refurnish
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /rɪfˈɜːnɪʃ/
US
- /rɪfˈɜːnɪʃ/
Description
- Furnish again
- Replace the furniture
- Give a room new furniture
- Fit out again
Imagine your living room has seen better days: the sofa's springs are poking through, the curtains are faded, and everything feels tired. To refurnish that room is not just a quick tidy-up; it means putting in new furniture and other main items. It is more than simply moving around what you already have. It is about bringing in fresh pieces to give the space a new look and make it work better. You might refurnish an entire house after a move or just one room when you are ready for a change. Think of it as giving your home a makeover, with the focus on what goes inside.
To refurnish means to furnish something again, typically a room, a building, or even an entire house. It is a specific type of renovation; while redecorating often involves painting walls or changing wallpaper, refurnishing focuses specifically on replacing or adding furniture, fixtures, and other essential furnishings.
The "re-" prefix indicates doing something again, but in this context, it implies bringing a space back to life with a fresh set of items. As the saying goes, you wouldn't refurnish an empty house—you would simply furnish it! Refurnishing is usually undertaken when existing items are worn out, outdated, or no longer suit the occupant's needs or style.
For example: "After years of saving, they finally had enough money to refurnish the guest bedroom," or "The hotel closed for a month to completely refurnish all its suites." The term can also be used figuratively. A writer might say, "He needed to refurnish his mind with new ideas after a long period of creative block." This suggests the act of filling one's mental space with fresh inspiration and thoughts.
Unlike simply moving a chair from one corner to another, refurnishing often involves a significant investment in new pieces. It is about creating a renewed atmosphere and improved functionality. If you are dreaming of a home transformation that goes beyond just a new coat of paint, you are thinking about refurnishing.
Examples
- 1
Home after damage
After the flood, they had to refurnish the entire apartment before they could move back in.
- 2
Hospitality
The owners refurnished the hotel lobby with lighter chairs and bigger tables.
Pattern
refurnish something with + furniture
add that type of new furniture
- 3
Renovation planning
She bought the house cheaply, planning to refurnish it room by room over the next year.
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- refurnishverb
Forms
- refurnishedpast tenseverb
- refurnishing-ing formverb
- refurnishesverb