(Lead Image: Usplash)
Upcycling can be a great way to breathe new life into old furniture, which is not only better for the environment, but also beneficial for your bank account too.
Social media is awash with time-lapse videos showing people turning preloved tables and cabinets from drab to fab – and while satisfying to watch, those ten second reels don’t fully represent the time and effort applied to each transformation.
It can be a daunting prospect to pick up a paintbrush or sandpaper and give it a go, but everybody has to start somewhere. The Stray Ferret spoke to Yorkshire artists and enthusiasts involved in upcycling and sustainability, to share some handy tips.
Don’t be afraid to experiment
Jodie with one of her creations (Jodie Flavell Artist)
Last month the Stray Ferret spoke to Harrogate-based artist Jodie Flavell about her background and the imminent opening of her new shop on Mayfield Grove. Although she had no formal training in interior design or art before she started working on preloved furniture, she managed to take what was a creative outlet and make it into a fully-fledged business.
She also shared some of the key learnings she’s taken from her experience, especially lessons she had to discover for herself along the way. Her first tip would be to carefully choose the right ‘canvas’ or item of furniture to work on.
Jodie said:
“Proper wood, even veneered wood is better as it can be sanded down, but cheaper, laminated wood effect is much harder to upcycle, and doesn’t take on paint as easily.”
Secondly, upcycling is all about experimenting – Jodie recalled that through her own trials and errors she realised ‘you don’t need to paint things one colour’ and that a light touch is needed.
“Sometimes people feel like they need to get as much paint on there and can be heavy-handed which is what causes drips and streaks.”
Start simple
Before and after (Image: Jessie Parker)
According to upcycling enthusiast Jessie Parker, an easy route into upcycling requires two simple variables: a spray can and a flat surface.
She explained:
“I’m a big fan of making my home look lovely, but I’m not a big fan of buying new. That’s why I love finding items in charity shops that look a bit sad but, with a bit of work, have real potential.
“Things like mirrors and old metal picture frames can be easily revived with a bit of spray paint.”
Jessie’s favourite colour to use is metallic gold as it can instantly make an item of furniture more vibrant. She recommends thoroughly sanding down the surface first and wiping it over with a damp cloth to remove any dust, so the colour has the best chance at holding.
Equally as important is to make sure when spraying the item, it’s placed on a flat surface, otherwise the risk of bumps, drips or uneven coverage can increase.
She added:
“You then want to shake the spray paint for at least a minute to avoid the fluids separating. I usually do three coats but you can experiment with this to get your desired results.
“You’ll soon have the spray painting bug and always been on the look out for new things to upcycle and rehome.”
First impressions aren’t everything
(Image: Usplash)
It can be easy to see a chair upholstered in a loud 80s fabric or a careworn table and immediately write it off as unsalvageable – or simply too ugly to transform. However, learning to look past the dated exterior and consider the potential in the piece is something that James Gascoigne from Leeds realised the hard way – and it left him kicking himself on the missed opportunity.
He explained:
“I moved into my first home in August 2022, and I was pretty hard up after buying a house, but I didn’t want to just buy cheap for-now pieces that I didn’t really like and would end up replacing quickly.”
James turned to Facebook marketplace for some of the larger items of furniture and came across a chair that he liked the look of – despite what he described as its ‘poor condition’.
However, after sending the picture to his partner he was dissuaded from buying it. It wasn’t until a several weeks later, when he mentioned it to a friend that he realised just what he’d passed up on.
“I showed this friend and they said they thought it was worth something and it looked pretty vintage – she thought it was a Ming chair, a famous style of furniture.
“When I Googled it, she was right – although we didn’t know how old the one on Facebook marketplace was, some of the high-end stuff goes for upwards of £400 and this had been sold for a fraction of that. Oh yes – it was sold straight away, no doubt to someone who didn’t hesitate.”
James didn’t make the same mistake twice and has successfully turned his hand to many other upcycling projects since around his home. His advice would be to at least view the item if you’re unsure – it’s a good way to check out the vintage credentials.
Not all projects are created equal
(Image: Pixabay)
With previous experience transforming preloved furniture to sell on as a passion project, Harrogate-based Steph Flint has several pearls of wisdom to share with budding upcyclers.
Explaining why she enjoys the process of giving furniture a new lease of life, she said:
“I can never find a piece of furniture in a shop that I like enough to purchase. I prefer old furniture with character that has stood the test of time.
“It’s very satisfying seeing an old dark unloved cabinet that nobody wants, become the focus point in a room, with a new purpose. I find painting furniture very relaxing, and I enjoy the creativeness. It can become quite addictive.”
In her time, she’s found that dark, ‘post-war’ furniture takes on paint easily, and is often sold cheaply, as it isn’t considered to be in fashion. But the right type of furniture isn’t everything; using the correct tools is important to the success of the project too.
Steph added:
“Start with something small – a small table or a chair. I prefer to use chalk paint. It is very forgiving and there is no preparation required before you start. Top tip – use synthetic paint brushes, they don’t shred and clean very easily.”
Read more:
- Discover the Harrogate artist transforming furniture as part of the ‘upcycling revolution’
- From Beyonce to Birstwith – meet the new chef at The Station Hotel
