Accidents can happen, and the once smooth or glossy surface of your beloved piece of wood furniture is suddenly marred by scratches or a deep gouge. It might be a casualty of a house move, from the claws of playful pets, a crafting mishap, or the dropping of a sharp-edged ornament. Whatever the cause, when you first see the damage to your table, credenza, , , or , the first rule is not to panic.

The damage can usually be repaired without needing to send it to the professionals for refinishing. All you need are a few tools and a bit of patience. We’ve shared some expert tips on just how to repair a scratch to your wood furniture or surfaces.

The first step is to see how widespread or deep the scrape or scarring is. For light scratches in wood, it might be possible to do a simple repair with touch-up pens or stain and polish. For a deeper mark, it could require a four-step process to remove all evidence of the gouge.

Start by cleaning the surface with a damp cloth to remove dust or debris. Next, pick the type of treatment you will use to repair the damage. Make sure you have all the tools you’ll need to hand, and you are ready to begin.

As an experienced furniture mover, Nick Valentino, VP of Market Operations of , knows what to do if pieces get scuffed in transit: ‘For shallow scratches and dents, repair markers work great. They're made from a waxy substance that will fill in the physical space of dents and come in enough colors that you should be able to match whatever .