Tips for upcycling are given by the hosts of Save My Reno on this show.
It’s time to talk about a new trend that’s good for the environment and your wallet. HGTV stars Samantha Pynn and Sebastian Clovis talk about it.
When people start upcycling, they start to think of old things in a new way, and both the planet and our wallets are benefiting from it.
“You save money, and you keep things out of the landfill,” says designer Samantha Pynn, who stars in HGTV’s Save My Reno. When you make something yourself, and when it works in your home, you feel so good.
As a co-host, Sebastian Clovis, a contractor, says that refurbishing, which is another eco-friendly DIY trend that’s becoming more popular, also has those benefits.
In this case, you take the material from an old product and make a new one out of it. This is called upcycling.” The old thing is gone, and a new thing is made with the parts. When you refurbish something, you fix it up or make it look better in order to make it last longer. Both are great, but there’s a difference.
The two came up with five tips for getting started with upcycling and refurbishing things:
Find out what you can and can’t change.
Clovis says the most important thing is to look at things as materials, not as what they are right now. Besides wood, I like metal, plastic, fabrics, and anything else that can be used again. I like things that can be repurposed.” The only thing stopping you from upcycling is your imagination and persistence.
Pynn says that sometimes, even the most creative project might be better off not being made at all. It won’t work if it can’t be changed to fit in your space.” And, that’s fine, too. ‘Give it away’: It will work for someone else, though.
have a few basic things on hand.
Individual projects need their own tools, but it’s a good idea to keep a few things on hand. “I always have a sewing kit, paint brushes, and a sander and sandpaper,” says Pynn. “That’s just what you need to have around,” says Pynn. Depending on how skilled you are, you may need a table saw or a nail gun. It might be better to figure out what you want to upcycle before you buy or borrow the things you need.
Start with the simple things.
Beginner DIYers should start with projects that are easy for them to do. This will help them build up their confidence and skills. It’s not hard to paint furniture or other things, wallpaper inside a cabinet, or reupholster an old chair or ottoman seat that comes off, says Pynn.
In this video, Clovis shows you how to make tealight lanterns, pillows from old clothes, or even a coffee table out of an old suitcase. There are a lot of ways to make a coat rack with old spoons and forks. You could bend them and screw them into a piece of wood.
improve your skills.
As soon as you’ve done the simple tasks, you can learn skills like carpentry or soldering for more complicated projects. Metal railings have become record holders, old records have become coffee tables and lights, and a wine barrel has become an Adirondack chair, says Clovis. There is a lot of creative power in upcycling. It requires thinking outside the box and being willing to just try.
