Advice please, old wooden bathroom vanity

[leastock06]

 

   

I’d really appreciate some advice & expertise. We bought an old solid wood bathroom vanity to restore, re varnish. 
I’m a complete novice & would really appreciate on where to start & which products to use.

Thank you in advance 

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @leastock06. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about restoring a vanity.

To provide the best advice, it would be helpful to know what level of restoration you're aiming for. Do you want to preserve its current character and patina, or are you looking to restore it to its original appearance?

The patina on the timber, as shown in the images, has a lovely aged charm. If you'd like to keep it in this form, you could opt for a simpler approach by cleaning the surface, lightly sanding to remove dirt and rough patches, and then applying a quality furniture wax. This would enhance the natural beauty and protect the timber without drastically altering its appearance.

If you prefer to restore it to its original look, you’ll need to sand the entire unit back to fresh timber. This involves using coarse-grit sandpaper to remove the existing finish and any imperfections, followed by finer grits for a smooth finish. After sanding, you could stain the timber to your desired colour, then seal it with a varnish or polyurethane for durability. For a bathroom setting, ensure you choose a water-resistant finish to protect the wood from moisture.
 

Let me tag @Renowayoflife to see if she has any thoughts.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[leastock06]

Thank you! That’s very helpful.

I’m thinking I might like to keep it to its original appearance as I do love the rustic style. 
thank you for the information!