Upcycling tips
TV Interior Designer, Fran Lee, (fran_lee_creative) from BBC Interior Design Masters season 3, tells us some of her top upcycling tips:
“When it comes to upcycling your home, it doesn’t have to mean dedicating an entire day to stripping, sanding, and painting. There are lots of ways to upcycle that can be quick fixes that give you an instant refresh.”
● Lampshades: “Easy to overlook, tucked away in a corner, a lampshade can be upcycled with a trim, fringe or braid around the top and/or the bottom. Simply cut to the desired length and glue gun on. My top tip is to seal the cut edge with glue before sticking your braid or fringe down so it doesn’t unravel as you go.”
● Hardware: “Look around your home and you’ll notice knobs, pulls, and handles everywhere that, when changed, can instantly change the personality of a piece of furniture. You can spray paint, swap around or even replace handles with thick rope. I love thick jute rope knots for a low-cost rustic effect and spray-painted kitchen cupboard handles for a zero hassle revamp.”
● A Splash of Colour: “Painting an entire space or even a feature wall can seem daunting, but painting the bottom 20cm of four table legs is a joyful way to add a pop of colour. Tie it in with the colours in the rest of the room to create a design narrative within your space. Wrapping paper and wallpaper can also be positioned at the back of shelving units and only requires a ruler, scissors, blue tac, and patience. Flatpack furniture can be revamped with one of the many paints on the market designed specifically for furniture and needs zero preparation!
● Something from Nothing: “With recycling mounting up in my kitchen, I love nothing more than to put it to an alternative use. Empty tin cans can be wrapped in string, twine, ribbon, or fabric scraps to create a new pen pot or vase. Toilet rolls can be cut down and made into abstract art, shoe boxes can be wrapped in wallpaper to create storage solutions – the recycling bin is literally where you can create treasure from your trash!