MAKING YOUR FURNITURE YOUR OWN

Whether it’s painting the dresser you’ve had for years, adding new handles to your kitchen cupboard, or upholstering your favourite but slightly tired armchair – upcycling is the ‘in’ trend.

And, it doesn’t need to cost a fortune. A tin of paint can cost a few pounds and rolls of material, tiles and preloved furniture can be picked up for bargain prices in many of the island’s second-hand stores.

Lynne-Marie Langlois, a freelance upcycling tutor, has been giving life to old furniture for the past ten years. She taught herself everything she knows and admits to being ‘obsessed’ with upcycling. As well as offering a bespoke upcycling service, the islander is also a tutor at Acorn Enterprises. She believes people’s environmental conscious is making them repurpose or choose to buy second-hand.

‘I think people are very aware of the impact decisions have on the environment now and people are becoming less materialistic and trying to do things for themselves.

‘I love being able to give something old a new life. Shopping has become a bit a pastime for people and they don’t want to go out and buy new stuff anymore.’

Just type ‘upcycling furniture’ into Pinterest and you’ll soon see the possibilities are endless. Sewing machines used as wall stands, old suitcases used as tables and walls of mirrors of all varying sizes and colours pop up as hundreds of options for your home appear.

But it’s important not to bite off more than you can chew. ‘The key thing with upcycling is to start small and don’t go and pick a big piece of furniture to upcycle. Have a think about how you want the piece to look and be brave. If it doesn’t work then you can try again. Painting something is the most basic upcycling method. I think people can be put off if they think it’s going to be messy but if you don’t use an oil-based paint then it won’t be that messy at all.’

Online shopping can become second nature in many cases but when it comes to wanting to buy some-thing second-hand, Jersey is full of places to grab a bargain. Acorn, Jersey Hospice Care and Durrell are just some of the places you can buy preloved furniture and make it your own.

‘Your house should say something about you as a person and your furniture should show your personality. Upcycling allows people to add a bit of colour and personality to items in their own home.’

Being proud of something you have made is a mantra Lynne-Marie is also keen to teach clients at Acorn Enterprises. The social enterprise provides employment training and support for people with a range of disabilities. The islander teaches upcycling workshops with wood and materials donated to the reuse centre.

WHAT’S ON TREND?

My Project

I like to think I’m a fairly creative person and after searching for months for a bookshelf for my lounge, I decided it was time I thought outside the box. After some research online and my boyfriend suggesting we use crates, we took a trip to Dunell’s and bought four wine boxes for £20. A trip to B&Q later, we bought varnish, wood glue and sandpaper.

Step One

Sand down the crates as little or as much as you like. We didn’t spend too long sanding, as long as the corners are smooth then your crates will be good to go.

Step Two

Use the wood glue and clamps to secure the crates. Mix and match the positions before you commit to clamping them together. Store the crates somewhere dry overnight.

Step Three

Once your crates are secure you can get to work varnishing them. Again use as little or as much as you like for your desired finish.

Step Four

second-hand

It seems bright colours are the ‘must have’ in our homes. Chalk paint is classic and is used a lot for upcycling furniture. A 50/50 split between lighter wood and darker tones are making a comeback. Pallets are on point at the moment and are often used as tables or hung on walls as cupboard space. Jars are a ‘must have’ in trendy bars and restaurants used as lights. If you have a room with little light then an easy thing to do is get second-hand mirrors, paint the frames, go for different textures and sizes and make a collection on the wall.

Place the bookshelf in position in your home and decorate. In our case less is more and by adding some house plants, a glass bottle and some candles we created a beautiful piece of furniture under £30. Although it may not be perfect and the crates aren’t quite square – it’s something we made ourselves and it adds character to our home.