56 upcycling ideas to transform your old stuff – lovePROPERTY

Refresh, reuse and recycle

These creative upcycling ideas will keep your old furniture out of the scrap heap. All you need to turn tired, time-worn pieces into treasure are a few DIY skills and a little creative thinking.

Budget-friendly and good for the planet, we’ve brought together the best upcycling projects to inspire your next makeover. Click or scroll on and discover how to breathe new life into your old stuff…

TV pet bed

Maggie McGaugh is a professional furniture flipper and certainly knows how to think outside the box when it comes to furniture upcycling.

This retro TV was found in the trash, but it has been rescued and transformed for a four-legged friend who is sure to enjoy snuggling up in their own TV bed.

Skateboard side table

Got a few skateboards kicking around from the last time you tried to be a ‘skater kid’? Use them for the next best thing – home décor.

This really easy project by YOCshop on Etsy simply requires removing the wheels and replacing them with some basic table legs. And it looks pretty rad.

Funky footstool

This project is a great way to add a fun flash of colour to a footstool without bringing out the sewing machine. Choose a vibrant fabric to cover over the existing upholstery, and use tacks and a hammer to nail in place. 

Finish the look with a fanciful and colourful pom pom trim. You can find the full tutorial here. 

Reeded sofa

Instead of spending a fortune reupholstering a sofa why not go for a garden room look with reeded wood instead? Claire Douglas, owner of Claire Douglas Styling transformed her very old budget sofa by encasing the frame with dowel rods, painted a forest green tone. She then popped the back foam fillings into huge cushion covers from H&M and laid a matching throw over the seat cushions.

Is it uncomfortable? “Nope, because you don’t sit or even lean on the dowels,” answers Claire. “The sofa cushions are still there to provide all the comfort, so it’s no different than a rattan sofa.”

Colour-pop IKEA cabinet

Cheap, functional IKEA furniture that has seen better days doesn’t have to be boring. @allie_wilson_home picked this IKEA cabinet up from Facebook Marketplace and gave it a refreshing twist by painting it aqua green. Wood beading and wood-effect vinyl complete the transformation. 

If painting isn’t your forte, why not try sticker details instead? 

Sewing machine desk

Love giving new life to pieces? Furniture restorer, Danielle Bayliss of Rediscovered by Danielle gave this striking vintage Singer sewing machine stand a new lease of life by sanding back the old finish and fixing up the damaged veneer. She then lightened the look by adding raw varnish and glaze. It’s now a welcome statement desk for a lucky home office. 

Stencilled TV table

Give a junkyard find an update with a stencil. This TV tray table has been lifted to modern farmhouse style standard using a grid-like stencil and black paint.

Donna Williams from Funky Junk Interiors has become such a pro at furniture upcycling she now sells tools to get the look yourself on her website. This giant buffalo check stencil can be used to add striking pattern to all sorts of homeware surfaces from TV tables (pictured) to drawer fronts and doormats. 

Wallpaper covered table

Update a tired or scratched dining table with a hit of zingy colour and pattern. This table has been transformed by Claire Armstrong, owner of Pillar Box Blue with wallpaper!

Claire measured cut and glued the paper down with regular wallpaper paste and then sealed it decoupage style with two coats of clear varnish. The pattern looks striking when teamed with bottle-green chairs.  

Pallet coat hooks

A popular DIY trend, the possibilities are endless when it comes to upcycling wood pallets.

For a fresh twist on a coat rack, use the prints on a pallet as a decorative feature, and use the grooves in the pallet to create a shelf to store hats or small bags. We love this ready-made one by UWoodBespokeDesigns at Etsy.

Revamped home office chair

Office chairs are usually more practical than pretty, which is why you can find an awful lot of them on online marketplaces. That’s why we are bursting to showcase what can be achieved with the preloved home office hero when colour and creativity are put to the test.

Owner of Marcie K Designs, Marcie Kobernus’ arty upcycles are described as “a mix of Jumanji and Alice In Wonderland.” Her colourful projects are often featured in glossy magazines because the results, like this office chair, are ground-breaking. To steal Marcie’s style, spray paint your chair in a bright colour or metallic tone and reupholster the seat with a vibrant leopard or tropical print fabric.

Painted bath panel

Transform your bathroom into an uplifting spring-toned scene with soothing pastel paints and a sunny feature bath panel. 

Start with a white backdrop like Hannah, owner of The Otto House did by using V33 tile paint. But, it’s the buttercup yellow bath panel in leftover exterior paint that deserves the upcycling award in this budget bathroom makeover. 

Lego key hooks

Here’s a bright idea for the mountains of Lego that may have accumulated in the children’s bedroom. It’s also a fun craft project to create with younger family members.

Fix a Lego base plate to the wall. Thread a logo brick with holes in it onto a keyring and viola – it’s that simple, the new and colourful key chains will connect to the base plate as normal. Why not then decorate the rest of the base plate with words like successful YouTuber DaveHax has done? 

Louvre door memo board

Looking for beautiful home office ideas? A statement bulletin board can make a room come alive and an upcycled design is sure to add charm and personality. This quirky version by Monica Ewing Jensen, owner of Crafty Nest, is made from old shutters painted a vibrant red. 

“It occurred to me that shutters were the perfect way to cover a bulletin board (which can look messy),” explains Monica. Hinges attached to the doors allow them to open up revealing a smart, cushioned red-stripe message centre behind. 

Boat oar headboard

How about this for a headboard? This brilliant idea captured by CastawaysHall on Etsy involves sourcing vintage boat oars, painting them and, then mounting them in a line with a wooden panel behind your bed.

The recycled oars bring a touch of the beach inside and bring structure and texture to a coastal look. 

Suitcase shelves

Do you have old luggage knocking around in the loft? Give them some love with this cute idea and your old suitcases will fulfil their purpose once more!

Measure and mark the depth of your suitcase and saw off the remainder. Then, mount it onto a wooden panel and screw it onto the wall. You can find various tutorials online but we adore these ready-made versions by rebearthvintage Etsy shop owner, Pamela. 

Cork pot stand

Cork is a great protector from heat so is an ideal material to make coasters and hot pot plates. Instead of discarding bottle corks, why not save them to make practical kitchen gadgets? 

To make a pot stand, prepare the corks by soaking them in boiling water to sterilise, expand and soften. Then, measure and cut each cork to size. Glue them together and add a felt bottom. Finally add a trim with glue, such as ribbon or twine. You can follow the same steps to make matching coasters too. 

Denim planters

It’s widely known that denim is a hardy material. So, don’t throw your jeans away when fashions change as there will be still so much wear left in them, for your plants that is…

Claire Armstrong owner of @pillarboxblue says: “Don’t you think succulents and denim look fantastic together? I do! So, I’ve used this recycled jean planter for my succulents. I love their rustic look.” What’s great about this denim upcycle project is that it’s ‘no sew’. All you need are tin cans, cut-off hems and seams from old jeans and good-quality glue. Visit Claire’s recycled jean planter tutorial at Pillar Box Blue.

Colander hanging basket

Give your garden a pretty yet budget-friendly update with this trash-to-treasure hanging basket. Fashioned from an old kitchen colander and colourful strings of beads, why not make a few for your next garden party?

For a vintage look, first, spray with rust-effect paint and leave to dry. Next, thread three lengths of craft wire with colourful beads and attach them to the colander in a triangle shape. To finish, twist the upper ends of the wires together. 

Painted light fittings

Looking to give your home some modern touches of black? You don’t need to replace existing out-of-date light fittings, simply upcycle them with black paint instead. 

DIY and homes influencer Jenny Game has collaborated with Frenchic to refresh her hallway lighting with eye-catching jet black furniture paint. Wire-framed light shades complete the look. Take a look at other black painted-updates at @jenshomejournal.

Decoupage dresser

Decoupage patterns transferred directly onto wood furniture create a professional and elegant effect. Blend patterns in similar colours for subtle interest and always seal the finished art with a couple of coats of clear varnish.

These botanical drawings of fruits and garden plants are the work of Crispijn de Passe the Younger, a Dutch Golden Age engraver and have been selected in collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society. This beautiful upcycled chest would look great in a summer house or conservatory. 

Ladder garden

If you’re short on space in the garden, you can still create a place to show off your green fingers – just think about growing upwards instead of outwards.

Place wooden planks onto the stairs of a stepladder and build up a garden of plants and bright flowers.

Window shutter wall planter

Before you discard that pair of old battered window shutters, take a moment to consider the potential. In this ingenious garden upcycle, a shutter has been given a new lease of life as a characterful planter.

Having cut the shutter in half and painted it blue, pretty pots have been attached with wire – the perfect addition to a garden wall or entryway.

Cheese box shelf

This nifty project by Kim of Made in a Day sees a used cheese box transformed into a stylish shelving unit. For the shelves, cut lengths of wood and affix them inside the box with a glue gun to create a spot for displaying lightweight accessories.

Then, thread an old leather belt or piece of rope through holes in the top to hang from a peg on a wall. For a rustic finish, you could even try staining the wood.

Guitar shelves

Ideal for music lovers, this creative project transforms battered old guitars into statement shelving units.

Simply strip the guitar back to its carcass and add two or three wooden shelves to display your trinkets on. Alternatively, you can pick up a ready-made design by FracturedWorks on Etsy.

Chalk painted furniture

Chalk paint is ideal for brightening up old furniture and it adds a beautiful rustic finish to weathered wood.

These once-worn pieces of wooden hallway furniture have been given a new lease of life with vibrant coats of paprika red and olive green. To create a fun contrast, you could paint the handles with a wow-factor contrasting tone.

Globe lampshades

Love to travel? How about using old globes as cool light fixtures? Ideal as lampshades, simply cut off the bottom of the globe, thread through a pendant light and secure them safely to the ceiling – you can use them as inspiration for your next big adventure.

We love these ingenious designs by Kim of WorldGlobeLights who sells her globe lights with drilled hole embellishment on Etsy.

Mason jar lights

Kilner and Mason jars can be simply transformed into stylish household lighting. Give this one a whirl – purchase light fittings, cords and bulbs from online suppliers and create your own vintage-looking light fittings. Easy to make and so impressive!

Jam jar vases

Taking the jar trend further, why not use glass pots as vases or even tumblers for your toothbrush and soaps?

Simply paint with gentle grey and soft cream hues, and then lightly age with sandpaper. It’s a perfect way to perk up your bathroom on a budget.

Storage ladder

Another creative use for an old ladder is shabby chic shelving. Affix your ladder safely to the wall and sand down any sharp edges. Ideal for a small bathroom, it’s a handy way to store towels or it could even make a great coat rack in a hallway.

Outdoor plant dresser

A fresh lick of paint can really be a game changer. This disused side table has been transformed into the perfect indoor-outdoor plant display, thanks to a sunny splash of yellow. To recreate this look at home, make sure you use waterproof garden furniture paint.

Suitcase style drawers

Here’s a fun idea to update old and boring drawers. Paint a dated dresser with a pretty palette of pastel shades in chalk paint for a themed ‘luggage look’ finish.

Make sure each drawer is painted with a different colour and then glue on suitcase clips and decorative luggage details. 

Blue sky fridge

Breathe new life into an old white kitchen appliance by transforming your refrigerator with a refreshing blue sky wrap-around. Clean the exterior and mask out the areas you don’t want to be painted.

Prime and then spray two coats of blue paint and let dry. Add cloud details with DIY stencils and white metal paint. Check out Make It Yours for a full tutorial.

Cane cabinet

With cane furniture a hot trend, it would be foolish not to use a roll of cane webbing in your next upcycling project! This striking cabinet has been transformed by removing and replacing the inner door sections with sheets of decorative weaved cane.

The contrasting black paint finish is super chic and designer worthy. Visit Furniture And Choice for the tutorial.

Herb pot jam jars

Jam jars are so verstile for resuse. Give old jars a new purpose by using them as plant pots for a kitchen herb garden. 

Wash and clean the old jar and place stones at the bottom. Fill the jar halfway with compost and a herb plug, then surround with more compost. Carefully cut a hole in the top of the lid and screw back onto the jar. Finish with brown string, rafia and a sticky label. 

Tin can planters

Alternatively, what could be easier than growing fresh fragrant herbs in tin cans? Thoroughly wash and clean the tins and remove any labels. Cover the inner base with broken terracotta or shingle for drainage.

Half fill with compost and sow one variety of herb seeds to each pot. Cover the seeds with more compost, place them on a sunny windowsill and watch them grow. Vintage cans with colourful retro prints look even better.

Wooden bowl lamp

Give a wooden salad bowl a second life by transforming it into a chunky pendant light. Using an electric drill make a hole in the base of the bowl. Gently sand the entire surface in the direction of the wood grain.

Paint the bowl with metallic finish furniture paint and once dry paint the exterior with a coat of white chalk paint. Again, once dry, sand the exterior to distress and expose the base coat beneath. Install the electrical wire and bulb and hang in the room of your choice. For the full tutorial visit Make It Yours.

Colourful candlesticks

Give new life to boring candlesticks by spray painting in colours of the rainbow. Take inspiration from these luxe designs by WEBB & GRAY which are made from reclaimed table legs and gilded in coloured silver leaf. Get the look with spray paint and add a sheen with a little metallic gilding wax. 

Children’s drawers

Brighten up a child’s bedroom with a chest of drawers painted all over in a sunny colour. Create a coordinated scheme by choosing a tone that matches your child’s favourite wall art.

We love how even the handles have been painted the same marigold shade on these friendly drawers for a coherent look that’s bold and full of character.

Filing cabinets

Genuine vintage file drawers can be hard to come by and expensive. However, it’s easy to create your own with a clever IKEA hack. First, fake the effect of shallow drawers by sticking two new pieces of wood onto each existing draw, but leave a small gap in between.

Once fully dry, paint the whole piece of furniture with wood stain and add new knobs and label plates for the full effect. 

Ombre sideboard

Brighten up a dark corner with a colourful ombre sideboard. We love this coral combination but you can choose whatever you like as long as they are shades of the same colour and fade from dark to light.

Remove the doors and then, mask out equal sections on the fronts and assign a paint shade to each. 

Geometric mid-century sideboard

The work of Annie Sloan’s Painter in Residence Polly Coulson, this playful statement piece demonstrates how a splash of colour and a bold, graphic pattern can completely revive a time-worn sideboard.

These vintage mid-century units can often be picked up for relatively modest price tags at garage sales and second-hand furniture stores. Using masking tape, mark out your design before filling it in with chalk paint and finally sealing with wax.

Textured set of drawers

For something a little different than just a fresh lick of paint, experiment with textured paper for an ornate finish on your furnishings. Created by Chloe Kempster, another Painter in Residence with Annie Sloan, these jewel-toned drawers almost look like engraved wood.

To get the look, Chloe applied textured paper with PVA glue, followed by coats of blue and green hues to create this dappled emerald effect. She then used a lighter shade to highlight the raised pattern and sealed with wax.

Colour splash dinnerware

Breathe new life into plain old crockery with artistic colouring techniques from IKEA. Dilute ceramic paint with water and have fun with dip dye, straw splatter and paintbrush techniques on bowls and plates.

If you don’t like the effect, simply, wash off and start again. Once you’re happy with your finished designs, follow the paint instructions to set the new effects, a process that may include an oven bake. 

Dessert pot planters

The simplest of household items that you would otherwise throw into the recycling bin can be transformed into the most delightful accessories with a little imagination. These glass dessert jars have been upcycled into pretty mini macramé hanging planters.

Fill with pebbles for drainage and soil of your choice, add tiny houseplants and succulent plugs, then hang with knotted twine.

Reclaimed door bench

Annie Sloan’s Painter in Residence, Hester van Overbeek, has given a new lease of life to a tired old door. Once unassuming and worn out, she sawed the door into five pieces and screwed them together to create this quirky bench.

After sanding, she added a coat of white chalk paint to the wood, applying a lick of contrasting green to the edges for a final colourful flourish. 

Painted floral coffee table

If you’ve fallen out of love with an old coffee table, give it a spruce up with some decorative paintwork. Sketch on a design in pencil before you commit to the pattern or use a ready-made stencil that you can pick up from an art shop.

Use oil-based paints for a durable finish that’ll stand the test of time.

Ship bulkhead lights

If you scour scrap yards and auction houses, chances are you’ll come across a few worse-for-wear ship bulkhead lights. For a quirky light fixture, fit a new bulb and light cord behind the cage.

Mount onto a distressed piece of wood for the perfect vintage lighting solution. 

Shutter privacy screen

Fancy a stylish sunscreen without shelling out big bucks? Salvaged shutters are a great way to add privacy and texture to your outside space.

Repurpose with a bright lick of paint for a warming Mediterranean-style scheme.

Chair transformations

How’s this for a great furniture revamp? Head to any house clearance warehouse and you’ll be sure to find old dining chairs for as little as a few pounds.

They’re great starter revamps for those looking to get into upcycling or upholstery – fabric remnants and tester pots are all you need to totally revive them.

Toy trunks

Looking for storage for a kids’ room? Keep toys neat and tidy with a pair of wheelable trunks. Pick up a couple of old wooden apple crates from your local car boot sale and pair with castor wheels for the perfect mobile storage solution.

Coat the front in blackboard paint or create a colourful design with decals.

DIY kitchen island

If you’re short on space in your kitchen, transform an old chest of drawers to create a snug centre island. After a quick lick of paint, affix an off-cut piece of worktop, pop on some casters and screw some hooks to its side.

It’ll be the perfect place to store all of your kitchen essentials, and you can wheel it around too.

Corkboard wall art

You know those old cork boards that are so… 1994? Well, go grab yourself a couple, along with a few tester pots of paint.

Cut out hexagon shapes from the boards and paint with colourful patterns. Affix to the wall and use as a quirky display, Rust-Oleum has the full how-to.

Cabinet update

Bet you didn’t think a bog-standard filing cabinet could look this stylish, did you? Those clever folk at Rust-Oleum have put together an easy guide to transforming a rusty piece of office furniture into a side table you’d proudly place in your living room. All you need is some spray paint and sticky-back plastic.

Reclaimed wooden shelf

You don’t have to be a DIY whizz to whip up this cute shelf. All you need is a piece of old wood and some rope.

Hanging shelves are a great storage hack for small spaces as you can tie them back when you don’t need them – just make sure you affix them securely to the ceiling and don’t use them for heavy items. 

Bicycle bathroom vanity

Bicycle lovers won’t be able to get enough of your bathroom with an old bike doubling as a washstand, towel rack and vase.

Vintage bicycles are easy to pick up either online or in an antique shop, but you may need to remove any rust and respray your bike before it looks as charming as this one.

Plastic bottle garden chairs

Rather than tossing your old plastic bottles into the recycle bin, why not reuse them in a rather different way?

This clever upcycle sees bottles strapped to the base and back of a metal chair frame, transforming them into surprisingly comfortable outdoor seating. Rain-proof and long-lasting, they’re ideal for a quick and easy garden project.

Love Handicraft? Easy DIY crafts for home decor you can make