Upcycling: Environmentally Friendly Design Ideas

Have you ever had a yard sale and wondered how you acquired so much stuff? Well, instead of selling your goods only to later buy new things, JCL Staging & Design asks you to reconsider what you’re giving up. That tattered sofa, dinged up dresser, and faded rug, may just have a whole new life you can’t see with the blind untrained designer eye. Here are some ways to see the possibilities of how you can rebirth dated furniture to make it new and spectacular!

Photo: @PamFisher

Bring your bookcase back to life by taking it outdoors and utilizing it for a garden oasis. Oftentimes, the pockets of even spacing in a bookcase can make for a perfect place to fill with soil and add some seeds or plants. Remove the back of the bookcase and lay it down to create a raised gardening bed. This helps raise the plants which can help if you have any back issues. Chances are your guests will never guess that the beautiful home for your daffodils and peonies or if you prefer to grow your own veggies and spices, that you’ve created was once a space that housed your literary favorites. 

Photo: lilyardor.com

Don’t be so quick to ditch that old dresser. You’d be amazed at what slapping on a new coat of paint and new hardware will do to liven up that clothing décor. If you’re not interested in tapping into your inner Picasso, think about a trendy wallpaper design that would make for a pretty cool new cover on old drawers. Bam! New dresser. Just like that.

Photo: dreamalittlebigger.com Photo: Ikea

Upcycling a rug can provide endless possibilities from reupholstering your ottoman to cutting it down to size a fashion forward set of drink coasters. For all you cat lovers, why not use that old rug as a scratching post for your feline babies. If your wooden stairs could use a new more cushiony step, consider cutting up that old room rug and using the pieces to add the pep those steps need.