By Sarah Heeringa
We can all get tired of howย aย room looks and want to switch it out forย something else.ย These days we can choose to decorate our homes in prettyย much any style we like. But rather than just tossing furniture or otherย homewaresย and replacing them with new things, I like to refashion whatย I have into a new look and then mix it with other new or vintage items thatย have caught my eye. Itโs a popular new trend called reclaimism.
Upcylingย or reclaimismย is the art of giving old things new value.ย Itโs aboutย using our imagination to fix things up and personalise objects toย our own likingย and changing taste.ย With upcycling, we can surround ourselves with thingsย that express our personal style, that have meaning for us and thatย tell a story.ย And I believe that itโs the addition of these personal touches that really helpย make a house feel like a home.
Here are fiveย easy tips for getting started:
1. Choose something simple to startย
The best way to embark on any creative project is simply to beginย andย where better than with choosing a picture frame or an old piece of furnitureย you would like to reclaim?
2. Use your imagination
Have a good look at the piece of furniture and imagine how it mightย lookย given different paint treatments. What if it was given a rustic whitewashย orย painted glossy black?
Itโs amazing how a piece of furniture can be transformed with a sand and aย coat of paint. One simple technique is to give wooden objects a lightย sand andย a good clean and then a coat of paint using a whitewashing technique.
4. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
One way to achieve a whitewash effect is to use a rough old brush and quick, light brushstrokes. If there is too much paint, rub some off using an old cloth.ย Give yourself permission to try something new and maybe make a fewย mistakes. The best way to get the hang of different paint techniques is to rollย upย your sleeves and give it a go.
Once you have practiced your paint techniques on aย rumptyย old piece, youโllย have the skills to try something more ambitious. This kitchen bench is madeย with a solid slab of wood and painted with a less rustic whitewash effect andย then sealed with a water-based clear sealer.
5. Switch it out
Sometimes upcycling is about simply using an existing piece of furniture in aย different way. What if you moved an item of furniture from one room toย another and gave it a new purpose?ย This big old wooden hutch dresser was a great addition to my kitchen whereย storage space was short. But this cabinet is now just as useful in its new role in my studio as a place toย stash tools and craft supplies.
— Sarah Heeringa is an award-winning journalist and editor with a keen interest in homemaking and interior style. Formerly editor of Inspire, Parenting and Good magazine,ย she is the author of Reclaim That, which invites you to find a new and extremely cost-effective way to furnish yourย home.
Trackbacks
[…] The Interiors Addict blog suggests starting with an old picture frame. You could also try a small end table, plant stand, or stool. Once you’re wielding a hammer and a paint brush like a pro, it’s time to move on to bigger and better things! […]