Beginners guide to upcycling What is upcycling? The term ‘upcycling’ means to take an existing, usually unused item and make it into something useful. Think soup cans used for pencil tins or tea cups used as planters. It’s a different take on recycling, which focuses on repurposing and adapting something no longer wanted into something you can use or enjoy. How is upcycling different to recycling? Recycling reduces the original product into a new form and uses that new form to create a new product. So when you throw your newspaper in the bin, they pulp it and turn into something like a cardboard box or packing material. Upcycling takes the original un-reduced product to create something useful, saving both energy and water. Like using discarded seat belts as a hand bag strap or an television as a fish aquarium. Upcycling also usually incorporates a touch of unexpected style and interest, delighting you by seeing that object in new light. Try these upcycling ideas Attach some antique table legs to an old suitcase to make a sweet little storage unit for the end of your bed. Collect a variety of wooden packing crates and stack them haphazardly for an eclectic bookshelf. Use wooden palettes as the base of a couch. Add Indian style floor cushions and some colourful pillows. Perfect for deck or patio seating. Attach some bulldogs clips to a weathered piece of drift wood for a gorgeous display for your child’s artwork or use it an inspiration board filled with beautiful images. Keep your eyes peeled for a discarded door at your local rubbish tip. Buy some table legs (Ikea has a great affordable range) and attach for a rustic dining set. Leave the door knob attached for extra quirk value or remove it and use the hole as a perfect tidy for electrical cords. When it comes to upcycling just be creative and don’t overthink it.
Posted on: Sat, 17 Aug 2013 00:00:00 +0000
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