There are a ton of great reasons why you should upcycle furniture. It allows you to kit your home out really cheaply in pieces that are custom to you, and have exactly the finish you want. It’s fun to do, and it actually helps the environment as less is being disposed of as waste and instead, is given a new lease of life. If you’ve been hoping to get into upcycling but aren’t sure where to start, here are a few ideas to get you started.
Invest in the right tools
If you plan on upcycling regularly, it’s worth investing in a few tools so that you’re able to take the hard work out of certain tedious jobs. An electric sander, for example, will allow you to get through old layers of paint and varnish quickly, and a drill will allow you to quickly remove things like furniture legs and hardware there’s a cordless drill guide here https://cordlessdrillguide.com if you need more information). You can do these things by hand, but it will take you a lot longer and it’s not the most fun part of the project- so it’s worth making life a little easier for yourself here.
Always put in the prep work
It’s tempting to want to drive straight into your project and start doing the fun stuff like adding paint and other touches. However, when it comes to upcycling, prep work is key. It will all depend on what you’re working on, but in most cases, you’ll need to carefully clean down any items using something like sugar soap, and then sand and smooth all surfaces. Spend time researching the paint color and finish you plan on using, and if it has a certain effect on it then watch some tutorials first so you know what you’re doing. This will give you the best finish.
Know where to find bargains
The trickiest part of upcycling can often be finding the right pieces to start with, but it’s much easier when you know where to look. The Facebook marketplace can be great, as can classified sites like Craigslist, junk shops, and even auctions can enable you to pick up pieces cheaply. Keep an eye on the overall shape and style of a piece, before you upcycle things can look very frumpy and old fashioned but a coat of paint makes all the difference. Check the integrity of every piece, anything warped, rotting or showing signs of woodworm should be avoided.
The small details make all the difference
Finally, it’s the little details that can make all the difference to a project. Some pretty drawer liners in the drawers, some new chrome legs or fancy handles on the drawers. You can really have fun with this part as well and bring some personality to what you’ve upcycled.
