Upcycling and repurposing furniture is a creative way to add unique pieces to your home decor. It also helps reduce waste and contributes to environmental sustainability.
Old doors can be transformed into headboards, coffee tables, or hallway benches. Pallets can be repurposed into stylish storage units or bench seats.
Turn it into wall decor
Aside from being more affordable than buying new furniture, repurposed pieces offer one-of-a-kind accents for your home. Even something as simple as a wood plank or piece of driftwood can turn into a wall decor item when painted in the right color. Use wood markers, filler, or putty to hide small scratches in the wood if needed before adding stain.
Don’t be afraid to go bold with your paint colors — sunshine yellow and tangerine are sure to pop! You can also use metal casters to give an old ladder a shabby chic look, then add hooks to the slats to create a DIY coat rack for your entryway.
Not all wall decor items need to be attached to your walls — an old ladder leaning against the wall can provide a shabby chic spot for trinkets, such as glassware or vases. You can also use an old bookcase for this purpose if you don’t have room in your home for a ladder or want a more minimal look.
Turn it into a bed
A shabby dresser, old table, or even a sideboard may look like it’s ready for the trash, but with a little innovation, items destined for the landfill can breathe new life into your home. From turning a door into a headboard to creating a unique storage unit out of a pallet, there are endless opportunities to make your own stylish upcycled furniture pieces.
Repurposed furniture is an eco-friendly and budget friendly way to decorate your home. You can find a wide range of items to upcycle at tag sales, garage sales, flea markets, second hand stores, auctions at storage units, or For Sale listings on websites such as Craig’s List.
To get started, gather the items you want to upcycle and any paint or stain that you will need. Always consider the quality of the piece you are converting and the functionality it will have when finished before you begin. You don’t want to spend time working on a project only to have it fall apart after a short period of time.
Turn it into a desk
Whether it’s an old trunk-turned-bookcase or a dining table converted into a desk, furniture repurposing allows you to bring your unique style to any room in your home. It’s also an environmentally friendly way to revamp your decor without spending a lot of money on new pieces.
Thrift stores and flea markets are great places to find one-of-a-kind furniture items that can be repurposed into something new. Look for sturdy pieces that are free of major damage or irreparable structural issues. You can even upgrade an existing piece of furniture into a different use by giving it a makeover, like reupholstering or painting it.
Painting and refinishing are popular upcycling techniques that can completely change the look and feel of a piece of furniture. You can also get creative with your upcycling projects by adding texture, distressing, and stencilling to give the finished piece an authentically vintage feel. The repurposed piece can be used as a coffee table, storage unit, or planter for real or synthetic flowers.
Turn it into a storage unit
When it comes to upcycling furniture, the possibilities are endless. You can paint furniture, add fabric drapes or valances, or install new hardware. You can also turn pieces of furniture into storage units by removing the drawers and adding shelves or a countertop.
Besides saving space, upcycling furniture reduces waste by making use of old materials. It also conserves natural resources and helps create unique, one-of-a-kind home decor pieces. The first step is to select the furniture piece you want to transform. Look for sturdy pieces of wood with a good finish, and avoid those with structural issues.
Once you’ve selected the furniture, clean it thoroughly to remove any stains or dust. Then, select a paint color and texture that fits the style you want to achieve. Choose eco-friendly, low VOC paints to minimize the impact on the environment and your health. It’s important to properly prepare the piece before painting as well, especially if it’s made of natural wood.
