireplace mantel. You can use simple veneer plywood. If you prefer solid wood, pine is an affordable option that's easy to cut and finish. Walnut is harder, heavier, and highly durable with a rich dark brown color. Hickory offers a lighter color but is similarly durable. Cedar is ideal for a rustic fireplace design.

The cost to refinish a table is about $250, depending on the size, type of finish, and amount of detail involved in the table and the new finish. The lowest price to refinish a table is about $80, and the highest is about $700. Additional tasks like dipping, stripping, staining, and painting will add to the total project cost. Here are average costs to refinish a table by type:

• Side or end table: $80–$150

• Coffee table: $150–$250

• Dining room table: $400–$700

Restoring furniture generally takes less time because the fixes involved are mostly surface-level cosmetic repairs. In most cases, a project like this will be completed in one to two days at most. By contrast, refinishing can take anywhere from several days to a couple of weeks because it requires sanding and treating damaged wood, adding a new stain, finish, or layer of paint, and drying time.