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Upcycling, repurposing, whatever you want to call it, a bespoke piece is one way to ensure your home is like no other. As a designer, I love the challenge of coming up with something you won’t find on the High Street. There’s lots of scope for original ideas, and giving pieces of furniture or household objects a new purpose can have surprising results. Here are some fun examples to get you thinking.
Reupholster for a new look Create a statement piece of furniture in your own style by having an old chair reupholstered in a favourite fabric. This is a great way to breathe new life into something you already own.
Contact upholsterers near you through the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Bring it home Introducing old furniture from a school or factory into an otherwise crisp scheme can add an exciting twist to your home décor. An old metal locker like this can whisk you back in time and add a dramatic industrial touch, as well as providing stacks of storage.
Be inventive I love this fire engine lamp, which simply has the plugged-in flex threaded through the ladder so the bulb can hang down. It’s a beautifully simple and effective idea that would work just as well in a living room or office as in a child’s bedroom.
Just add wheels Create your own coffee table from an old pallet. Try places such as hardware stores and builders’ merchants or online sites such as Gumtree to pick up pallets for free. Then simply sand, wax or paint, and add wheels. Here, a pallet coffee table makes a quirky centrepiece in an elegant living room.
Celebrate building materials These reclaimed scaffolding boards and galvanised steel pipes make for an original console table or low-level bench. Retain the marks and scuffs from the material’s previous life for an authentic look.
Surprise them The challenge in this kitchen was to come up with quirky feature pendant lights that were also homely and understated. Step up the humble colander. The vibrant mix of colours injects fun into this familiar household object and create an unforgettable centrepiece.
Make sure you get the help of a professional for any wiring jobs in the home.
Devise a new use For a light-hearted display, these spice racks – freshened up with a coat of vibrant paint – make lovely small storage shelves in a child’s bedroom.
Spread the news Want to make an impact in your hall? Create your own wallpaper from vintage magazines. It’s a great way to make sure your beloved collection gets the attention it deserves while giving your home a unique touch.
Build it in This antique piece of furniture was probably a shop display cabinet. Here, it’s been built into the wall for a fun feature and a great solution for shoes.
Create with crates Using old crates as shelving units – either stacked like this or fixed to the wall – is a great way to keep your things in order while creating a fun display that adds plenty of character to your home. Keep them rough and ready, like these, or paint them for a crisper result.
Tell us… Have you upcycled or repurposed anything in your home? Please share your tips and photos in the Comments section.