Merry Go-Round: 11 of the Best Upcycling Ideas on Houzz
Feeling creative? See which of these projects inspires you to turn something old into something new
Whether for environmental or budgetary reasons, or just because you like the idea of transforming something unloved into a unique piece of furniture, check out these stylish hacks that might just tempt you to up your recycling…
2. Grow an idea
From tin cans to old tyres, wooden drawers to gumboots, there are so many ways to get creative with a planter. The culinary life of this old portable barbecue has been extended as it’s now filled with herbs for cooking – and the rust just adds to the charm.
If you copy this idea, always give your herbs a good rinse before eating, in case they’ve picked up some rust along the way.
From tin cans to old tyres, wooden drawers to gumboots, there are so many ways to get creative with a planter. The culinary life of this old portable barbecue has been extended as it’s now filled with herbs for cooking – and the rust just adds to the charm.
If you copy this idea, always give your herbs a good rinse before eating, in case they’ve picked up some rust along the way.
3. Give the dog a home
Give your pooch a pad to be proud of with this neat idea. A suitcase with the lid removed and a cushion popped inside makes a mighty fine dog bed. This one has even had some legs screwed on, so there can be no mistaking who has top-dog status.
When undertaking a project like this, obviously make sure there are no sharp edges or catches left exposed.
Read stories about more pampered pets
Give your pooch a pad to be proud of with this neat idea. A suitcase with the lid removed and a cushion popped inside makes a mighty fine dog bed. This one has even had some legs screwed on, so there can be no mistaking who has top-dog status.
When undertaking a project like this, obviously make sure there are no sharp edges or catches left exposed.
Read stories about more pampered pets
4. Think big
This kitchen plays host to a whole collection of upcycling ideas. Reclaimed floorboards have been turned into cupboard doors, bricks form the sides of the units, and the wooden island in the middle is an old butcher’s block, with scaffold poles forming a hanging rail for pots and pans. The result is a unique kitchen that shows just what can be done with an imaginative approach to reusing materials.
This kitchen plays host to a whole collection of upcycling ideas. Reclaimed floorboards have been turned into cupboard doors, bricks form the sides of the units, and the wooden island in the middle is an old butcher’s block, with scaffold poles forming a hanging rail for pots and pans. The result is a unique kitchen that shows just what can be done with an imaginative approach to reusing materials.
5. Have fun with a drum
The sculptural quality of this washing machine drum looks tailor-made for its current incarnation as a pot for an olive tree. If you want to try this, remember to line the drum with some heavy-duty plastic first to stop all the water leaking out of the holes in the sides (but make a couple of punctures in the plastic for drainage if it’s an outdoor planter).
The sculptural quality of this washing machine drum looks tailor-made for its current incarnation as a pot for an olive tree. If you want to try this, remember to line the drum with some heavy-duty plastic first to stop all the water leaking out of the holes in the sides (but make a couple of punctures in the plastic for drainage if it’s an outdoor planter).
6. Lighten up
Vintage jelly moulds have been painted, drilled and attached to light fittings to create these one-off pendant lamps. Search op-shops and eBay for similar moulds you could convert, but do consult an electrician if you’re undertaking a project like this.
Find an electrician in your area
Vintage jelly moulds have been painted, drilled and attached to light fittings to create these one-off pendant lamps. Search op-shops and eBay for similar moulds you could convert, but do consult an electrician if you’re undertaking a project like this.
Find an electrician in your area
7. Bottle it
This idea couldn’t be simpler – a collection of old apothecary bottles clustered together. What elevates this is the choice of blooms to complement the colour of the vessels. Because each vase only has one or two stems in it, a single, purse-friendly bunch of flowers can be divided up for maximum impact.
If you have a collection of more modern, clear glass bottles, you could glue on your own hand-written, brown-paper labels to achieve a similar look.
This idea couldn’t be simpler – a collection of old apothecary bottles clustered together. What elevates this is the choice of blooms to complement the colour of the vessels. Because each vase only has one or two stems in it, a single, purse-friendly bunch of flowers can be divided up for maximum impact.
If you have a collection of more modern, clear glass bottles, you could glue on your own hand-written, brown-paper labels to achieve a similar look.
8. Use panels for a bedhead
Search for old panelled wardrobe doors, vintage shutters or even ornate fence panels to create a bedhead, then simply paint it to suit your room’s colour scheme. If you’re a competent DIYer and are feeling creative, you could try using a router to carve your own pattern into the wood too.
13 Creative DIY Bedheads
Search for old panelled wardrobe doors, vintage shutters or even ornate fence panels to create a bedhead, then simply paint it to suit your room’s colour scheme. If you’re a competent DIYer and are feeling creative, you could try using a router to carve your own pattern into the wood too.
13 Creative DIY Bedheads
9. Set the table
Scaffold boards can be upcycled in many ways, from shelves to bedhead. Here, they’ve been made into a long, low console table, with galvanised-steel-pipe legs completing the industrial look.
If your boards are rough to the touch, a very fine-grade sandpaper will smooth them down and help you to swerve splinters without ruining the lovely patina of the wood.
Scaffold boards can be upcycled in many ways, from shelves to bedhead. Here, they’ve been made into a long, low console table, with galvanised-steel-pipe legs completing the industrial look.
If your boards are rough to the touch, a very fine-grade sandpaper will smooth them down and help you to swerve splinters without ruining the lovely patina of the wood.
10. Get covered
Here’s another very simple idea, this time using vintage books. The covers have been removed, then holes cut out to frame photographs. These have been stuck to the wall, but they could equally stand happily on a shelf.
Charity shops and garage sales are often overflowing with this type of old-fashioned hardback book. Choose titles on a theme, or just go for the colours and styles that most catch your eye.
Here’s another very simple idea, this time using vintage books. The covers have been removed, then holes cut out to frame photographs. These have been stuck to the wall, but they could equally stand happily on a shelf.
Charity shops and garage sales are often overflowing with this type of old-fashioned hardback book. Choose titles on a theme, or just go for the colours and styles that most catch your eye.
11. Paint a section
We all know about painting furniture to give it a new lease on life, and there are lots of ways to do this. However, if you want something a little different from an all-over colour, but aren’t artistic enough with a paintbrush to embellish with a freehand design, how about this idea? By masking off and painting irregular sections of these chairs, the owner has given them a graphic, individual look.
Tell us
What have you upcycled in your home? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section. And don’t forget to like, share or save this story. Join the conversation.
More
Read up on some DIY ideas
We all know about painting furniture to give it a new lease on life, and there are lots of ways to do this. However, if you want something a little different from an all-over colour, but aren’t artistic enough with a paintbrush to embellish with a freehand design, how about this idea? By masking off and painting irregular sections of these chairs, the owner has given them a graphic, individual look.
Tell us
What have you upcycled in your home? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section. And don’t forget to like, share or save this story. Join the conversation.
More
Read up on some DIY ideas
For an urban take on the upcycled bedside table look, say goodbye crate, hello concrete block. These building bricks have simply been stacked together to form a table, and the holes in the middle offer ready-made storage too.