A new home often means a new start. That doesn’t necessarily mean, however, that you should rely on new purchases to furnish your home. First-time homeowners are all too aware that buying a house is perilously expensive, often significantly cutting into the furniture budget.
Between all-new selections and carryover favorites you have a third option: upcycling, or transforming old furniture into new pieces with creativity, imagination, and a fair bit of elbow grease. From the uniqueness that upcycling provides to the money it saves, here’s why you should bring upcycled furniture into your home as you start plotting out that brand-new family room.
It’s an Eco-Friendly Decision
You don’t need lovely shades of teal, emerald, or chartreuse for upcycling to be a green endeavor. If you’re environmentally conscious, you can cut your carbon footprint by reimagining existing furniture pieces rather than creating a market for new ones. To be sure, it’s but one small footprint in a bustling crowd, but if it gives you peace of mind, you’ll have made the right move.
You Can Step Off the Assembly Line
Mass-market furniture retailers have made attractive tables, chairs, sofas, and other pieces eminently accessible to almost everyone. There’s a downside to these chains, of course: such access to the same furniture means that everyone’s living rooms, dens, and man caves all end up looking alike. Individuality matters, and an upcycled piece of furniture—even if it’s as simple as a boldly reimagined coffee table—will mean there’s no house on the block with interior design quite like yours.
It Allows Budget-Conscious Additions
Because of the fresh start a new home entails, breaking the bank on new furniture can be tempting. Resist the temptation and save big by making old pieces new again. Along with minimalist principles and savvy storage accessories, upcycling is a great way to decorate your home on a budget. It’s amazing what a little decoupage and creativity can do to take a bite out of your bills.
It Provides a Chance for Creativity
Speaking of creativity, the journey can be as exhilarating as the destination when it comes to why you should bring upcycled furniture into your home. The opportunity to take a disused, unloved piece of furniture and fully make it your own is a deeply rewarding one. Whether it’s repurposing an old bookcase or creating an eye-catching dresser, this is your chance to go beyond the pages of the interior design magazine and create something that may not pass muster with the professionals but that’s entirely you.
