Upcycling furniture
By Tom Drake | 21st April 2024 | 4 min read
In this guide, we take you through some of our top tips for upcycling furniture, from choosing the right pieces, to the process itself.
Upcycling furniture tips
How to upcycle furniture
Look for quality
One of the advantages of upcycling is getting high-quality furniture at a much lower price than buying new. When you’re out bargain hunting, look for high-quality, well-built items that have seen better days. This won’t just allow you to pick up items which may have been outside your budget when new, higher-quality furniture should also fare better if you’re planning on taking it apart and modifying it.
Start off small and cheap
If you’re just starting your furniture upcycling journey, we recommend working on smaller items first. A smaller piece of furniture means a smaller area to clean, sand, paint and repair. We also recommend working on cheaper items first. Practising on less expensive items will give you the chance to learn and experiment without worrying about costly mistakes.
Look past the original use of an item
Although it can be tricky, looking past the original use of an item can help you create a unique, one-of-a-kind piece. Whether it’s creating storage shelves out of a ladder, or crafting a table out of an old door, it can pay to think outside the box.
Remember the small details
Modern hinges or new handles can completely transform a piece of furniture. When embarking on an upcycling project, don’t underestimate the small details that can greatly influence the overall aesthetic of an item.
Can you remove parts of a piece?
When you find a piece of furniture, consider removing certain elements to achieve a more modern or unique aesthetic. For instance, removing the doors from a cabinet or the arms from a chair can give them a completely different look.
Don't underestimate a coat of paint
When you’re upcycling furniture, sometimes a fresh coat of paint is all that's needed. Whether you paint your furniture the same colour to bring it back to its former glory or paint it a striking modern colour, you don’t always need to take a piece of furniture apart to give it a completely different look.
Let others know you’re looking for furniture
Many people will throw old furniture away if they no longer need it. If people know you’re looking for furniture to upcycle, they may pass an item to you rather than taking it to the recycling centre.
Check the paint
Before you start working on any piece of furniture, it’s important to check whether it has been painted with lead paint. Lead paint was widely used until the mid-1960s but may have been used in some areas until the 1990s. If in doubt, contact a professional before working.
How to upcycle furniture
No piece of furniture is the same, and there are an almost endless number of ways you could upcycle any piece. Here, we outline a few basic steps to help you start upcycling wood furniture. When you’re working with old furniture, always wear gloves, eye protection and a dust mask.
1. Clean thoroughly
Before you start work on any piece of furniture, you should always clean it thoroughly. First, wipe the furniture with a dry cloth to remove any dust or loose debris. Depending on how dirty your furniture is, you can then use warm water or sugar soap to clean it. Make sure any cleaner you choose is suitable for your furniture and test a small area first.
2. Fill holes and cracks
Once your furniture is clean, patch up any holes or cracks using a wood filler to create a smooth surface ready for painting.
3. Sand
Next up, sand the furniture to remove any remaining imperfections and create a better surface for the paint to adhere to. Remember to wear a mask and ventilate the area when sanding.
4. Paint
Once you’ve cleaned and sanded your furniture, the next step is painting. If possible, remove fixtures such as doors and handles to help you achieve a complete and even application of paint.
A variety of different wood and furniture paints are available. Whichever you choose, check the application instructions to see if you need to apply a primer before applying the first coat.
This covers just a small number of the ways you can upcycle furniture. If you're looking for more inspiration, take a look at our furniture paint ideas and guide to using renovation paint.