Why I’m Obsessed With Upcycling…
In a society that tends to throw away its things and old furniture without a second thought, landfills simply overflow and suffocate the environment.
For those who don’t know upcycling is the creative reuse (#creativereuse) of unwanted furniture and objects in such a way as to create a product of equal or higher quality or value than the original.
We often have old furniture and objects in our home that have sentimental value for us, but are a bit tired, old (we call them vintage now…), and no longer match the style of our home, our mood, fashion, etc. A great way to refresh these pieces of furniture so they can be loved once again is to recycle them. The idea is to take something old, worn, broken, or unwanted and restore it to something new that retains its original charm while increasing its life expectancy.
The reuse of furniture has been on the rise in recent years having many advantages, such as environmental and economic benefits such as:
- Reducing the use of new raw materials to create new products and saving energy.
- Reducing waste to landfill and unnecessary manufacturing of new goods
- The old furniture is often more durable and made to a higher standard by local craftsmen, using traditional techniques than today’s mass-produced pieces.
- Their value increases as time goes by, in relation to manufactured goods, which is the opposite (see a well-known Swedish department store…)
- They tend to be unique and allow you to have pieces in your space that reflect your taste and personality. In this way, they become a point of attention in your home when you receive relatives and friends.
I think we all need to take a look at our values. Do we want mass-produced furniture that will end up in landfills within years, or should we consider spending the same money on a quality used piece of furniture?
