Upcycling ideas for your old furniture

Before you throw away old furniture, see if you can upcycle instead.

Tempted to buy new? Well before you throw out or dispense with your existing furniture, take a good look at it. Paint, stencils, wallpaper, decorative moulds and a few tricks of the trade work miracles on old items of furniture, turning them into highly desirable pieces.

What is upcycling

Now there’s a buzzword for what you’ve probably been practicing for years. Upcycling is a form of recycling, where disposable items (you know, the type of stuff you’ve been tossing away in council clean-ups or in the bin) are transformed into something useful and of similar or increased value. It has come about as a response to rampant consumerism where items are discarded almost without regard in favour of new goods. The upshot of upcycling is you’ll save an extraordinary amount of money while the planet benefits from the considerable reduction in waste.

HERE ARE FOUR FANTASTIC 'UPCYCLE' PROJECTS FOR YOU TO TRY:

French country desk
Turn an old table into a desk with a distressed finish that would fit in perfectly at a French country house and, of course, yours. You can make this gorgeous desk that is featured in the better homes and magazine in just three easy to do steps. Make a french country desk here

Metallic Mirror
A budget or garage-sale buy like this mirror takes on a glamorous new look with the addition of decorative mouldings, a paint job and burnished silver-leaf finish. It will add sparkle to any dressing table or mantelpiece. You can make this fabulous mirror is just four easy to do steps.Make a metallic mirror here

China cabinet
Welcome the opportunity to give an old wardrobe an extreme makeover for a great new look. You can use black paint, a shimmery patterned wallpaper and gilt-effect knobs to create a glam china cabinet. Transformed, it makes a lovely vehicle to display your china, crystal and special pieces you may have collected or inherited. Make a china cabinet here

Oriental sideboard
Convert a nondescript sideboard into a superb piece of furniture. Simply team dramatic black and red (inside) paint with a gold stencil featuring an oriental-style floral design. Make an oriental sideboard here