Top five upcycling tips
2 Mins
Transforming old, unwanted furniture into new treasures is the perfect solution for anyone looking for something truly bespoke. Not only that but it avoids waste too. Shauna and Sophie from Treemendus, Glasgow, share their top tips for upcycling.
1. If you’re shopping in charity shops for second hand furniture, pay attention to the shape of the items. For a shabby chic look, for example, look for something with nice curvy legs or a piece that has an interesting bit of detailing. This means when it's time to ‘distress’ your piece, you can pick these details out and make a feature of them.
2. When you’re painting furniture, it's tempting to dive straight in with a thick layer of paint to see what it could look like – don’t. For a nice, flat finish start with a thin coat of paint, and build it up. This will make the end product look smoother and more professional.
3. Sand your item down in between coats of paint with a fine grit sand paper to get rid of brush strokes. It takes very little time and effort to do, and makes the end product look much better.
4. Contrary to what you might believe, you don't need all those fancy brushes. Good old Bob-basic paint brushes and Poundland masking tape work just fine, and they’re a great means of getting started on a budget. If you’ve got a bit of cash to splash, however, a wax brush is a good investment. It gets in to all the nooks and crannies that a simple rag can't.
5. Be adventurous, pick out a colour from your soft furnishings/wallpaper and match it for a statement look. Grey and white can be nice, but for a ‘wow’ factor a nice zingy yellow packs way more punch.
Shauna and Sophie are taking part in the Design Doctor social media campaign to encourage Scots to get creative and upcycle. For more hints and tips on upcycling visit www.zerowastescotland.org.uk. Share your pictures using the hashtag #DesignDoc.