Your ultimate guide to upcycling furniture for beginners
Upcycling is a term that’s becoming more and more familiar in our daily lives. It’s the act of taking something old, restoring it and giving it a good old glam up, to make it look as good as new - or better.
With such a hardcore focus on sustainability right now, it’s easy to see why so many people are jumping on the trend. It’s cost-effective and good for the planet, because it’s stopping us buying new things we don’t necessarily need, and means you're making use of things that already exist.
While you can upcycle pretty much everything including your old clothes, by far the most common thing to breath new life into is interiors.
Chairs and other furniture can be recovered with new fabrics, be painted with more modern colours, or even have pieces chopped off to create something new entirely. And hey, this sounds like a great way to kill lockdown time if you’re already struggling.
A lot of the vintage-looking furniture you see on your favourite influencers’ accounts is already likely to be an upcycle project, and it’ll surprise you just how easy it is to turn your tat into treasure.
What can I upcycle?
Anything! It's totally up to personal choice - whatever bits and bobs you think can be improved with a lick of paint or new handle. You can upcycle:
Chairs
Cabinets
Vintage suitcases
Lamps
Tables
Vases
Any furniture you think has a decent structure or shell
Where can you find things to upcycle?
DIY influencer and YouTube's queen of upcycling, Hermione Chantal, suggests the best place to start hunting for old trinkets is with family members.
“Check what they’re giving away, or browse in the attic for interesting pieces that they no longer want,” she suggests. “If it’s got sentimental value, it becomes more of a talking point in your home, and something you’ll want to hold on to for longer.”
You could also try:
Facebook Marketplace
Freecycle
Gumtree
Charity shops
Shpock
It's worth hunting for upcycles that cost little-to-no money if you’re just starting out. That way if it doesn’t turn out how you hoped, it’s not a huge loss. Plus, it’s a huge win when you’ve created something amazing from old junk.
Having said that, Hermione advises checking what the item could be worth before you go to crazy on the paint. "The amount of times I have painted a £5 side table from the charity shop that I later found out was worth hundreds is laughable, and those are some of my biggest regrets. If something is a solid wood antique, or in great condition, see if you can make it work in your home first!"
Where can I find inspiration for upcycling?
Like most things, social media has become a haven for finding inspiration for interiors projects, as well as tips, tricks and hacks for making your upcycle a success.
Hermione’s current favourite things to makeover feature smooth lines, as well as interesting structure: "Things like large vases and lamps that may look a little ugly on the surface can be easily made over with a few coats of spray paint,” she says, and adds that mid-century modern and art-deco styles are her go-to when it comes to DIY.
Whatever your style, Hermione’s top tip is to remember that paint can always be painted over with the changing seasons and trends. "I’ve noticed more colour creeping back into people’s homes which could be a big trend for next year...This year we’ve seen loads of woven cane pop up in furniture stores, which is such an easy hack to replicate on drawer fronts, headboards and in cabinet doors."
Another great thing to consider, particularly when revamping drawers is that simply changing the handles or pulls can make all of the difference.
“My favourite places to find unique drawer pulls is Anthropologie or West Elm," Hermione says. “If you decide later down the line that you’re bored of the handles, you can pass them on to a new owner, and easily replace them with something different.”
How do I make sure I do a good job of upcycling?
Preparation is key. You’ll need to have an end goal for your project in mind, and work out what the steps are to help you get there. Although it’s exciting to get started on transforming your furniture, don’t rush, because you’re more likely to run into these sorts of problems. As a general rule:
Always wipe down and sand your furniture. Getting an old cobweb tangled up in your paint is never going to end well. Give it a quick wash and then a sand down, to encourage new paint to stick properly.
Use enough layers of paint, and be patient. It can be frustrating having to wait for things to dry, but follow the instructions of the stuff you're using - if it says it needs four hours between layers, wait four hours!
Don’t try to transform your furniture into something it’ll never be. If you’re doing up a 70s cabinet, for example, don’t expect it to look good with lashings of your favourite metallic paint, as the two just don’t go hand-in-hand. Try to keep some reference to its era, or how it was originally intended to look.
Don't understimate the importance of vanish. When you’re happy that it’s turned, use a varnish spray or glaze: that way it’ll be both protected and look professionally finished.
Of course, the best part is putting your own stamp on things. If you have a vision in mind for a particular piece, there are so many products on the market to help you achieve that look, and you’ve probably never even heard of them.
Finally, remember to have fun, and snap plenty of pics for Instagram. It’ll be worth it.
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