We are all about saving our planet, restoring forests, recycling paper and plastics, cleaning the ocean, and yet ONE big area we don’t seem to have enough concern is the amount of furniture trash we create.
2009 statistics (10 years ago) showed that in the USA alone, 9.8 MILLION tons of furniture trash per year were discarded! That’s just heartbreaking. I understand that many people look at “that old piece” as junk but there is a better solution, and I am happy to see changes taking place in this regard.
Furniture restoration, upcycling, refurbishing, whatever you want to call it is likely the best way to dramatically reduce furniture waste, and provide new and trendy updated looks to an otherwise old piece. Even a newer piece that might not be of the best quality wood (often particle board or MDF) can be fixed up and made new.
When I upcycle a piece, I always feel like I’ve saved a little bit of the planet, and also a little bit of someone’s history. I’m surrounded currently by an old Duncan Phyfe replica, likely made in the late 1920s to 30s, so pushing 100 years old. The table, 6 chairs and buffet clutter up the back part of my office but I can’t help wonder, who sat at this table, what family dinners did they have, what conversations went on at this table? What beautiful house did this old set belong to? Many questions.
Furniture painters know that when they start into a piece there is a sense of “getting to know it”. Sometimes, people like me even give a piece a name, it helps us bring the piece back to life and personalize it as we work on it. We may not know how the old piece wants to be dolled up, but as we start the ideas start flowing.
I firmly believe that as more people learn furniture upcycling, remodelling, fixing damaged pieces and restoration, that we can save tens of millions of pounds of furniture waste and wouldn’t that be nice if we did not have to strip our forests to create new product, when we already have it, we just need to tweek it.
Oh my… the beauty of a refinished or upcycled piece! If you haven’t done it, and have an old “ugly” piece of brown furniture, give it a whirl. Whether it is restored to its original lustre or made into a funky or trendy piece for today’s décor, you save yourself dollars as well as a few trees.
So, in future, look up a furniture up-cycler in your area and give them a call. You’d be absolutely amazed what can become of your worn out old piece! If you live within the Okanagan Valley, I’m happy to restore or upcycle your pieces. Send me a message and I’ll give you a quote. We use quality paints and products for a professional finish. I specialize in vintage and antique upcycling.
So let’s help the planet. By recycling one old furniture piece at a time, it will greatly reduce the need for new materials . It is well worth it and the earth thanks you.
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