The perfect storm for upcycling has arrived.
Our collective push for recycling teamed with the cost of living crisis means we’ve never been more willing to make do and mend, looking for ways to improve the things we already have instead of seeking out new.
For your wardrobe, it could be as simple as adding fresh buttons to a cardi or as complex as attaching new lining to a well-worn jacket. But by and large, upcycling works best on homeware and furniture.
The internet is heaving with ideas, from attaching vases together to make one sculptural piece to taking a paint-loaded brush to vintage and flatpack furniture, giving it new character and a personal stamp.
For those with more experience or who fancy a challenge, reupholstering sofas, headboards and chairs can not only increase their lifespan and save them from landfill, but earn you a pretty penny as a lucrative side hustle too. While there are plenty of online tutorials and how-tos, before you get cracking on any upcycling, you’ll need the right tools first.
There will be specific kit you’ll need depending on the project in question, so the list we’ve compiled is intended as a guide for beginners with gadgets that offer multi-use, offering the most bang for your buck.
See the best kit to upcycle furniture below.
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Harris 15390 Upcycle Kit, Grey/Blue/Copper/Natural, Set of 6 Piece
The basic starter kit for modest upcycling projects, Harris’ six-piece set includes painting brushes, a fine sanding block and a coarse sanding block for getting an even surface before painting. There’s also a dust sheet and an instructional guide with upcycling pointers for beginners, showing you how to create different effects from vintage to distressed.
The three brushes vary in size, with options for trims and details to wider bristles for covering large areas quickly. Suitable to use on wood, metal, plastic and ceramic, no homewares are safe with this kit in your hands.
Buy now £11.79, Amazon
SEISSO Wood Furniture Repair Kit Wood Filler
All it takes is a little chip or dent in your wood furniture to make it appear shabby - and not in a good way.
If you’re into a more polished aesthetic, there are ways to rescue your beloved chairs, cabinets, doors, beds, tables and floors from the tip. Seisso’s kit of 12 touch-up colours to the rescue! With shades to fit painted wood as well as walnut, sandalwood, teak and cherry wood, you can repair surfaces and have them back to looking brand new.
Simply clean your furniture, add the paint filler and scrap it flat with the provided spatula. Leave to dry and play spot the blemish. Magic.
Buy now £17.99, Amazon
Valspar Gold effect Paint Glitter Packet, 70g
Paint is transformative, especially on old furniture that’s lost its lustre. Expert upcycler Abigail Davis says: “Any water-based acrylic or eggshell paint is great for furniture. There are some great companies such as Valspar who provide a colour-matching service, so you can match your upcycle to a colour that is in your existing wallpaper.”
The brand also offers this glitter effect which you can use to add a subtle shimmer to sections of furniture.
Buy now £12.50, B&Q
Some Call Me Beth Large-Scale Blue & White Alien Abduction Toile Wallpaper
Peel and stick wallpaper has been a catalyst for the upcycling revolution, allowing DIYers to wrap furniture in more intricate patterns, decoupage-style. Davis agrees, adding: “Simple ‘peel and stick’ vinyl is on the rise as it’s less mess, fool proof and you can order the exact amount you need.”
Whether you've got excess leftover from decorating a room, or you're buying some especially for a project, Spoonflower offers some of the most stylish looks around, from the weird to the wonderful.
We’re tickled by this classic toile featuring a camping/alien abduction scene - a step change to the usual florals. Wrapped around shelves or used to add quirk to wardrobe and cabinet backs, it comes in a range of colour palettes and sizes, with a 61 x 30cm swatch coming in at under a tenner.
Shop more removable wallpaper here.
Buy now £8.60, Spoonflower
Tilswall Hot Glue Gun for Crafting
Broken vase? Cracked flower pots? Or just want to give your flatback a bit of extra reinforcement? A hot glue gun is your best DIY pal. Perfect for arts and crafts as well as minor repairs, the gun heats up glue sticks until they’re lava hot and pushes them through a no-clog nozzle so you can make precise applications. This is such a versatile bit of kit, and the glue works on bonding everything from wood, glass and metal to stone, ceramic and even more delicate things like paper, lace and most fabrics. Plug it into the mains and it’s ready to go in three minutes. Comes with 70 glue sticks so you can get started right away.
Buy now £16.99, Amazon
Bosch IXO V Cordless Screwdriver with 10 Bits & Case - 3.6V
No need to find storage for endless screwdrivers with Bosch’s cordless model in your hand. The electric gadget can be charged with a USB and comes with 10 magnetic bit heads for the most common screws. Whether you’re looking to switch cupboard knobs or want a faster way to assemble flatpack, the single-speed screwdriver is more than up to the task. It’s super light at just 0.3kg and fitted with a soft grip handle, making it comfortable to hold. On full power, it can go for up to three hours - enough time to finish the most complex of upcycling projects.
Buy now £45.00, Argos
Halfords Quick Change Utility Knife
For those who fancy trying their hand at a spot of reupholstery, you’ll need to get the old fabric and/ or foam off first and foremost. This inexpensive knife makes precision incisions, getting the job done to a professional degree. It’s retractable and can store up to five blades, helpful if you’ve got thicker fabric or foam to slice through.
Buy now £4.99, Halfords
Bosch Expert Sanding block, Pack of 3
Got a piece of old furniture in your upcycling sights? Any professional will tell you that you must get rid of peeling paint first to create a smooth surface for paint to stick to, just like filing off chipped nail polish before a gel mani. And while a nail file is perfect for your fingers, for furniture, you’ll need a scaled-up version. Enter: the sanding block.
Bosch has this set of three for different jobs, from eradicating paint chips entirely, to gently rubbing over your finished project to create a gently distressed effect. They’re also good for softening shorn off edges of wood, avoiding splinters. The blocks have enough give to shape to slightly curved and contoured surfaces making them easy to work with.
Buy now £5.00, B&Q
RockSeed Cross Laser Level
From big paint jobs to hanging wallpaper or framed prints and mirrors, you’re best off with a laser level. This battery operated version projects horizontal and vertical points as well as rotating 360 degrees to ensure you’re always getting the right angles. It’s anti-splash and shockproof to one metre, handy if it gets knocked off a ladder or surface when you’re upcycling.
Buy now £29.99, Amazon
ECHG 300 Sheets Imitation Gold Leaf, Rose Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf for Arts Project
One way to up old furniture’s aesthetic? Give it the Midas touch.
Davis believes: “Using gold, silver and copper leaf elevates any upcycle and gives any piece that luxury edge. I buy Imitation leaf from Amazon and use Polyvine Size to adhere the leaf to the piece (there’s how-to videos on their website) and then seal the leaf with Polyvine Crystal Clear Lacquer.”
Buy now £17.54, Amazon
