Don’t throw it out! 47 fabulous upcycling projects

Refresh, reuse and recycle

These creative upcycling ideas will keep your old furniture and unused items out of the scrap heap. All you need to turn tired, time-worn pieces into treasure are a few DIY skills and a little creative thinking.

Budget-friendly and good for the planet, we've brought together the best upcycling projects to inspire your next makeover.

Read on and discover how to breathe new life into your old stuff...

Kids' stationery jars

Transform old glass jars with a touch of crochet to create these adorable kids' storage containers. Stitch the bodies for the bottoms of the pots and tops, complete with animal ears, for the lids. Faces can be added with permanent marker pens or a vinyl cutting machine. Pop on a shelf filled with anything from pens to paperclips.

Animal tin cans

Create cute garden ornaments from used tin cans. Simply raid the recycling box and ensure your tins are clean and dry. Paint the cans with spray paint in colours that correspond with the animals you want to create and leave them to dry.

Next, add details such as stripes for the bee and wings for the grasshopper, then seal with varnish. To finish, make wings and antennae from wire or plastic bottles. Lolly sticks work well for the grasshopper's legs.

TV pet bed

Maggie McGaugh is a professional furniture flipper who certainly knows how to think outside the box regarding furniture upcycling.

This retro TV was found in the trash, but it has been rescued and transformed for a four-legged friend who will enjoy snuggling up in their cosy new bed.

Skateboard side table

Got a few skateboards kicking around from the last time you tried to be a 'skater kid'? Use them for the next best thing – home décor.

This easy project by YOCshop on Etsy simply requires removing the wheels and replacing them with some basic table legs. And it looks pretty rad.

Funky footstool

This project is a great way to add a fun flash of colour to a footstool without bringing out the sewing machine. Choose a vibrant fabric to cover over the existing upholstery and use tacks and a hammer to nail in place. Finish the look with a colourful pom pom trim.

Reeded sofa

Instead of spending a fortune reupholstering a sofa, why not go for a garden room look with reeded wood instead? Claire Douglas, owner of Claire Douglas Styling, transformed her old budget sofa by encasing the frame with dowel rods, painted in a forest green tone. She then popped the back foam fillings into huge cushion covers and laid a matching throw over the seat cushions.

Is it uncomfortable? "Nope, because you don't sit or even lean on the dowels," Claire tells us. "The sofa cushions are still there to provide all the comfort, so it's no different than a rattan sofa."

Colour-pop IKEA cabinet

Cheap, functional IKEA furniture that has seen better days doesn't have to be boring. Allie of @allie_wilson_home picked this IKEA cabinet up from Facebook Marketplace and gave it a refreshing twist by painting it aqua green. Wood beading and wood-effect vinyl complete the transformation.

If painting isn't your forte, why not try sticker décal details instead?

Sewing machine desk

Furniture restorer, Danielle Bayliss of Rediscovered by Danielle gave this striking vintage Singer sewing machine stand a new lease of life by sanding back the old finish and fixing up the damaged veneer. She then lightened the look by adding raw varnish and glaze. It's now a welcome statement desk for a lucky home office.

Stencilled TV table

Give a junkyard find an easy update with a stencil. This TV tray table has been lifted to modern farmhouse-style standard using a grid-like stencil and black paint.

Donna Williams from Funky Junk Interiors has become such a pro at furniture upcycling she now sells tools to get the look yourself on her website. This giant buffalo check stencil can be used to add striking patterns to all sorts of homeware surfaces from tables to drawer fronts and doormats.

Wallpaper covered table

Update a tired or scratched dining table with a hit of zingy colour and pattern. This table has been transformed by Claire Armstrong, owner of Pillar Box Blue with wallpaper.

Claire measured, cut and glued the paper down with regular wallpaper paste, then sealed it with two coats of clear varnish. The pattern looks striking when teamed with bottle-green chairs.

Pallet coat hooks

A popular DIY trend, the possibilities are endless when it comes to upcycling wood pallets.

For a fresh twist on a coat rack, use the stamps on a pallet as a decorative feature and utilise the grooves to create a shelf to store hats or small bags. We love this ready-made one by UWoodBespokeDesigns at Etsy.

Revamped home office chair

Office chairs are usually more practical than pretty, which is why you can find an awful lot of them on online marketplaces.

Owner of Marcie K Designs, Marcie Kobernus' arty upcycles are described as "a mix of Jumanji and Alice In Wonderland". To steal Marcie's style, spray paint your chair in a bright colour or metallic tone and reupholster the seat with a vibrant leopard or tropical print fabric.

Painted bath panel

Transform your bathroom into an uplifting spring-toned scene with soothing pastel paints and a sunny feature bath panel.

In this budget bathroom makeover, Hannah, owner of The Otto House, transformed the old tiles using V33 tile paint. Then she used leftover exterior paint in buttercup yellow to give the bath panel a lift. Genius!

Louvre door memo board

Looking for beautiful home office ideas? A statement bulletin board can make a room come alive and an upcycled design is sure to add charm and personality. This quirky version by Monica Ewing Jensen, owner of Crafty Nest, is made from old shutters painted a vibrant red.

"It occurred to me that shutters were the perfect way to cover a bulletin board, which can look messy," explains Monica. Hinges attached to the doors allow them to open up revealing a smart, cushioned red-stripe message centre behind.

Boat oar headboard

How about this for a headboard? This brilliant idea captured by CastawaysHall on Etsy involves sourcing vintage boat oars, painting them and then mounting them in a line with a wooden panel behind your bed.

The recycled oars bring a touch of the beach inside and add structure and texture to a coastal look.

Suitcase shelves

Do you have old luggage knocking around in the loft? Give them some love with this cute shelving idea and your old suitcases will fulfil their purpose once more.

Work out how deep you want your shelving to be, then measure and mark this on your suitcase with the handle at the front. Use a saw to neatly remove the unwanted back section. Mount the remaining suitcase onto a wooden panel and screw it onto the wall to create a shelf.

You can find various tutorials online but we adore these ready-made versions by rebearthvintage Etsy shop owner, Pamela.

Cork pot stand

Cork is a great protector from heat so is an ideal material to make coasters and hot pot plates. Instead of discarding bottle corks, why not save them to make practical kitchen gadgets?

To make a pot stand, prepare the corks by soaking them in boiling water to sterilise, expand and soften. Then, measure and cut each cork to size. Glue them together and add a felt bottom. Finally, add a ribbon or twine trim.

Denim planters

It's widely known that denim is a hardy material so don't throw your jeans away as there are lots of upcycling projects you can use them for...

Claire Armstrong, owner of @pillarboxblue says: "Don't you think succulents and denim look fantastic together? I do! So, I've used this recycled jean planter to display them. I love their rustic look." What's great about this denim upcycle project is that it's 'no sew'. All you need are tin cans, cut-off hems and seams from old jeans and good-quality glue.

Colander hanging basket

Give your garden a pretty yet budget-friendly update with this trash-to-treasure hanging basket. Fashioned from an old kitchen colander and colourful strings of beads, why not make a few for your next garden party?

For a vintage look, first, spray with rust-effect paint and leave to dry. Next, thread three lengths of craft wire with colourful beads and attach them to the colander in a triangle shape. To finish, twist the upper ends of the wires together.

Painted light fittings

Looking to give your home some modern touches of black? You don't need to replace existing out-of-date light fittings, simply upcycle them with black paint instead.

DIY and homes influencer Jenny Game has collaborated with Frenchic Paint to refresh her hallway lighting with eye-catching jet-black furniture paint. Wire-framed light shades complete the look. Take a look at other black painted-updates at @jenshomejournal.

Découpage dresser

Découpage patterns transferred directly onto wood furniture create a professional and elegant effect. Blend patterns in similar colours for subtle interest and always seal the finished art with a couple of coats of clear varnish.

These botanical drawings of fruits and garden plants are the work of Crispijn de Passe the Younger, a Dutch Golden Age engraver and have been selected in collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society. This beautiful upcycled chest would look great in a summer house or conservatory.

Ladder garden

If you're short on space in the garden, you can still create a place to show off your green fingers – just think about growing upwards instead of outwards.

Place wooden planks onto the stairs of a stepladder and build up a garden of plants and bright flowers.

Window shutter wall planter

Before you discard that pair of old battered window shutters, take a moment to consider the potential. In this ingenious garden upcycle, a shutter has been given a new lease of life as a characterful planter.

Having cut the shutter in half and painted it blue, pretty pots have been attached with wire – the perfect addition to a garden wall or entryway.

Cheese box shelf

This nifty project by Kim of Made in a Day sees a used cheese box transformed into a stylish shelving unit. For the shelves, cut thin lengths of wood and affix them inside the box with a glue gun to create a spot for displaying lightweight accessories.

Then, thread an old leather belt or piece of rope through holes in the top for hanging. For a rustic finish, you could even try staining the wood.

Guitar shelves

Ideal for music lovers, this creative project transforms battered old guitars into statement shelving units.

Carefully strip the guitar back to its carcass and add two or three wooden shelves to display your trinkets on. Alternatively, you can pick up a ready-made design by FracturedWorks on Etsy.

Chalk painted furniture

Chalk paint is ideal for brightening up old furniture and it adds a beautiful rustic finish to weathered wood.

These once-worn pieces of hallway furniture have been given an update with vibrant coats of paprika red and olive green. To create a fun contrast, you could paint the handles with a wow-factor contrasting tone.

Globe lampshades

Love to travel? How about using old globes as cool light fixtures? Ideal as lampshades, neatly cut off the bottom of the globe, thread through a pendant light and secure safely to the ceiling – you can use them as inspiration for your next big adventure.

We love these ingenious designs by Kim of WorldGlobeLights who sells her globe lights with drilled hole embellishments on Etsy.

Mason jar lights

Kilner and Mason jars can be cleverly transformed into stylish household lighting. Give this one a whirl – purchase light fittings, cords and bulbs from online suppliers and create your own vintage-looking light fittings. Easy to make and so impressive!

Storage ladder

A creative use for an old ladder is shabby chic shelving. Affix your ladder safely to the wall and sand down any sharp edges. Ideal for a small bathroom, it's a handy way to store towels or it could even make a great coat rack in a hallway.

Outdoor plant dresser

A fresh lick of paint can really be a game-changer. This disused side table has been transformed into the perfect indoor-outdoor plant display, thanks to a sunny splash of yellow. To recreate this look at home, make sure you use waterproof garden furniture paint.

Suitcase style drawers

Here's a fun idea to update a boring chest of drawers. Paint a dated dresser to look like stacked vintage suitcases using pretty pastel chalk paints.

Make sure each drawer is a different colour, then glue on suitcase clips and decorative luggage details.

Blue sky fridge

Breathe new life into an old white kitchen appliance by transforming your refrigerator with a refreshing blue sky wrap-around. Clean the exterior and mask out the areas you don't want to be painted.

Prime and then spray two coats of blue paint and let dry. Add cloud details with DIY stencils and white metal paint.

Cane cabinet

With cane furniture a hot trend, it would be foolish not to use a roll of cane webbing in your next upcycling project. This striking cabinet has been transformed by removing and replacing the inner door sections with sheets of decorative woven cane. The contrasting black paint finish is super chic and looks designer

Wooden bowl lamp

Give a wooden salad bowl a second life by transforming it into a chunky pendant light. Using an electric drill, make a hole in the base of the bowl. Gently sand the entire surface in the direction of the wood grain.

Paint the inside of the bowl with metallic finish furniture paint and, once dry, paint the exterior with a coat of white chalk paint. Again, once dry, sand the exterior to distress and expose the original wood beneath. Install the electrical wire and bulb and hang it in the room of your choice.

Children's drawers

Brighten up a child's bedroom with a chest of drawers painted all over in a cheerful colour. Create a coordinated scheme by choosing a tone that matches your child's favourite wall art.

We love how even the handles have been painted the same marigold shade on these friendly drawers for a coherent look that's bold and full of character.

Ombré sideboard

Brighten up a dark corner with a colourful ombré sideboard. We love this coral combination but you can choose whatever palette you like as long as they are shades of the same colour and fade from dark to light.

Remove the doors, then mask out equal sections on the fronts and assign a paint shade to each.

Colourful candlesticks

Give new life to boring candlesticks by spray painting in colours of the rainbow. Take inspiration from these luxe designs by WEBB & GRAY, which are made from reclaimed table legs and gilded in coloured silver leaf. Get the look with spray paint and add a sheen with a little metallic gilding wax.

Geometric mid-century sideboard

The work of Annie Sloan's Painter in Residence Polly Coulson, this playful statement piece demonstrates how a splash of colour and a bold, graphic pattern can completely revive a time-worn sideboard.

These vintage mid-century units can often be picked up for relatively modest price tags at garage sales and second-hand furniture stores. Using masking tape, mark out your design before filling it in with chalk paint and finally, sealing it with wax.

Tin can planters

What could be easier than growing fresh fragrant herbs in tin cans? Thoroughly wash and clean the tins and remove any labels. Cover the inner base with broken terracotta or shingle for drainage.

Half fill with compost and sow one variety of herb seeds to each pot. Cover the seeds with more compost, place them on a sunny windowsill and watch them grow. Vintage cans with colourful retro prints look even better.

Textured set of drawers

For something a little different than just a fresh lick of paint, experiment with textured paper for an ornate finish on your furnishings. Created by Chloe Kempster, another Painter in Residence with Annie Sloan, these jewel-toned drawers almost look like engraved wood.

To get the look, Chloe applied textured paper with PVA glue, followed by coats of blue and green hues to create this dappled emerald effect. She then used a lighter shade to highlight the raised pattern and sealed it with wax.

Corkboard wall art

To create this fun pinboard, grab yourself a couple of cork wall or floor tiles along with a few tester pots of paint.

Use tape to mask off sections on each tile and paint them to match your room's colour scheme. Affix to the wall in random order and use it as a quirky noteboard.

Reclaimed door bench

Annie Sloan's Painter in Residence, Hester van Overbeek has given a new lease of life to a tired old door. Once unassuming and worn out, she sawed the door into five pieces and screwed them together to create this quirky bench.

After sanding, she added a coat of white chalk paint to the wood, applying a lick of contrasting green to the edges for a final colourful flourish.

Bicycle bathroom vanity

Bicycle lovers won't be able to get enough of your bathroom with an old bike doubling as a washstand, towel rack and vase.

Vintage bicycles are easy to pick up either online or in an antique shop, but you may need to remove any rust and respray your bike before it looks as charming as this one.

Chair transformations

How's this for a great furniture revamp? Head to any house clearance warehouse and you’ll be sure to find old dining chairs going for cheap.

They’re great starter revamps for those looking to get into upcycling or upholstery – fabric remnants and tester pots are all you need to totally revive them.

Cabinet update

Bet you didn’t think a bog-standard filing cabinet could look this stylish, did you? Those clever folk at Rust-Oleum have put together an easy guide to transforming a rusty piece of office furniture into a side table you’d proudly place in your living room. All you need is some spray paint and sticky-back plastic.

Reclaimed wooden shelf

You don't have to be a DIY whizz to whip up this cute shelf. All you need is a piece of old wood and a length of rope.

Hanging shelves are a great storage hack for small spaces as you can tie them back when you don't need them – just make sure you affix them securely to the ceiling and don't use them for heavy items.

Plastic bottle garden chairs

Rather than tossing your old plastic bottles into the recycle bin, why not reuse them in a rather different way?

This clever upcycle sees bottles strapped to the base and back of a metal chair frame, transforming them into surprisingly comfortable outdoor seating. Rain-proof and long-lasting, they're ideal for a quick and easy garden project.