From forgotten to fabulous: Turning old finds into stylish statement pieces
Fast-changing trends shape our buying habits season after season – creating the pressure to keep purchasing for our homes – when, in reality, we could be experimenting with a bit of DIY instead.
However, home purchases and construction generate 100 million tonnes of waste every year in the UK alone according to Businesswaste.co.uk – so it’s certainly a step in the right direction to incorporate up-cycling, when refreshing your decor.
Once forgotten trinkets can add a remarkable amount of character to a room, when a little DIY and craftsmanship comes into play…
Perhaps you want to add some pottery to a space you’ve freshly started to decorate?
You could try painting long-forgotten vase to incorporate accents of your wallpaper, or surrounding decor.
After a vintage look? A mix of bicarbonate of soda and paint on said vase can give a rustic touch.
Say you wanted to add a sleek alabaster finish to your coffee table.
Rather than buying new, you can recreate this look with a DIY approach.
Using white and off-white or cream resin, you can achieve a subtly weathered marble effect that enhances the material’s intricate details.
It’s also important to note that ethical shopping choices can translate into sustainable fabrics and low-carbon furnishings too.
Whether you’re looking for maximalist or minimalist interiors, small statement pieces can make your home feel warmer.
With this comes a wave of personality too, leaving a long lasting first impression to buyers or visitors.
DIY Inspiration
Within this how-to-guide, you can gauge the wonderful world of personal projects that mirror your home furnishings. Which are all tailored to you and the feel of your home…
Cozy clay coasters
The materials needed for this task include air-dried clay, acrylic pens or paint, decoupage glue and a small amount of water.
Step One: Acquire some air-dry clay and take out the desired amount from the packet. Roll on a flat surface with a rolling pin and flatten until you reach a thickness of around 1 centimetre.
Step Two: Gather a round faced object (preferably a glass or cookie-cutter) and mark out how many coasters you would like to create. If your clay starts to become too dry, add a small amount of water.
Step Three: Leave the clay you’ve just cut out to dry until it is completely hard – this may take two or three days. Patience is a necessity for this step!
Step Four: Decorate as you wish, being delicate with your creation before adding a thin layer of decoupage glue to seal in your designs.
Other potential crafts can include:
Floral candlesticks: Using paint or acrylic markers to add small designs to utilise some otherwise dull and blank candles!
Colourful glasses: With an ordinary glass jar, some food colouring of your choice and some Mod Podge, you can muster up a decorative colourful jar. Simply mix your desired amount of food colouring and Mod Podge, coat the inside of the glass and leave to dry.
Murals/accent walls: Take note of the natural shapes present in your home’s interior. You can integrate a bold coloured arch to a blank wall in your hallway or even a checkered floor pattern.
DIY projects like these can echo the patterns of your rug or the design of a sofa pillow.
The key is to have fun with the process – and draw inspiration from items you already have at home – a core principle of upcycling.
When inspiration is lacking, it can be hard to break free from your usual shopping habits – but doing so opens the door to deeper self-creativity.
Before making a new purchase, rummaging through items you already own is a far more eco-conscious choice – and it can add a fun, creative project to your spare time.
Why not reach beyond your comfort zone?
You might feel your interior is limited by your DIY skills – but experimenting with new ideas, like playing with shapes, can lead to striking results.
When done well, geometric lines can become a defining feature of a room.
Some fun ideas can be found rooted in eccentric decor too. This can also mean implementing an unusual frame that adds a touch of dimension to a previously bland wall, using bold furnishings can create cohesion, despite standing out.
Craftsmanship and DIY open up a world of possibilities – bringing with them both satisfaction and a sense of fun.
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