Do you have a set of dining room chairs that have seen better days? Or drab pine drawers that aren’t doing your bedroom any favours?
Don’t throw them away! We guarantee there’s more life in those shabby pieces of furniture. If you’re up for a creative challenge, you can save money and the environment by giving old furniture a bit of TLC instead of putting it to landfill.
Upcycling furniture is a fun, affordable and environmentally friendly way to give old items collecting dust in your garage a new lease of life. Our DIY guide for beginners will tell you why upcycling is so popular and provide you with tips and local resources on how to get started with upcycling.
What Is Upcycling?
Upcycling takes old, unloved items like a chest of drawers or coffee table and repurposes them with a new lease of life instead of throwing them away.
Upcycling is different from recycling. Recycling reduces an object to its raw components to be made into something else, whereas the function of an upcycled item remains the same. Recycling needs to be performed at a specialist facility, but upcycling is the perfect DIY hobby you can do from home.
Whether through covid boredom, a desire to save money or increased awareness around sustainability, upcycling is growing in popularity. In the past 12 months searches for ‘how to upcycle furniture’ and ‘decoupage paper’ have been trending on Google.
If you’re new to upcycling and want to hop aboard the trend, you’ve come to the right place!
Read on to find out more about upcycling and get our DIY upcycling tips for beginners.
What Kind of Things Can I Upcycle?
Short answer: almost anything!
Wooden furniture, lamps, teapots, picture frames, coat hooks and planters all make superb upcycling projects.
Most Popular Upcycle Projects For Beginners
If you’re just starting out the most popular upcycle projects for beginners are
- Coffee table or desk
- Dining chairs
- TV unit
- Wooden ladder
- Wooden picture frames
- Pallet boxes
All you need for the above projects are paint, elbow grease and your imagination!
Sofas and armchairs are more ambitious because they’re bigger and typically require upholstering.
We’re sure by now you’re keen to crack open the paint tin have a go!
But first, here’s a couple more reasons to love upcycling…
Upcycling Is Eco-Friendly
According to the British Heart Foundation a third of UK adults throw away furniture that could be reused.
We’ve all heard of fast fashion, but ‘fast furniture’ also negatively impacts the environment. The British Heart Foundation believe that interiors trends prompt people to throw away good quality furniture to landfill – 670,000 tonnes, to be precise.
Furthermore, 110,000 tonnes of this furniture is reusable.
What if instead of chucking out that old fashioned pine dresser and chest of drawers you transformed them with a lick or paint or floral stencils?
Upcycling Is Cheap
The same British Heart Foundation survey found that, despite financial pressure, many first-time buyers choose to furnish their home with new furniture instead of buying second-hand.
Upcycling is an affordable option for those looking to furnish their home beautifully while on a budget.
If you’re a new homeowner check with relatives who might be storing old, unused furniture in their garage or spare room. If you’re willing to spend a little time on a DIY project upcycling will save your hard-earned cash.
Even if you’re a long-time homeowner, upcycling can add thousands to the value of your home!
Upcycling Is A Creative Way To Add Personality To Your Home
One of the advantages of upcycling is that you can get creative. Unique furniture will add personality to your home because you can customise almost everything, from colours, surfaces, and handles.
Hand-painted and customised furniture can add a cosy, homely feel to your room without breaking the bank. Plus, there’s the satisfaction of doing a project yourself.
A coffee table stained with water marks and coffee cup rings can be transformed into a beautiful centrepiece with the right shade of paint.
Scabby garden furniture needn’t be chucked away. A sand and coat of paint will have them good as new. Summer garden party, anyone?
How To Upcycle Old Furniture From Scratch
Here are a few tips to get you started on your upcycle journey.
Where Can I Find Furniture To Upcycle?
Look around your home! You’d be surprised at what unloved objects might have escaped your notice.
Online search Gumtree, eBay and Facebook Marketplace.
Ask family and friends if they have any old furniture that they’re looking to get rid of.
Locally, there are two vintage shops in Blairgowrie on the High Street and Croft Lane. You could also try Howe’s auction house and the charity shops.
The Tayside Upcycling and Craft Centre (TUCC) on the A90 is another great resource. Stepping inside is like entering a treasure trove! They offer paint, brushes, stencils, and upcycling advice.
By shopping locally you’ll save money on petrol and reduce your carbon footprint.
Which Paint Should I Use?
There are three main types of furniture base paints: oil and acrylic (or water-based) and chalk.
Oil-based paint is hardwearing and can be used on most surfaces. Usually oil-based paint won’t need a primer or topcoat. The drawbacks of using oil paint are that it takes longer to dry and contains harmful solvents.
Acrylic or water-based paint are quicker to dry, easier to apply and contain less harmful solvents. You’ll need to use a primer and remember that water-based paints are typically less durable.
Chalk paint has no need for the gear, space, and hassle of traditional refinishing, which requires paint stripping, sanding, and hours of prep work. Chalk style paint also lends itself extremely well to a handcrafted or vintage/distressed feel. You can use it on any surfect including exterior walls, garden furniture, metal, concrete, matte plastic, and terracotta.
Depending on your aesthetic and type of project there are three different types of paint finish.
Matte. Matte paint will lend a chalky, distressed look to your upcycle project. If you like a rustic look matte is your best option. Remember to seal it in with a protective topcoat.
Glossy. Gloss paint is high-shine and adds a high-end, contemporary finish to furniture. Furniture painted with gloss paint is easy to clean and maintain.
Satin. Satin is a semi-gloss paint that leaves a brighter finish than gloss.
At Nest we stock a range of Frenchic Chalk & Mineral Furniture Paint & accessories. If you’re unsure about which finish or type of paint your project needs, come and talk to us. Frenchic is easy to apply and durable, with a choice of stunning colours and ranges. From the traditional artisan to award winning self-sealing furniture paint and totally scrubbable chalk wall paint.
From 1st August we are becoming an official Frenchic Stockist, taking over from Jenni Devaney. This means we can hold our own workshops and provide advice about the full range of products.
Visit Nest to browse Frenchic paint and accessories between Tuesday and Saturday, 10am – 2pm.
How To Prep Furniture For Painting
Before rushing in with a paintbrush and your favourite colour you must prepare the surface, otherwise all your hard work will be in vain.
- First, clean any dirt or dust from your surface with a lint-free cloth.
- Next, lightly sand your surface. A few rough edges will give the paint something to grip onto.
- Tape over any parts of the furniture you don’t want painted, like the handles.
- The last step before painting is to use a primer if necessary. You don't need a primer if using Frenchic Paint.
- Use a paint brush or foam roller to evenly coat your surface. Allow each coat to fully dry before adding the next. It’s a good idea to lightly sand after each coat so that the next layer adheres properly. 2-3 coats of paint should be enough.
- Increase the life of your project by sealing when finished. A wax seal applied 24 hours after the paint has dried will protect your handiwork.
Upcycling Projects To Try Now
We bet you can find at least one of these items lying around your home!
Pallet box
Turn a pallet box into DIY shelving with a few coats of paint. It’ll save you a trip to IKEA.
Old Picture Frame
Breathe new life into an old picture frame with decoupage. All you need is paper, paint and persistence!
Coffee Table
Stain or decoupage an old coffee table for an eye-catching centrepiece. You could try painting the legs with a gold finish for a touch of glamour.
Old Lamp
Do you have an old standing lamp that’s stopped working? You can repurpose it into a planter or hanging basket. Its also worth scouring the charity shops for vintage lamps if you don’t have one of your own as the bases without the shade can made beautiful candle sticks.
If you need any more inspiration then take a look at the Inspiration section of the Frenchic Paint website for a gallery of fabulous makeovers! https://frenchicpaint.co.uk/blogs/upcycling
We hope this blog post has inspired you to give your old furniture a new lease of life!