The Beginner’s Guide To Upcycling

“Upcyling is not as simple as it looks—diving in without doing your prep leaves you open to making a mess of it.”

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.

Nail the Basics

Upcyling is not 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 will be turning your tat into treasure easy-peasy.

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. UK-based 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.

Start Your Search

Hermoine 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 house for interesting pieces they no longer want,” she suggests.

“If a piece of furniture has got sentimental value, it becomes more of a talking point in your home, and you will want to hold onto it for longer.” Just make sure the person you are sourcing your wares from knows what you are going to do with the item. You could also try Facebook Marketplace, Zefo, Quickr, and IndiaMart. If this is your first foray into upcycling, hunt out pieces that cost little to no money. That way, if your project does not turn out how you hoped, it is not a huge loss—and if it sums out great, then it is an even better win. Having said that, Hermoine advises checking what the item could be worth before you go too crazy with the paint brush. “I have painted a charity shop-sourced side table and later found out it was worth a small fortune,” she laughs. “If something is a solid wood antique, or in great condition, see if you can make it work in your home first!”

Get Inspired

Hermoine’s advice is to remember that paint can always be covered up with another shade as trends change. “I have 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. Check out Pepperfry, Urban Ladder, or Furlenco for some inspiration. “If you decide later that you are bored of them, you can easily replace them,” concludes Hermoine.

Getting Started

Step 1
Preparation is key when it comes to doing a good job with any upcycling project. Have an end goal in mind—what do you want your piece to look like once it is finished?—and work out what steps you will need to complete to get there. Although you will be excited to get started, do not rush, because you are more likely to run into problems.

Step 2
Yes, it is not the fun part, but getting a cobweb tangled up in your paint is never going to end well. Give your piece a quick wipe with a wet cloth, then sand it down to encourage new paint to stick properly, and to stop any new paint reacting with the old and causing discolouration.

Step 3
Use enough layers of paint—and be patient. Waiting for each new layer to dry can be frustrating, but follow the instructions on the tin of paint that you are using—if  it needs four hours between layers, wait four hours! For a kaleidoscope of colour choices and great coverage, try Immix, CrafTreat, or Rust-Oleum paints.

Step 4
Do not underestimate the importance of varnish. When you are happy with the paint and have left it to dry as per the instructions, use a varnish spray or glaze—that way, it will be protected and look professionally finished.

Et voilà! A brand new look for your home without breaking the bank.     

Image Credits: Anushka Menon