Upcycling is a very positive trend because it aims to give old products more value, not less—items that in earlier years might have been scrapped, crunched or burnt, such as old paneled doors or old furniture, even old kitchen equipment. Shabby chic is another expression that often describes upcycled items. Knowing how to upcycle what you already have—and where to find what you don’t at bargain prices—can make home decorating a simple, effective and fun way to tap into your creativity and design a living space that’s sure to impress.
Phil Spencer’s TV partner Kirstie Allsopp is perhaps queen of the upcycling trend, and here are seven of her top tips that can breath new life into what you might have otherwise thrown away.
1. Time to Re-Shuffle
Just because that old cupboard has been sitting unnoticed in the corner of your living room for years, doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t gain a new lease of life somewhere else in the house, says Kirstie Allsopp, ‘Shifting existing stuff around sounds silly and a little obvious, but trust me, it’s really effective—and will save you so much effort and wasted pennies.’
2. A Fresh Coat of Paint
One of the best ways to update furniture that’s looking a little drab is with a fresh coat of paint. There is plenty of scope for being creativity here, but simply using a variety of shades within the same palette can create an effective finish that won’t require too much skill with a paintbrush. If you see an old piece of furniture that looks a little rough around the edges, consider how a lick of paint might transform it. You could save a fortune on having to buy new designs and end up with a piece that is far more striking.
3. It’s All in the Display
‘Rearranging furniture or accessories is sometimes all that’s needed to change the mood of a room,’ says Kirstie Allsopp. Think about the colours and styles of accessories (like bowls, boxes and ornaments) you already have, and channel your inner interior designer by creating a display—it can work wonders to liven up an empty shelf or mantelpiece.
4. A Vintage Gem
If you’re redecorating on a budget, flea markets are your new best friend, and finding those one-of-a-kind pieces to transform your home can be a satisfying hobby. Kirstie Allsop is a big fan of bargain hunting and says she likes to pepper her home with ‘antique treasures and retro hand-me-downs.’ London is filled with markets that are perfect for this kind of shopping, but many towns will also have weekend markets selling everything from Victorian furniture to old cutlery and tea towels. Charity shops can be a great place to start if you’ve got a good eye for a bargain. If the idea of spending your weekends traipsing around flea markets and charity shops doesn’t appeal, there are plenty of websites where you can browse vintage home-ware.
5. Get Critical
Before you begin your redecorations, be clear about which existing elements of your home you do and don’t like. Kirstie Allsopp recommends getting rid of anything you don’t like first, and then looking at what’s left to help you decide what’s missing, and the colours and styles to base your design decisions around.
6. The Marvellous Mis-Match
One common misconception about interior design is that everything should be matching to look stylish. While this may be the case for minimalist, modern design schemes, there is plenty to be said for incorporating an eclectic mix of styles into your home. This is something that Kirstie Allsopp is a big advocate for, arguing that in the 1930s and 1950s, antiques were frequently placed alongside new materials and contemporary designs, and successfully ‘merged’ together.
7. Strategic Storage
Boxes and baskets can be attractive accessories and provide somewhere to store away the clutter that builds up in our homes. Incorporate storage features into the design of a room by choosing boxes with complimenting colour schemes and attractive designs. Kirstie Allsopp recommends boxes that stack on top of one another as an essential for anyone looking to declutter their home.
See also:
Wall to Wall
Stylish Interiors
