A short guide to upcycling your furniture

My most popular blog posts are about upcycling furniture. The first is this post about painting bedside tables and the other is about upcycling and painting pine furniture. So when it comes to upcycling, you could definitely say I’ve been there, done that.

So who best to bring you a brand new shorter guide to upcycling furniture? I’ve made errors and created some lovely furniture on a budget.

If you also like to save money, exercise your creativity, reduce the strain on the environment and give yourself access to a steady stream of new and unique items of furniture, then upcycling as a DIY project is probably a hobby that appeals to you.

What is upcycling?

Firstly, what exactly is upcycling (and is that even a real word)?

Upcycling is the practice of taking an old piece of furniture and giveing it a new lease of life. You might take an old weather-beaten door and repurpose it as a coffee table, or take an old bookshelf and make it into a TV stand. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination and technical skills.

This is a great way for those with creative and crafty skills to put their talents to use and make some creative pieces for the interior of their home.

Why upcycle?

There are a number of good reasons to upcycle. You might decide that an existing piece doesn’t make a good match for your decor, and seek to modify it with a coat of paint. You might be looking to make a profit by selling the piece in question, as high-quality, finished upcycled pieces can be attractive to buyers, especially those with quirky home interior tastes, which is growing in popularity.

Upcycling is particularly popular among environmentalists. Rather than throwing away old items and replacing them with new ones (whose manufacture comes with a carbon footprint), you can instead simply buy a few key tools and a pot of paint and create a new use, purpose, or look for the item.

How to upcycle

The process for upcycling will tend to vary depending on the materials you’re working with. To begin with, it’s a good idea to work with older pieces of timber. Fill in any small blemishes with wood filler and sand the entire thing down, removing any paint or varnishing so that it’s ready to receive a new coat of paint.

Metal items tend to require a slightly different approach to sanding. Here is where a few tools might come in handy: a battery angle grinder will work wonders for working with metals and other hard materials, saving you huge amounts of time and energy while producing superior results.

Once you’ve taken the item back to its bare material, it’s time to make it look amazing again. With wood furniture, you can oil it, varnish it, seal it or paint it. You can add decopage, spray paint handles and other hardwear and give it the look you want.

Design

Upcycling involves a process of redesign. If you’re not redesigning an item, even slightly, then you’re not really upcycling – you’re simply maintaining or restoring the piece.

Decorative elements are an easy way to change the design. You might carve or etch new lines into a surface, paint it, install LEDs, or even wallpaper. To begin with, you might keep things simple – but as your knowledge develops, you might consider more and more advanced projects, with more intricate designs.

Incorporating plastic sheeting, electronics and other flourishes might help you to create designs that combine the style of an older piece with new technology – which can often result in an item that’s entirely unique.

The design part of upcycling is very important, as this is what will give the item its new appearance. This is where it’s important to consider theming it with your interior design style so it fits seamlessly into your home. If you are looking to sell upcycling projects, consider designs that will fit into popular design themes and interior design styles.

Finishing

A good upcycler will understand how to seal a project. This will ensure that wooden surfaces are protected, and, where appropriate, that the natural grain is accentuated. You might do this with paints – or with varnishes, waxes, or resins. Make sure that you apply multiple coats, and that you’re sanding between them to ensure full and proper protection.