The term “upcycling” came about in 1994 from a belief that recycling diminished the value of old products, and that upcycling could instead add value to them. We wholeheartedly agree with this. Oddly, it wasn’t until 2002 that the term upcycling gained mainstream recognition.
Of course, the practice of upcycling has deep historical roots, dating back centuries. We all know that in the 1930s, Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind upcycled green curtains into a dress and used the tassels as a belt. The tradition of reusing found objects in mainstream art has also been around for a long time, and is a common technique in folk art, such as Amish quilts.
A great way to save money and bring elements into your home that have purpose and meaning is with upcycling, a.k.a. reusing/repurposing an item into another use or function. I’ve upcycled a lot of things around my home both saving money and coming up with something original and one-of-a-kind.
With the holiday season quickly approaching, we are launching our “Style it with Homespun.” We want to see what you have done!! We know you take things home from the Shoppes and do amazing things in your home – show us! We want to see your tablescapes, décor, mantles, etc. If we reprint your picture in this newsletter, you win a beautifully scented candle from the Shoppes. Send your entry to: [email protected]
Here’s a great example given to us by Craig C.
He bought a few of these …
They became stained glass windows in his AirBnB. So cool! I realize this is a bit out of the ordinary, but we had to share this one.
Although I don’t have a before, here is one additional picture of the bathroom window.
As a final note, upcycling in your own home is always a great place to start. Here are a few tips:
- Shop Your Home
Take a tour of your own home and look for items that you’re bored or tired of. Then with a little creativity, give them a fresh new look. It can be as simple as a coat of spray paint (we love our spray paint), adding some florals, or taking the item and completely changing its function. It can be a super simple reuse of an item, but I guarantee by changing its look, the item will be new again! If not, maybe it’s time for it to go, for someone else to upcycle!
- Good Bones
When thinking about keeping or tossing, it’s important to look beyond the surface to see if the “trash” is worth the work to upcycle. Who wants to spend time on repurposing something and have it fall apart the next day? Good bones are important for a longer life.
- Vintage Store Finds
Vintage stores, thrift shops, estate sales, and garage sales are all great spots to find items to upcycle into creative home decor. Things to be on the lookout for are picture frames, small bowls, glassware, maps, candlesticks, old books, and chairs.
Picture frames can always be revamped with a can of spray paint and some added florals. Small bowls are perfect to hold jewelry or simply rest on top of a cluster of books.
Glassware can be grouped together or displayed on their own. I love glassware for mantel displays and table vignettes.
Jessica at our Maryville Shoppes is a master at creating stunning designs.
- Don’t Toss It – Save It
I’m not a hoarder (even though you may think differently if you peeked into my barn), but I often have a difficult time parting with specific decor items because I always believe that someday I will use it somewhere. I’m not advocating hoarding 😊, but sometimes the best decor can be created with something you almost threw out. So, before you toss it, look at it outside of it’s traditional element. Use your creative eye to see how it can be upcycled into something else.
There are also roadside finds, dumpster divin’ and friends trash, but we’ll save that for another day.
And, for those of us who are reluctant to DIY or use tools to change something, here is my shameless plug for the Shoppes at Homespun. Many of our vendors offer creative and beautiful upcycled products from furniture and wall décor to art and jewelry. Here are a few treasures from our Farragut Shoppes.
Have you ever thought of or tried upcycling? If so, what have you upcycled in your home? What treasures do you search for at vintage stores and estate sales?
Once again, don’t forget to submit your designs, stylings, and ideas to “Style it with Homespun.” Send your pics to: [email protected]
See you at our sale September 27-29th,
Bev