How to give new life to your stuff? Upcycle!

(A perfect subject before tomorrow’s march, isn’t it ?)

And you will tell me, “Well, I’m already giving my objects a new life … I’m recycling!”
Oh yes, but upcycling is not the same thing!

Recycling

When you take your cardborad out on Tuesday night on the sidewalk and the PMC on Wednesdays or you go to the container park to get rid of an old piece of furniture that was in the attic, all of that is recycling. We make new stuff with used stuff (that we usually reduced beforehand to dust)!

Upcycling

It’s not quite the same thing. This concept, appeared in the 90s and aims to transform an object to increase its value and quality or give it a complete different vocation.

Here are some ideas of objects to upcycle

When a tire becomes a flower pot

You break a tire. And you are about to drop it at the container park? And don’t you transform it. One coat of paint, or two. I personally find that white is awesome! You hang it on one of your outer walls. And here you are with a new flower pot and it’s great!

When a tin can becomes a super trendy container

I googled “upcycling tin cans”. So, I found myself on the mega image platform. And there, you have to hang on. There is clearly a way to give a new life to your cans with fabric, wool, rope, lacquer paint. From a support for your bottles of wine, to the cutlery tray, through the make-up pots, there are plenty of ways to be creative and to do pretty things.

When an old piece of furniture becomes a niche

Do you have a pet and want to make a new nest for him?
If you intend to get rid of an old dresser, wait a minute. By removing the two doors or drawers (it depends), you could easily turn this furniture into a nice cocoon for your doggie. Do some small research on the net, you will have fun!

When a door becomes a wall shelf

Did you have a dresser with doors in the previous example? Take one door (or why not both) back! A sander and paint, varnish or ceruse and you have turned it into a wall shelf for the entrance hall, the bathroom, your bedroom etc …

The net is filled with upcycling ideas. But above all, keep in mind that “the best waste is the one that is not produced“!
Have fun !

This article was inspired and co-written by our trainee, Nicolas Bernard. Thanks Nicolas!