The beginner ’s guide to upcycling

It’s the planet- and purse-friendly way to give your furniture a glow-up, but how can you avoid any DIY disasters? Read on...

1 What is it?

Upcycling is all about taking something old, restoring it and giving it a good glow-up, so it looks as good as new

– or even better. You can do it with pretty much anything, including old clothes, but the practice is having a real “moment” in the world of interiors. A lot of the vintage-style furniture you see on your favourite influencers’ accounts is likely to be the result of an upcycling project.

2 Nail the basics

Upcycling isn’t as simple as it looks – diving in without doing your prep leaves you open to making a mess of it. So do your research first – with a bit of knowledge and a few tools in your tank, you’ll be turning your tat into treasure before you can say Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.

3 Pick your project

You can upcycle literally anything. Chairs can be reupholstered with fresh fabrics, and furniture can be painted in modern colours, or even have pieces cut off to create something new entirely. The key with furniture is to choose pieces that still have a sturdy structure.

DIY influencer and YouTube’s queen of upcycling Hermione Chantal says her current favourite things to restore feature smooth lines and an interesting structure. “Think large vases and lamps that may look a little ugly on the surface, but can be easily made over with a few coats of spray paint,” she says.

4 Start your search

Chantal suggests the best place to start hunting for old trinkets is by tapping up your family members. “See if your relatives are giving anything away, or ask to browse their attics for interesting pieces they no longer want,” she suggests. “If it’s got sentimental value, it becomes more of a talking point in your home, and you’ll want to hold onto it for longer.” Just make sure the person you’re sourcing your wares from knows what you’re going to do with the item.

You could also try Facebook Marketplace, Freecycle, Gumtree and Shpock, or charity shops. If this is your first foray into upcycling, hunt out pieces that cost little to no money. That way, if your project doesn’t turn out how you hoped, it’s not a huge loss – and if it turns out great, then it’s an even better win.

Having said that, Chantal advises checking what the item could be worth before you go too crazy with the paintbrush. “I’ve painted a £5 charity shop side table and later found out it was worth hundreds,” she laughs. “If something is a solid wood antique, or in great condition, see if you can make it work in your home first!”

5 Get inspired

Chantal’s advice is to remember that paint can always be covered up with another shade as trends change. “I’ve noticed more colour creeping back into people’s homes, as well as woven cane popping up in furniture stores,” she says. “The latter is such an easy hack to replicate on drawer fronts, on headboards and in cabinet doors.”

When revamping a chest of drawers, try changing the handles. “My favourite places to find unique [ones] are Anthropologie or West Elm,” Chantal adds.

“If you decide later that you’re bored of them, you can easily replace them.”