Renovating
9 of the Best Upcycling Projects on Houzz
Inspired by an upcycling project? Here are some super-savvy ideas – big and small – from our Houzz Tours
We love showcasing homes from all over the UK on Houzz, and we’re always inspired by the clever design ideas and upcycling solutions our designers come up with. Here’s a selection of great projects to inspire you.
Give items a new lease of life
You can upcycle a huge range of items if you really think about it – even obscure pieces can often be turned into something new.
A case in point is this bedside pendant light in the home of blogger Alex Carberry of The Interior DIYer. “It’s made from the leftover cord from my parents’ vacuum cleaner after it broke,” she says. “The cord itself was in perfect working order, so with some electrical help from my dad, we changed it into a bedside light.”
As well as producing something beautiful from something broken, you’re also doing your bit for the environment by saving another item from being thrown into landfill.
Have a look around Alex Carberry’s Dublin flat
You can upcycle a huge range of items if you really think about it – even obscure pieces can often be turned into something new.
A case in point is this bedside pendant light in the home of blogger Alex Carberry of The Interior DIYer. “It’s made from the leftover cord from my parents’ vacuum cleaner after it broke,” she says. “The cord itself was in perfect working order, so with some electrical help from my dad, we changed it into a bedside light.”
As well as producing something beautiful from something broken, you’re also doing your bit for the environment by saving another item from being thrown into landfill.
Have a look around Alex Carberry’s Dublin flat
Make the most of MDF
In her beautiful London flat, blogger Katy Orme of Apartment Apothecary got creative with MDF to great effect. She ripped up the carpets to reveal an MDF floor underneath, which she painted white for a crisp and bright look. She also made the tables herself using lengths of MDF on legs from Ikea.
Peek around the rest of this blogger’s home
In her beautiful London flat, blogger Katy Orme of Apartment Apothecary got creative with MDF to great effect. She ripped up the carpets to reveal an MDF floor underneath, which she painted white for a crisp and bright look. She also made the tables herself using lengths of MDF on legs from Ikea.
Peek around the rest of this blogger’s home
Upgrade your kitchen
Who wouldn’t want to make a budget kitchen look like a bespoke painted one – and for a fraction of the cost? That’s exactly what designer Lisette Voûte did in this kitchen. “I sourced plain, untreated wooden cabinets, then the builders painted them, so it’s a hand-painted kitchen. Suddenly, the quality leaps!”
Tour the rest of this airy Victorian flat
Who wouldn’t want to make a budget kitchen look like a bespoke painted one – and for a fraction of the cost? That’s exactly what designer Lisette Voûte did in this kitchen. “I sourced plain, untreated wooden cabinets, then the builders painted them, so it’s a hand-painted kitchen. Suddenly, the quality leaps!”
Tour the rest of this airy Victorian flat
Go exploring and get inspired
Design shows and festivals are a great way to gather ideas for your own projects and get your creativity flowing. After being inspired at the Maison & Objet show in Paris, homeowner Rebecca Hadley created this velvet-covered corner headboard with help from her mum. “We made it from ply, foam and velvet,” she says. “It means you can sit up in the corner and use the bed as a sofa.”
Inspired by this ideas? Ask a designer or interior decorator to create something similar for you.
Peek around the rest of this colourful flat
Design shows and festivals are a great way to gather ideas for your own projects and get your creativity flowing. After being inspired at the Maison & Objet show in Paris, homeowner Rebecca Hadley created this velvet-covered corner headboard with help from her mum. “We made it from ply, foam and velvet,” she says. “It means you can sit up in the corner and use the bed as a sofa.”
Inspired by this ideas? Ask a designer or interior decorator to create something similar for you.
Peek around the rest of this colourful flat
Recycle for a unique look
On a budget? Recycling is your best friend, so take a look at what you already have in your home. This family flat in Hackney, northeast London, is owned by two architects who wanted to transform their space without spending a huge amount of money. Reinventing materials using simple, clever ideas that work for them really helped them personalise their home.
Take this shoe rack, for example, which was created by recycling parts from a piece of Ikea furniture and adding long, industrial-strength bands. Recycling furniture “that was falling apart already” has created a slimline, interesting and individual piece that works well in this home.
Tour the rest of this creative family home
On a budget? Recycling is your best friend, so take a look at what you already have in your home. This family flat in Hackney, northeast London, is owned by two architects who wanted to transform their space without spending a huge amount of money. Reinventing materials using simple, clever ideas that work for them really helped them personalise their home.
Take this shoe rack, for example, which was created by recycling parts from a piece of Ikea furniture and adding long, industrial-strength bands. Recycling furniture “that was falling apart already” has created a slimline, interesting and individual piece that works well in this home.
Tour the rest of this creative family home
Keep an eye out for bargains
If you’re looking for a particular piece but your budget is tight, it’s always worth looking in your local reclamation yard (or on a reclamation website). You could discover the perfect piece for much less money. Reclamation yards are also great for getting inspiration.
This 18th century cottage was getting a thoughtful extension, but when builder and homeowner Rory of Hart Design and Construction needed two Belfast sinks, he headed straight to his local reclamation yard. “I found these for £20 each,” he says.
Take a closer look at this 18th century cottage
If you’re looking for a particular piece but your budget is tight, it’s always worth looking in your local reclamation yard (or on a reclamation website). You could discover the perfect piece for much less money. Reclamation yards are also great for getting inspiration.
This 18th century cottage was getting a thoughtful extension, but when builder and homeowner Rory of Hart Design and Construction needed two Belfast sinks, he headed straight to his local reclamation yard. “I found these for £20 each,” he says.
Take a closer look at this 18th century cottage
Personalise your antiques
Buying antiques can give your space a warm and unique look. Sian, who lives in this cottage in Kent and runs a vintage furniture and homewares company, painted the antique bed a light grey, and covered the screen – an online purchase – with the same fabric as the duvet cover.
“I found a pack of two toile duvet covers, so I put one on the bed and used the other to create panels for the screen,” she says. “If I can’t find the fabric I want for a project, I’ll use anything – a dress, a cushion, whatever I can find.”
Take a peek inside the rest of this period cottage
Buying antiques can give your space a warm and unique look. Sian, who lives in this cottage in Kent and runs a vintage furniture and homewares company, painted the antique bed a light grey, and covered the screen – an online purchase – with the same fabric as the duvet cover.
“I found a pack of two toile duvet covers, so I put one on the bed and used the other to create panels for the screen,” she says. “If I can’t find the fabric I want for a project, I’ll use anything – a dress, a cushion, whatever I can find.”
Take a peek inside the rest of this period cottage
Paint your pine
Pine is a very popular material for furniture, being solid, sturdy and often very affordable. However, its bright, varnished colour and visible grain might not always work with the colour scheme or look you’re trying to create.
You can easily update a piece of pine furniture, however, by painting it any colour you choose. Photographer Veronica Rodriguez refreshed her pine wardrobe with Annie Sloan chalk paint. She even lined it with some Laura Ashley Birds of Paradise wallpaper for an extra upgrade.
Check out the rest of this inspiring Edwardian home
Have you been inspired by any of these design ideas? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
Pine is a very popular material for furniture, being solid, sturdy and often very affordable. However, its bright, varnished colour and visible grain might not always work with the colour scheme or look you’re trying to create.
You can easily update a piece of pine furniture, however, by painting it any colour you choose. Photographer Veronica Rodriguez refreshed her pine wardrobe with Annie Sloan chalk paint. She even lined it with some Laura Ashley Birds of Paradise wallpaper for an extra upgrade.
Check out the rest of this inspiring Edwardian home
Have you been inspired by any of these design ideas? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
In this classic Victorian family home in London, interior designer Beth Dadswell created the dining table herself. “We bought the legs at Habitat and topped them with a piece of leftover plywood painted black,” she says.
Their builder then created a space-smart banquette, which also hides storage, and Beth made cushions from vintage fabric for the top. “I used my mum’s old curtains,” she says – a perfect example of upcycling an item for a completely different use.
Check out the rest of this Victorian home