11 of the Best Upcycling Ideas on Houzz
Whether you make them yourself or ask a professional, these projects will help you turn something old into something new
Susannah Hutchison
31 March 2018
Houzz Contributor
If you like the idea of transforming something unloved into a unique piece of furniture, check out these stylish hacks that might just tempt you to up your recycling…
Make concrete plans
For an urban take on the upcycled bedside table look, say goodbye crate, hello concrete block. These building bricks have simply been stacked together to form a table, and the holes in the middle offer ready-made storage, too.
For an urban take on the upcycled bedside table look, say goodbye crate, hello concrete block. These building bricks have simply been stacked together to form a table, and the holes in the middle offer ready-made storage, too.
Grow an idea
From tin cans to old tyres, wooden drawers to wellie boots, there are so many ways to get creative with a planter. The culinary life of this old portable barbecue has been extended as it’s now filled with herbs for cooking – and the rust just adds to the charm.
If you copy this idea, always give your herbs a good rinse before eating, in case they’ve picked up some rust along the way.
From tin cans to old tyres, wooden drawers to wellie boots, there are so many ways to get creative with a planter. The culinary life of this old portable barbecue has been extended as it’s now filled with herbs for cooking – and the rust just adds to the charm.
If you copy this idea, always give your herbs a good rinse before eating, in case they’ve picked up some rust along the way.
Give the dog a home
Give your pooch a pad to be proud of with this neat idea. A suitcase with the lid removed and a cushion popped inside makes a mighty fine dog bed. This one has even had some legs screwed on, so there can be no mistaking who has top-dog status…
When undertaking a project like this, obviously make sure there are no sharp edges or catches left exposed.
Give your pooch a pad to be proud of with this neat idea. A suitcase with the lid removed and a cushion popped inside makes a mighty fine dog bed. This one has even had some legs screwed on, so there can be no mistaking who has top-dog status…
When undertaking a project like this, obviously make sure there are no sharp edges or catches left exposed.
Think big
The designers of this kitchen have used a whole host of upcycling ideas. Reclaimed floorboards have been turned into cupboard doors, bricks form the sides of the units, and the wooden island in the middle is an old butcher’s block, with scaffold poles forming a hanging rail for pots and pans.
The result is a unique kitchen that shows just what can be done with an imaginative approach to reusing materials.
Undertaking a big renovation? Read this advice from Houzz professionals on mistakes to avoid.
The designers of this kitchen have used a whole host of upcycling ideas. Reclaimed floorboards have been turned into cupboard doors, bricks form the sides of the units, and the wooden island in the middle is an old butcher’s block, with scaffold poles forming a hanging rail for pots and pans.
The result is a unique kitchen that shows just what can be done with an imaginative approach to reusing materials.
Undertaking a big renovation? Read this advice from Houzz professionals on mistakes to avoid.
Have fun with a drum
The sculptural quality of this washing machine drum looks tailor-made for its current incarnation as a pot for an olive tree.
Designer Max McMurdo of Reestore, whose home this is, lined the drum with heavy-duty plastic first to stop all the water leaking out of the holes in the sides. Put a couple of punctures in the plastic for drainage if it’s an outdoor planter.
The sculptural quality of this washing machine drum looks tailor-made for its current incarnation as a pot for an olive tree.
Designer Max McMurdo of Reestore, whose home this is, lined the drum with heavy-duty plastic first to stop all the water leaking out of the holes in the sides. Put a couple of punctures in the plastic for drainage if it’s an outdoor planter.
Lighten up
Vintage jelly moulds have been painted, drilled and attached to light fittings to create these one-off pendant lamps. Search junk shops and eBay for similar moulds, then ask an electrician to convert them for you.
Find electricians in your area in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Vintage jelly moulds have been painted, drilled and attached to light fittings to create these one-off pendant lamps. Search junk shops and eBay for similar moulds, then ask an electrician to convert them for you.
Find electricians in your area in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Bottle it
This idea couldn’t be simpler – a collection of old apothecary bottles clustered together. What elevates this is the choice of blooms to complement the colour of the vessels. Because each vase only has one or two stems in it, a single, purse-friendly bunch of flowers can be divided up for maximum impact.
If you have a collection of more modern, clear glass bottles, you could glue on your own hand-written, brown-paper labels to achieve a similar look.
This idea couldn’t be simpler – a collection of old apothecary bottles clustered together. What elevates this is the choice of blooms to complement the colour of the vessels. Because each vase only has one or two stems in it, a single, purse-friendly bunch of flowers can be divided up for maximum impact.
If you have a collection of more modern, clear glass bottles, you could glue on your own hand-written, brown-paper labels to achieve a similar look.
Use panels for a headboard
Search for old panelled wardrobe doors, vintage shutters or even ornate fence panels to create a headboard, then simply paint it to suit your room’s colour scheme.
If you want to give them a personal touch, you could ask a carpenter to carve your own pattern into the wood, too.
Search for old panelled wardrobe doors, vintage shutters or even ornate fence panels to create a headboard, then simply paint it to suit your room’s colour scheme.
If you want to give them a personal touch, you could ask a carpenter to carve your own pattern into the wood, too.
Set the table
Scaffold boards can be upcycled in many ways, from shelves to headboards. Here, the designer has made them into a long, low console table, with galvanised-steel-pipe legs completing the industrial look.
Ask your carpenter or builder to source boards and pipes for you. If the wood is rough to the touch, a very fine-grade sandpaper will smooth them down and help you to swerve splinters without ruining the lovely patina of the wood.
Scaffold boards can be upcycled in many ways, from shelves to headboards. Here, the designer has made them into a long, low console table, with galvanised-steel-pipe legs completing the industrial look.
Ask your carpenter or builder to source boards and pipes for you. If the wood is rough to the touch, a very fine-grade sandpaper will smooth them down and help you to swerve splinters without ruining the lovely patina of the wood.
Get covered
Here’s another very simple idea, this time using vintage books. The covers have been removed, then holes cut out to frame photographs. These have been stuck to the wall, but they could equally stand happily on a shelf.
Charity shops and jumble sales are often overflowing with this type of old-fashioned hardback book. Choose titles on a theme, or just go for the colours and styles that most catch your eye.
Here’s another very simple idea, this time using vintage books. The covers have been removed, then holes cut out to frame photographs. These have been stuck to the wall, but they could equally stand happily on a shelf.
Charity shops and jumble sales are often overflowing with this type of old-fashioned hardback book. Choose titles on a theme, or just go for the colours and styles that most catch your eye.
Paint a section
We all know about painting furniture to give it a new lease of life, and there are lots of ways to do this. However, if you want something a little different from an all-over colour, but aren’t artistic enough with a paintbrush to embellish with a freehand design, how about this idea?
By masking off and painting irregular sections of these chairs, they’ve been given them a graphic, individual look.
Tell us…
What have you upcycled in your home? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
We all know about painting furniture to give it a new lease of life, and there are lots of ways to do this. However, if you want something a little different from an all-over colour, but aren’t artistic enough with a paintbrush to embellish with a freehand design, how about this idea?
By masking off and painting irregular sections of these chairs, they’ve been given them a graphic, individual look.
Tell us…
What have you upcycled in your home? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
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Yes, forget the drum planter, what about the wheelbarrow seat! V comfortable too, I'll bet. Wheelbarrows are a favourite seat on a building site, angled in just such a way!
Annb1997 the wine glasses are held by metal glass holders from amazon - about £1.5 each
We were lucky enough to find this for sale on Gumtree. It will now be a lovely feature in our home renovation.