Upcycling furniture for beginners

Let's face it, you're either in the upcycling furniture camp or reckon it’s the quickest way to ruin a perfectly good piece of furniture. If you'd like to get into upcycling furniture and you're new to it all, then this beginner's guide from Ryder Services is for you.

Make do and mend

Research suggests that the old Dunkirk spirit is still alive and well, with around 60% of UK adults having tried their hand at upcycling and repairs instead of replacing. We like to think it’s striving to help the common good in hard times and a higher cost of living that's driving this. Ditto sustainability. Then there's wanting something that doesn't come from that well-known Scandinavian store.

Chip and pin

Don't forget that we supply screws, nails and timber, because upcycling can be as much about restoration and repair as painting and stencilling. An old wobbly chair or falling-down sideboard can be fixed up with some chip and pin!

Vintage point

The great thing is you can pretty much re-create at a fraction of the price that piece of vintage furniture you spotted in a chic boutique furniture store and get that dopamine hit into the bargain. It's also a talking point when you have people over and the conversation feels like it's about to dry up.

There's still work to be done

Other stats say that while 42% of us have a desire to upcycle, fewer than one in ten of us will try to repair what is broken. Maybe you're about to join the upcycling furniture revolution and help us all try to move away from our throw-away culture.

Why upcycle furniture?

You can give that chair, table, sideboard, bedside table, bed frame, wardrobe, or chest of drawers a new lease of life, turn it into a hobby or even a side hustle if you get good at it and start building a reputation as a mean upcycler!

The environmental impact of upcycling furniture

About 22 million pieces of furniture are discarded each year in the UK. Most end up in landfill. By upcycling you’re not only doing the plant a favour but tapping into something that is good for the soul, and something that’s not digital. Working with your hands to create something brings a whole different kind of joy to life.

Tips for newbie furniture upcyclers

We get it. You’re excited about starting and this means getting off to a flying one. But you don’t want cobwebs and other stuff getting caught up in your masterpiece. Or maybe you do! That’s the beauty of upcycling: you can do what you please. But the general rule of thumb is that preparation is key.

Clean the piece of furniture thoroughly with sugar soap or TSP and allow it to dry

Gently sandpaper away the sheen so that the paint finds purchase. You might wish to start with 80-grit before graduating to 120-grit. You can always finish with 180-grit to smooth out scratches, always sanding in the direction as the grain of the wood.

A tack cloth or white spirit will remove sanding dust and debris. Wax or varnish your work at the end to protect it from the rigours of the weather and the world.

From small acorns

Begin with simple projects like repainting a picture frame or reupholstering a stool. As you get into your upcycling stride, you can tackle more complex jobs.

Sturdy on!

A flimsy old piece of furniture that’s seen better days isn’t the best starting point. A solid wood chair with a few scratches is a better idea becuse it's a better canvas to work with. Trust us on this one.

keep a tool head

Having the right tools can make a huge difference to the outcome. We’re talking the essentials here, like sandpaper, paintbrushes, screws. And it’s so worth investing in quality brushes, unless you’re going for that bristles in paint look. Once finished and your brushes are clean, wrap in cling film to keep them moist for round two.

Mood bored

Pinterest and Instagram are excellent for upcycling ideas if you're bored with your own. See what others have done and let their creativity spark and then create a mood board. There are also hacks for copying furniture from well-known stores and make your own for a fraction of the price, like the famous bread-bin sideboard.

Glove island

Create an island space to work in, i.e. well-ventilated with lots of space around you, especially when using paints or adhesives. Don't forget those safety goggles and gloves!

be guided by the era

Shabby chic and bright colours don’t suit every piece of period furniture, even if it's the 1970s, so you may have to be at least a wee bit sympathetic to the era it came from to save yourself from upcycling disasters.

Get creative

• Turn one piece of furniture into another. Like a ladder into a set of shelve
• Make wine crates into bedside tables or TV tables (many of which are ugly, plus we don’t all like wall-mounted TVs)
• Take an old door and make it a table – maybe even a headboard.

Where to find cheap upcycling materials

Charity Shops are a great starting point. Places like the British Heart Foundation’s furniture and electrical stores often have hidden gems at bargain prices. Likewise Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree. Many people give away old furniture for free if you’re willing to collect it. And lots of stuff sits on these sites for ages because people often can’t be bothered arranging a collection even when the furniture is free.

Car boot sales and flea markets can be alive with vintage pieces that have been neglected, while some councils have reuse sections at Recycling Centres where you can pick up furniture for next to nothing. Then there's granny's loft!

The upcycling community

. Yes, there's such a thing as an upcycling community out there. Join local workshops, participate in online forums, or head along to upcycling fairs. Sharing your projects and learning from others is another way that you can learn lots as a beginner.

Monetising upcycling

You might find that you're a natural and start selling via online market places like Etsy or eBay, but you must remember that this has income tax implications. You can’t sell your Esty shop either, plus they take a cut of your profits.

Documenting your upcycling journey on Instagram or TikTok could open the door to brand collaborations and sponsorships. You might even get to the stage of bespoke upcycling when you offer your skills to others.

Sources:

idealhome.co.uk

bhf.org.uk

nlwa.gov.uk

diy.com

ianmankin.co.uk

guardian.co.uk

nlwa.gov.uk

housebeautiful.com