With respect to reducing, reusing, and recycling there are smaller or bigger initiatives to take that can make a huge impact on the planet, some of which may often be ignored. From small gestures such as reusing plastic bags to finding an alternative solution for unnecessary items.
We all live in furnished houses or apartments, which means that we have dozens of furniture in our possession. At some point, we would get bored or consider our furniture outdated and desperately get the urge to change them. But why dump an old dresser if you can repurpose it into a lovely sink vanity with your unique touches?
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that as of 2018, around 12 million tons of furniture and furnishing garbage were produced, with about 9 million of those ending up in landfills. It is a rather not negligible amount of huge non-biodegradable items. There are many ways to give a second chance to old furniture and not only repurpose them, but as well as sell them or even rent them, but upcycled things allow you to exercise your creativity and work on DIY projects. You can reupholster, refinish, repaint, or redo them in a personalized way, you choose. In addition to being more affordable than new furniture, vintage furniture is frequently of greater quality than fast-furniture items.
Repurposing items requires only creativity and willingness. There are “how-to” videos and tutorials all over TikTok, IG, etc. For beginners, it is easier and highly recommended to reupholster, paint, or stain an old chair or a stool or whatever you can think of. It is of high importance as well to keep in mind that it is better to use sustainable and eco-friendly methods throughout the whole process, in order to really minimize the carbon footprint. You can use different types of eco-friendly tools and ingredients to bring a new look, like chalk or milk paint, that is easy, effective, harm-free, and a current trend in the industry that requires no preparation like sanding or priming, so fewer chemicals in the game.
Architectural Digest has considered already the option of upcycled furniture and presents some suggestions that can become a boost of imagination. Repurposing an old door as a coffee-table top, using old frames as mirrors, turning a table into a kitchen island, slicing a coffee table to make a bench, or even changing a dresser into a changing table for babies. The sky is the limit.
If you're creative and handy, the possibilities for upcycling furniture are practically infinite. Sometimes it is easier just to buy the piece you want. But give it a try and start by renovating small pieces and then I can reassure you that you will get excited by the freedom and the endless ideas. You have all the means to renovate your house by doing less damage to your wallet and your planet.