I made £300 flipping the old chest of drawers and dresser from my spare room – a lick of paint gave them a new life
THE COST-OF-LIVING crisis has forced many Brits to come up with new ways to rake in some extra cash, whether it’s flogging your wardrobe on Vinted or finding a part-time job on the side.
Now, one woman, Lynn, has shared how she gave her old chest of drawers and a dresser a new life – making an impressive £300 in the process.
Lynn, from the UK, decided to see if entrepreneur and second-hand lover Sarah Moore could transform the grubby furniture she’d had in her spare room for a decade – and whether the makeover could give her some extra money.
According to Lynn, her hubby had painted the wooden furniture in a stylish geometrical pattern, achieving a fun light grey and white look.
But although the chest of drawers was still in a relatively good condition, DIY queen Sarah was keen to see what she could do to give it a glow-up.
But whilst Lynn had as few ideas of what Sarah, as well as the upcycling pros Katie and Sophie, may do, nothing could’ve prepared her for the final result.
”I mean, there are things that you can do […] – patterns and flowers,” Lynn shared her guesses.
”I don’t know, you know. I just can’t wait to see it.”
Meanwhile, whilst Lynn was patiently waiting for the old furniture to be transformed, the Folkestone-based sister duo were working their magic on the dresser and the chest of drawers.
Oh my goodness, Sarah!
Lynn
Rather than keeping it simple with a monochrome look, the creative siblings had gone all out with a vibrant and trendy leopard print.
To make the furniture even more funky, Katie and her sister had added a bright red statement piece that said ”Stay Groovy”.
But not only did the old pieces now look as good as new – they’d also made Lynn a decent sum of money, Sarah revealed.
”I’m really pleased to say that their hard work has paid off – one’s gone off to a shop and one is already in use in a home.”
In total, Lynn had made a whopping £300 by zhuzhing up and flogging the decade-old furniture.
Lynn, who was still in total disbelief about the profit, also revealed where the money would be going – the Hereditary Brain Aneurysm Society.
Both Lynn’s sister and her mum have, unfortunately, died of brain haemorrhages – a type of a stroke – and now she was keen to help other families as much as possible.
How to find items to upcycle?
General
Money for Nothing presenter Sarah Moore – who most recently helped a man upcycle his leftover wedding candles – recommends car boot sales, charity shops, online marketplaces, antiques fairs and auction sites as just some of the places you could find items to upcycle.
She also advises looking for solid wooden bits of furniture to upcycle- they are often better made than the flat packed equivalent.
These pieces of furniture often have a history of their own, and by updating and transforming them, they can be given a new lease of life, and enjoyed for years to come.
Make sure you inspect items fully so you can see any parts that are broken or missing- it’s good to know from the start what you might be working with.
Make sure you check any upholstery for moth damage too.
Fabric
Sarah Moore also has a thrifty tip on how to find fabulous fabric without breaking the bank.
‘’Vintage fabric can be very expensive if you buy it by the metre.
”Searching online for vintage curtains, bedspreads or sofa covers is a great way to get a lot of material for a snip.”
The DIY whizz added that recycling old clothes is another pound-saving way to get crafty, with fabrics like denim and tweed ideal for cladding a piece of furniture or making bags.
Repurpose an item you already have
If you’re strapped for cash but want to change up your home, the first thing you should do is look at the furniture that you already have.
Money For Nothing presenter Jacqui Joseph says: ‘Sometimes the simplest upcycles are the most effective – as well as being the most cost-effective.
”Little things like changing the handles, legs, hinges or feet on a piece of furniture can make all the difference when it comes to giving it a fresh, new look.”
How to upcycle items?
Inspiration
Sarah Moore: ‘’Episodes of Money for Nothing, are packed full of inspiration for upcycling.
”There are also lots of old programmes to catch up with on BBC Iplayer. We’ve made over 300 episodes, that’s around 1000 items saved from landfill.”
Start small
Jacqui Joseph suggests starting with a small project to build up confidence, and to find your artistic style.
Once you’ve found your flow, you can build up to bigger items and get experimenting.
You could start with picture frames, wooden candle sticks, trinket boxes or trays, and build up to something more substantial.
The right tools for the job
Before undertaking an upcycling project, it’s a good idea to figure out which tools you will need.
Sarah Moore says: ”Try asking around to see if friends or family have tools you could borrow, become a member of a local tool library, or consider picking up pre-loved items from a re-use shop at your local recycling centre.”
Pick your perfect paint or paper
Adding a splash of colour to a tired piece of furniture can be a great way to revitalise it.
Sarah Moore recommends using tester size pots of paint when working on smaller items.
”It saves having left over tins of paint lying around and costs a fraction of the price.”
Leftover rolls of wallpaper can be picked up online, and are a good way of jazzing up a chest of drawers or coffee table.
Plan where your item will go
If you’re upcycling an item for your own home, have a think about how it will fit with the colour scheme and decor of an existing room.
This may help you decide upon colour and finishing, so the item stands out, and also compliments a room.
How to sell your upcycled items?
Sarah Moore suggests: “Set up a social media account and follow other upcycling accounts. Post regularly.
”Look at what other people are doing, and try to find your own niche.
”People are always looking out for items that are a bit different.
”What makes your work stand out from others?’’
Practically speaking, when trying to sell items, make sure you take good well- lit photos, showing the item from a few different angles.
Add a detailed description, and include dimensions. Look around and see how others are pricing similar items.
Approach local shops and businesses and see if they would be happy to stock or purchase any of your items.
There are lots of different places to sell items online, but make sure you think about transportation of the finished item, and whether you or the buyer will cover the cost of that.