With the Winter season comes indoor pursuits. It’s the perfect time to clean up and decorate around the home. Try ‘upcycling’, the popular transformation of discarded or useless items into something new or useful. Here are a few ideas for inspiration.
Pallets
Wooden shipping pallets have been around for decades and can easily be found at commercial warehouses. With a bit of sanding and a coat of paint, these pallets can be converted into funky outdoor lounges, day beds, gardens and tables. You only need six pallets and a pile of large cushions to make a great outdoor lounge.
Bar stools
No use for those old bar stools anymore? It may seem like a really simple idea, but bar stools actually make a great desk. You can sand them back and re-stain to match the wooden panel top, or create a piece of furniture by priming and painting them in a seasonal colour. If you’re not too handy with a saw, your local hardware store will cut a few panels of wood for you to screw to the top of the bar stools.
Filing cabinets
Not sure what to do with old filing cabinets? Turn them into a set of trendy bedside tables and update the look of a bedroom at the same time. There are a couple of ways to give an old filing cabinet an arty and updated look. The first option involves spray paint and a fancy stencil. Spray paint the cabinet in a new colour and once it is dry use a stencil and spray paint to create a stylish pattern.
The other option involves heading to your nearest fabric store and picking out vibrant and eye catching material to glue to the front of the drawers, as well as spray painting the outside of the cabinet in a complimentary colour.
Once you've placed your new furniture into a room, think about accessorising with pot plants or other greenery and accents to create a completely fresh look to the space.