How Do You Upcycle a Unit? Upcycling Furniture: A Beginner’s Guide

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Upcycling is transforming waste materials or unwanted products into new materials or products of better quality or environmental value. It differs from recycling in that it adds value to the original material, rather than simply converting it into a new form.

Steps for Upcycling Your Furniture

  1. Want to upcycle a vanity unit?

    • Give an old piece of furniture a new lease of life with a clever revamp.
    • Consider the height: The top of the basin should be around 75-100cm from the floor.
    • Apply several coats of marine-grade varnish to protect the wood counter.

  2. How to upcycle kitchen cabinets:

    • Remove the hardware and doors.
    • Sand the inside and outside of each door and the units left behind.
    • Hand sand the hardware.
    • Prime and spray the hardware.
    • Tape the floor and surfaces.

Practical Tips for Successful Upcycling

  • Creating Space: On average, a kitchenette takes up about 80 square feet. Consider taking down walls to create more space.
  • Transformation Examples:
    • An entertainment unit becomes a TV bench with a short stand on top for the TV and consoles under it. Two glass cabinet ends join to make a separate media unit.
    • Add legs to a shelf unit. Create a frame using wood trim, add leftover bathroom tiles to protect shelves, and use cardboard to soak up moisture.
    • Turn drawers into a colorful bathroom wall shelf unit.
  • Starting Upcycling At Home:
    • A dedicated space, tools, and a chosen item of furniture are all you need.

Upcycling Techniques

  • Selecting Your Project:

    • Focus first on proper prep work for your furniture piece.
    • Learn basic techniques such as painting or staining, and more advanced ones like reupholstering depending on the piece.

  • Finding Items to Upcycle:

    • Family hand-me-downs can be a great start for finding items with sentimental value.
    • Explore secondhand shops for pre-loved items to repurpose.

Upcycling not only helps the environment by reducing waste but also offers a cost-effective way to personalize your space. With creativity and a willingness to learn, you can contribute to a more sustainable future and develop handy craftsmanship skills.

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