Upcycling is the process of taking old items such as furniture and sprucing it up to make it look new again. There are many benefits to doing this, including the fact that it’s fun, allows you to create unique items, and it’s good for the environment – with more items being upcycled that means fewer items are going to landfill. It’s a win-win all round.

Many people like the idea of upcycling, but they don’t know where to start so they miss out on all the enjoyment and satisfaction it can bring. Read on to find out how to get started with upcycling and you’ll never look back.

What Have You Already Got?

Rather than heading out to the antique shops and salvage yards (although that is fun, it will cost you money and when you’re just starting that’s something you’ll want to do as little as possible), look around your home and see what you already have. There might be an old chest of drawers or a dining chair that’s seen better days that you can practice on. Perhaps you’ve just bought new side tables glass and the old tables were due to go to the dump; why not try upcycling them instead?

The great thing about this idea is that it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t work out. If you make a mistake or don’t like the end result, you can donate the item or give it away or, if you really have to, throw it out, which is what you were going to do anyway. If you do like what you’ve done it might make a great addition to your home, or perhaps be a lovely gift.

Ask Around

If you have nothing in your home that is going to give you an opportunity to try your hand at upcycling, you can ask around your friends and family to see if anyone has anything they want to donate. Often you’ll find they’ll be glad to dispose of the item, and you can go to town with your ideas.

These are the kinds of items you can truly experiment with, and then, when you’re more confident, you’ll know which styles and ideas you like the best. You might even create your own unique look.

Look For Ideas

Once you have all the equipment you need, you’ll want to get started, but this can be a problem if you don’t have any ideas. This is easy to fix, though, as you simply need to look online for inspiration. A site such as Pinterest will give you millions of different design ideas, and although you shouldn’t copy them directly (especially if you plan on selling your work), you can use them as a starting point to grow from.