Upcycling is a relatively cheap way or turning an old, unloved item into something beautiful. In this modern world, sustainability is a topic which is becoming increasingly more important, so there really are so many benefits to giving an old item a bit of a spruce up.
However, if you’re anything like us and lack in the creative side of things, then don’t give up too soon- because there are thousands of talented people who share their upcycling ideas with us on a daily basis.
This next idea is actually fairly simple- but hugely effective- and doesn’t involve too many extra parts.
The added bonus from this is that you won’t feel any strain on your bank balance, as all you need is 2 extra-large drawers, 8 little legs, and some scrap wood.
So if you have some spare drawers lying around, or you spot them for fairly cheap at a car boot sale, why not upcycle them into side tables? The results can look absolutely beautiful, and it’s guaranteed that your guests will be asking you just where you purchased them from!
Shannon Oslon, otherwise known as Junkflirt, shared her creative hack onto Hometalk, so that the whole world can have a go.
Her simple approach and clear instructions makes it easy for even the least creative people to get stuck into some DIY, and we can’t wait to share it with you!
“The legs were attached with blind nuts and a wood shelf was added. A couple coats of paint later and bland drawers become bright accents.” Shannon explained.
“I chose to leave the original handles on to keep the mid century feel, two sets of legs were used, although they didn’t match exactly, we trimmed one pair and the slight miss match adds to their charm and uniqueness.”
Shannon tells us in a little more detail how to add some shelves to the drawers, explaining that she attached them with wood glue and brads (thinner headless nails). She added that “the legs are attached with blind nuts- available in most hardware stores.”
Now comes the fun part: the decorating.
Shannon finished with Duck Egg and Cream paint, and added flower and bird house stencils for a cute little finishing touch- but you can finish your drawers however you like.
Personally, we’re a fan of the light colors that Shannon used, as they really help to brighten up a room. They’re certainly a big change from the dark brown drawers that we saw at the beginning!
Once your decorating is complete, you’re then free to add whatever you like to your drawers. If they’re going to be used as a bedside table, then why not add an alarm clock, along with a lamp, and some books to read to help you relax before bed?
You can also stack the shelves to create some bookshelves, which Shannon has also taken on as a project!
Since sharing her upcycling project, Shannon was amazed to see it doing the rounds on the internet, featuring on Pinterest, Mary Janes Farm magazine, and Sommerset Home’s Feb 2017 edition!
It’s no surprise that this post did so well, as we think it’s a really simple but effective upcycling project to get involved in. For more information, take a look at Shannon’s Hometalk post here.
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