3 Upcycle Projects to Try Before Buying New
1. Find an outdated dresser, nightstand, or end table and repaint it:
This was A LOT easier than I thought it would be
You need:
-A piece of sandpaper
-Primer
-Paint
-A paint brush and roller
Directions:
-Take the drawers out for the whole upcycle process
-Go over the dresser and the front of the drawers with sandpaper. You don’t need to get the finish off, but rough it up so the primer and paint can soak in.
-Go over the dresser with a coat of primer. Leave it to dry overnight (trust me, I didn’t listen to this advice and it made painting it such a bigger pain than it needed to be).
-Put a coat of paint on the following morning and a second coat at night (if needed). It should be dry the next morning, but don’t put the drawers in just yet. Give the furniture another day or two to “cure” before you put it back together (another piece of advice I didn’t heed and sorely regretted. I had to redo some of my painting because the drawers got stuck shut and took some of the paint off when I opened them).
2. Paint over old hooks:
I got a big box of these outdoor hooks from facebook marketplace for $20 and, after cleaning them, I painted them will leftover paint from my dresser project. Since I didn’t have the original screws, I just dabbed a little paint on the head of the screws and then, while it was still wet, stuck the head of a screwdriver into the top of the screw so there wouldn’t be a big buildup of paint. I did this with hooks for my hanging plants, but you can easily do it with any hooks you come across. You’ll pay a fraction of the price for used hooks, and save them from ending up in the landfill!
3. Turn a pail into a new planter:
For this project, you need:
-old garbage can
-Rope or twine
Small garbage cans usually only cost a few dollars, but you can do this with any bucket or can that you want to use for your plant.
Directions:
-Clean off the outside of the can or bucket.
-Place a dab of hot glue on the top of the container and adhere the rope to it.
-Wrap the rope around the can or bucket, adding dabs of hot glue every few inches down until you reach the bottom.
-Cut off the excess and there you go!
You can also do this with smaller planters you have laying around. I did it with this green planter in my room and I am so happy with how it turned out!
Thank you for joining me in the pursuit of a more sustainable life