Fix Furniture Scratches with Touch-Up Markers

Quick answer: to hide a light scratch on wooden furniture, test a touch-up marker on a hidden spot, pick the shade closest to your wood, colour in the scratch with the fine tip in thin layers, and wipe off any extra before it dries. Touch-up markers are for small marks such as scratches, chips and worn edges, not deep damage. For tears in faux leather, a self-adhesive patch covers the spot without glue or sewing.

A quick touch-up is worth doing before guests arrive for the holidays, or after moving furniture around. TidyMend’s furniture fixes are in Furniture Repair.

What you need

The furniture touch-up marker set (6 colours): six markers in common wood shades with a fine tip for small marks
A soft, dry cloth
A hidden spot on the furniture to test the colour

Step-by-step: how to fix scratches with a touch-up marker

Look at the damage. Markers suit scratches, chips and worn edges on wooden tables, chairs, cabinets, doors, skirting boards, trim and floors. Deep gouges or missing pieces of wood need a different repair. For a small broken piece on plastic, metal, wood, ceramic or rubber, multi-purpose super glue with precision tips may help.
Clean the area. Wipe away dust so the colour goes onto the wood, not onto dirt.
Test the shade. Try the colours on a hidden spot first and pick the one closest to your wood.
Colour in the mark. Use the fine tip to colour in the scratch or chip, working in thin layers.
Wipe off any extra. Wipe off excess colour before it dries, then add another thin layer if the mark still shows.

Fixing a tear in a faux leather sofa or chair

The self-adhesive leather repair patch (25 × 30 cm) is a PU faux leather sheet with an adhesive backing for covering small tears, cracks and worn spots on sofas, chairs, headboards and seat cushions.

Clean the worn or torn area and let it dry.
Check the colour against your furniture before you cut; colours can vary by batch and screen.
Cut the sheet to shape and round the corners so the edges are less likely to lift.
Peel off the backing and press the patch on firmly, working from the centre out.

Replacing broken or worn furniture feet

wooden replacement furniture legs (4-pack, 8 cm): tapered natural wood legs, 8 cm (about 3.1 in) high, with mounting plates and screws, for sofas, beds, armchairs and cabinets. Screw a plate to the underside, thread on the leg and repeat for all four so the piece sits level. Check that the plate will sit flat before you screw it on.
adjustable cabinet legs (4-pack, 80–100 mm): screw-on black plastic feet, adjustable from 80 to 100 mm (about 3.1–3.9 in), with clips, for levelling and lifting kitchen and bathroom base cabinets or replacing broken cabinet feet. Twist each leg until the unit is steady and the doors line up.

Preventing new scratches

Furniture that is dragged, or that shifts on a hard floor, can leave new scratches. Felt pads and sliders under the legs help; see how to use furniture sliders. A door stop also keeps a door from hitting the wall: see how to choose and use a door stop.

Tips

Always test the marker colour on a hidden spot first.
Thin layers look more natural than one heavy coat.
For dents and holes in a painted wall rather than wood, see how to fill nail holes in a wall.

Frequently asked questions

Do furniture touch-up markers work on deep scratches?

They are meant for small marks such as scratches, chips and worn edges, not deep damage. Colour in the mark in thin layers and wipe off any extra.

How do I choose the right colour?

The TidyMend set has six markers in common wood shades. Test them on a hidden spot and pick the one closest to your wood.

Can I use touch-up markers on wooden floors and doors?

Yes. The set is for scratches and chips on wooden furniture, doors, floors, skirting boards and trim.

How do I fix a small tear in a faux leather sofa?

Clean and dry the area, cut the self-adhesive leather repair patch to shape with rounded corners, then peel and press it on from the centre out. Check the colour against your sofa first.

What height are the replacement furniture legs?

The wooden replacement legs are 8 cm high and come as a set of four with mounting plates and screws. The adjustable cabinet legs set between 80 and 100 mm.

How to Fix Scratches on Wood Furniture with Touch-Up Markers