Are you wondering why people should upcycle furniture?
The method of discarding old furniture and replacing it with cheaply made ones is causing so much damage to our environment.
Every year, Americans throw away about 80% of their décor items and furniture, which end up in the landfill.
Now, that’s about twelve million tons of unwanted items.
But most of those items can have a second chance of repurposing with either their first owners or someone else. Remember that saying? A person’s trash is another person’s treasure!
It’s a good thing that many people are now focusing on how they can protect the environment.
This, in return, will help to reduce the number of items we toss out.
What Is Upcycling?
Upcycling means creating a new item from a discarded material by repurposing, repairing, or refurbishing it. It is a fantastic way to add a new theme and style to our workplace and home interior at a lower price than buying new items.
When we upcycle furniture, it makes it look refreshed, like a newly purchased item. It is even a way of giving an unloved or unused piece a new purpose. So why buy new things when you can upcycle the ones you already own?
5 Reasons You Should Start Upcycling Furniture Today
Here are five reasons that will spur you into upcycling furniture beginning from today:
- It’s Better for Our Environment
Companies that manufacture furniture do so by burning fossil fuels. This is very harmful to our health and the environment.
Unlike many contemporary furniture built with veneer and cheap chipboard, older pieces are manufactured with solid wood. As long as they are not exposed to rot and moisture, they are designed to last. When you upcycle older pieces, you are helping the environment because they won’t end up in landfills.
- The Finished Piece Turns Out Unique
Buying furniture from a store means one thing: you are bringing home the same thing that millions of people out there already own. But when you upcycle, it gives you a unique finished product, and it's an excellent way to add something different to your home. You do not even need to start with your furniture. For instance, you can transform an old wooden palette into a fancy coffee table.
- You Will Save More Money
Are you decorating on a tight budget? Without a doubt, new pieces of furniture are expensive. But when you want to buy the old pieces, it is easy to find them at a ridiculously low price on Craigslist and junk stores. Check out our article on the Top 9 Places To Find Cheap Old Furniture To Upcycle.
If you own such items, consider showing them a little TLC and have some patience. You can transform them in an hour or less and save the money you would have spent on new pieces. The market for restored furniture is still growing, and you can make a lot of money if you decide to sell your upcycled creations.
- Explore & Embrace Your Creative Side!
In addition to the fact that you will have a unique end product, upcycling brings out your creativity and innovation! You can choose to keep the design simple or experiment with different styles and techniques. Just let your imagination run wild!
Whichever one you choose, you will learn a new skill from such a rewarding and fun hobby. You can even turn this into a small business venture and start upcycling pieces for friends and family members.
- You Are Encouraging Sustainability
We already mentioned that the activities of furniture companies are harmful to the environment. Not only do they add to the waste in landfills, but they also cause substantial environmental impacts. We are referring to deforestation, the production of plastic, and the change in the climate.
Because of our activities of using and dumping items, our climate is changing. And if we do not manage our waste properly, more human lives, lands, plants, and animals will be affected. But when you resolve to buy restored furniture or upcycle the one you have, you will reduce your carbon footprint.
Final Thoughts
So let’s get picking! Turn that old worn-out piece of furniture into a beloved one-of-a-kind piece! Keep it, pass it down or sell it! We gain more when we upcycle our furniture, and we are helping our planet. So get creative and transform all your old and unloved furniture into something new!
