Upcycling second-hand items
Are you into all things DIY and are constantly on the search for your next mini makeover project? Upcycling is an easy way to get your DIY fix as you can do projects in an afternoon or a weekend – but buying all the items to actually upcycle can get really costly. The good news is, when you buy at Cash Converters, you get quality second-hand items at a fraction of the cost of buying new.
Upcycling = choosing your colours carefully
For bigger second-hand items like chairs and tables (and even side tables), you can add a bold splash of colour to the legs to make a statement in any room. All you need is a tester pot of paint in a colour you truly love. The other option is to look for chalk paint at a hardware store; it has incredible sticking power and will go onto almost any surface… even varnished pine or laminate. You can apply it thickly for a rustic, textured look or smoothly for a slick modern look ― and it dries really quickly. Best of all, it is safe for kids to use, so you can get the whole family involved. The Pantone Colour of the Year 2024 is Peach Fuzz, so a subtle choice or a more striking hue such as Rooibos Red will have you bang on trend if you use these colours. For smaller items, you could also turn old vintage tea cups into candle holders, Christmas ornaments for the tree. Or build them up to create a vintage high tea stand or even an interesting side lamp. To shop these items, click here: Furniture and Décor
Upcycling= using your creativity
Lamps are also great second-hand items to upcycle, as they come with so many creative options. You can buy an old lamp and take off all the fabric from the lampshade. From there, you just have the metal frame – the more unusual the shape, the better – which can adorn with whatever you like. For a kids’ room, try pom poms and tassels or simply paint it in a rainbow of colours. You could also opt for ribbons in different colours, as stripes up and down the lamp shade. Alternatively, keep the lamp shade in a neutral colour and get your kids to help you paint the base in a funky design. This also works equally well for smaller decorative objects and ornaments. You could collect these as you go and group them together on a shelf or an open cupboard as a real conversation starter. Head boards are also an easy afternoon project, as you can simply paint them; take them from drab brown to fab in just one afternoon. To shop these items, click here: Hobbies, Collectibles and Antiques
Upcycling= getting the kids involved
For a truly unique look to a room, you could always buy second-hand items such as sporting goods and turn them into something amazing. This works particularly well for sports-crazy kids (and adults). You could keep the walls a neutral colour such as white or grey, then simply accessorise with sports paraphernalia. For a soccer themed room, you could stick to monotone black and white, then add pops of colour if you paint the ball or net. Create artwork with a cricket, tennis or hockey themed room – you could use the tennis racket as a ‘stencil’ for paint on the wall. Enjoy big impact for minimal effort. Other great outdoor items to upcycle include cheap bikes. You can repurpose vintage bike parts into art on your wall or paint the bike and use the basket to plant beautiful blooms, as a decorative addition next to your front door. The spikes from bike wheels also make a wonderful makeshift chandelier, as you can hang everything from paper planes to ribbons and more – the perfect addition to a little person’s room. To shop these items, click here: Outdoors & Sports
To find out more about our huge range of quality second-hand items, click here.
