Professional advice through:
Tia Millar of A Crafty Alternative
Kate Moore of Petit Miracles Interiors
Jelena Pticek of Poppy Seed Creative Living
Nicole Lanteri Design
Keep your eyes to the ground
One of the best places to find furniture is usually on the street. Look out for things people have left outside their house for others to take. “Cast your net wide to find something unique in addition to exciting,” advises Kate Moore.
Think about the type of neighbourhood you’re searching in in addition to what the residents might be throwing out. An area with lots of families, for example, could be a not bad source of nursery furniture, while homeowners in a more affluent area might discard some real treasures.
One of the best places to find furniture is usually on the street. Look out for things people have left outside their house for others to take. “Cast your net wide to find something unique in addition to exciting,” advises Kate Moore.
Think about the type of neighbourhood you’re searching in in addition to what the residents might be throwing out. An area with lots of families, for example, could be a not bad source of nursery furniture, while homeowners in a more affluent area might discard some real treasures.
Paolo Fusco Photo
Do some skip diving
This kind of’s amazing what you can find in a skip, so This kind of’s well worth having a look inside if you come across one. However, Tia Millar advises to tread carefully. “As you’re walking past, glance in, nevertheless don’t climb in, as This kind of could be dangerous!” she says.
Once you’ve seen something you like, what’s the best skip etiquette? “I always knock on the owner’s door to ask if I can take something,” says Moore. “Even if This kind of looks obvious in which This kind of’s been thrown away, you just never know.”
“If the skip is usually on someone’s driveway, I usually knock,” adds Millar. “If This kind of’s on the road in addition to This kind of’s clear the object has been disposed of, I’d say This kind of’s fine to go ahead in addition to take This kind of.”
This kind of’s amazing what you can find in a skip, so This kind of’s well worth having a look inside if you come across one. However, Tia Millar advises to tread carefully. “As you’re walking past, glance in, nevertheless don’t climb in, as This kind of could be dangerous!” she says.
Once you’ve seen something you like, what’s the best skip etiquette? “I always knock on the owner’s door to ask if I can take something,” says Moore. “Even if This kind of looks obvious in which This kind of’s been thrown away, you just never know.”
“If the skip is usually on someone’s driveway, I usually knock,” adds Millar. “If This kind of’s on the road in addition to This kind of’s clear the object has been disposed of, I’d say This kind of’s fine to go ahead in addition to take This kind of.”
Foundre: Made
Join an online group
Internet groups such as Freecycle in addition to Freegle are great places to source free furniture. Simply find your local group in addition to sign up. This kind of’s usually obligatory to offer something first, after which you’re free to take items others have offered.
“This kind of’s hit or miss though,” says Millar. “Users don’t always post photographs of the items, so you might have to take a chance. However, the effort might well pay off.” Millar recommends using an app called Trash Nothing, which consolidates your groups in addition to includes features to make your searches easier.
Internet groups such as Freecycle in addition to Freegle are great places to source free furniture. Simply find your local group in addition to sign up. This kind of’s usually obligatory to offer something first, after which you’re free to take items others have offered.
“This kind of’s hit or miss though,” says Millar. “Users don’t always post photographs of the items, so you might have to take a chance. However, the effort might well pay off.” Millar recommends using an app called Trash Nothing, which consolidates your groups in addition to includes features to make your searches easier.
Studio Morton
Visit a builder’s yard
“Just because This kind of doesn’t look like furniture, doesn’t mean you can’t use This kind of as furniture,” says Moore. There are plenty of things in which can be repurposed as seats, tables or even beds. Pallets, for example, are wonderfully versatile items in which can be made into a whole host of different things. Here, an old pallet has been sanded, varnished in addition to given a set of wheels to turn This kind of into a portable coffee table.
Millar is usually a big fan of scaffolding planks. “Builder’s yards often have old boards in which they can’t use anymore for scaffolding,” she says. “The wood is usually genuinely strong in addition to is usually perfect for doing tables in addition to shelves.”
“Imagination has no limits,” enthuses Jelena Pticek. “For example, an old metal tray can make a great magnet message board, in addition to vintage cups, salt in addition to pepper shakers or vases can be used to create one-of-a-kind table lamps.”
Want to repurpose a pallet? Check out these fabulous ways to upcycle
“Just because This kind of doesn’t look like furniture, doesn’t mean you can’t use This kind of as furniture,” says Moore. There are plenty of things in which can be repurposed as seats, tables or even beds. Pallets, for example, are wonderfully versatile items in which can be made into a whole host of different things. Here, an old pallet has been sanded, varnished in addition to given a set of wheels to turn This kind of into a portable coffee table.
Millar is usually a big fan of scaffolding planks. “Builder’s yards often have old boards in which they can’t use anymore for scaffolding,” she says. “The wood is usually genuinely strong in addition to is usually perfect for doing tables in addition to shelves.”
“Imagination has no limits,” enthuses Jelena Pticek. “For example, an old metal tray can make a great magnet message board, in addition to vintage cups, salt in addition to pepper shakers or vases can be used to create one-of-a-kind table lamps.”
Want to repurpose a pallet? Check out these fabulous ways to upcycle
Juliette Byrne
Ask on your high street
Make friends with your local shopkeepers in addition to pub landlords as they could be throwing out some useful items. “A pub near us often gives us things for free,” says Moore. “We’ve made plenty of things out of old wine barrels. Even putting a cushion on top will make a not bad stool.”
Look out for wooden wine boxes at larger wine warehouses. “They make handy footstools. At home, we’ve used one as a wall shelf for wine glasses,” says Millar.
“Use your imagination,” adds Millar. “Apple crates are perfect for shelving. This kind of’s not always possible to find them for free, nevertheless at antiques markets such as Kempton Racecourse, you can pick them up very cheaply.”
Make friends with your local shopkeepers in addition to pub landlords as they could be throwing out some useful items. “A pub near us often gives us things for free,” says Moore. “We’ve made plenty of things out of old wine barrels. Even putting a cushion on top will make a not bad stool.”
Look out for wooden wine boxes at larger wine warehouses. “They make handy footstools. At home, we’ve used one as a wall shelf for wine glasses,” says Millar.
“Use your imagination,” adds Millar. “Apple crates are perfect for shelving. This kind of’s not always possible to find them for free, nevertheless at antiques markets such as Kempton Racecourse, you can pick them up very cheaply.”
George Robinson Kitchens
Check your finds for quality
“Look for items in which are structurally sound in addition to avoid anything made through chipboard,” advises Millar. She recommends you ignore superficial “grottiness” in addition to check instead for any bowing or irreparable damage. “A not bad, solid piece of wood will last,” she says.
Pticek also prefers solid wood, nevertheless says “a combo of wood in addition to veneer is usually great, too. Some minor nicks can be fixed or left for added character,” she adds, “nevertheless deep gouges or severely damaged veneer are not as easy to deal with.
“I might never look twice at a piece of furniture made of pressed wood; in most cases This kind of’s just not worth This kind of,” says Pticek. “in addition to watch out for bad odours, as they’re hard to mask.”
“Look for items in which are structurally sound in addition to avoid anything made through chipboard,” advises Millar. She recommends you ignore superficial “grottiness” in addition to check instead for any bowing or irreparable damage. “A not bad, solid piece of wood will last,” she says.
Pticek also prefers solid wood, nevertheless says “a combo of wood in addition to veneer is usually great, too. Some minor nicks can be fixed or left for added character,” she adds, “nevertheless deep gouges or severely damaged veneer are not as easy to deal with.
“I might never look twice at a piece of furniture made of pressed wood; in most cases This kind of’s just not worth This kind of,” says Pticek. “in addition to watch out for bad odours, as they’re hard to mask.”
Apartment Apothecary
Go back to basics
“The most important thing is usually to like the shape of the item you find,” says Millar. “in addition to make sure This kind of’s structurally sound in addition to solid.” The bedside table shown here is usually unadorned in addition to simple, nevertheless has an elegant shape.
Moore says in which just cleaning an item can transform This kind of. “One of our team misheard some instructions to sand a table in addition to cleaned This kind of instead,” she says. “This kind of’s a not bad thing he did, as he revealed a beautiful design underneath the dirt!”
“The most important thing is usually to like the shape of the item you find,” says Millar. “in addition to make sure This kind of’s structurally sound in addition to solid.” The bedside table shown here is usually unadorned in addition to simple, nevertheless has an elegant shape.
Moore says in which just cleaning an item can transform This kind of. “One of our team misheard some instructions to sand a table in addition to cleaned This kind of instead,” she says. “This kind of’s a not bad thing he did, as he revealed a beautiful design underneath the dirt!”
Designerpaint
Get out your paintbrush
When hunting for free furniture, This kind of’s a not bad idea to imagine This kind of repainted. “Look for details in which will stand out when the item is usually painted, such as patterns or inlays,” says Millar. Painting is usually a simple in addition to effective way to transform something.
Millar also recommends using chalk paint, as not bad-quality versions don’t need an undercoat in addition to are non-toxic.
“There are paints in which claim no sanding is usually required, nevertheless I always take in which extra step just to give the paint some ‘tooth’ to adhere to,” adds Pticek.
For bargain paint, look out for schemes such as Community RePaint, where you can purchase recycled paint for as little as £1-2 per litre.
Not confident having a paintbrush? See how to transform furniture having a simple lick of paint
When hunting for free furniture, This kind of’s a not bad idea to imagine This kind of repainted. “Look for details in which will stand out when the item is usually painted, such as patterns or inlays,” says Millar. Painting is usually a simple in addition to effective way to transform something.
Millar also recommends using chalk paint, as not bad-quality versions don’t need an undercoat in addition to are non-toxic.
“There are paints in which claim no sanding is usually required, nevertheless I always take in which extra step just to give the paint some ‘tooth’ to adhere to,” adds Pticek.
For bargain paint, look out for schemes such as Community RePaint, where you can purchase recycled paint for as little as £1-2 per litre.
Not confident having a paintbrush? See how to transform furniture having a simple lick of paint
Gus* Modern
Add some fabric
Upholstering an item is usually another way to transform This kind of in addition to is usually a technique you can do yourself, especially if This kind of’s a fairly basic project. Here, simple cubes have been upholstered with old coffee sacks to make unique ottomans.
There are lots of not bad tutorials online in which will teach you the basics of upholstery. “When in doubt, YouTube This kind of,” says Moore.
Use your imagination when sourcing free or inexpensive fabric. Second-hand tablecloths, sheets in addition to curtains are not bad for large projects, or hunt through remnants baskets at haberdashery stores for interesting textiles at bargain prices. There are endless possibilities – even your old jeans can be used as a sturdy upholstery material.
Upholstering an item is usually another way to transform This kind of in addition to is usually a technique you can do yourself, especially if This kind of’s a fairly basic project. Here, simple cubes have been upholstered with old coffee sacks to make unique ottomans.
There are lots of not bad tutorials online in which will teach you the basics of upholstery. “When in doubt, YouTube This kind of,” says Moore.
Use your imagination when sourcing free or inexpensive fabric. Second-hand tablecloths, sheets in addition to curtains are not bad for large projects, or hunt through remnants baskets at haberdashery stores for interesting textiles at bargain prices. There are endless possibilities – even your old jeans can be used as a sturdy upholstery material.
Urban Chandy
Combine different items
These planks of wood have been attached to the wall using old pipes to create a more interesting effect than if normal shelf brackets had been used.
Have a look around in addition to online for inspiration as to what can be done with different materials. If you’re not confident in which your DIY skills are up to scratch, This kind of’s worth enrolling in a workshop. There are plenty of upcycling classes around where you can learn the basics in addition to beyond.
“Investing in one workshop is usually worth the cost when you think of how many free things you can make afterwards,” says Moore. At a class you can benefit through the experience of your teachers in addition to ask questions specific to your project.
These planks of wood have been attached to the wall using old pipes to create a more interesting effect than if normal shelf brackets had been used.
Have a look around in addition to online for inspiration as to what can be done with different materials. If you’re not confident in which your DIY skills are up to scratch, This kind of’s worth enrolling in a workshop. There are plenty of upcycling classes around where you can learn the basics in addition to beyond.
“Investing in one workshop is usually worth the cost when you think of how many free things you can make afterwards,” says Moore. At a class you can benefit through the experience of your teachers in addition to ask questions specific to your project.
Thomas Wold
Have fun with your finds
This kind of show-stopping piece of furniture has been created by going to town having a variety of different pieces.
“This kind of’s easy to buy something boring,” says Moore. “nevertheless if you’re going to upcycle an item, you want This kind of to be unique. We once found an old aeroplane drinks trolley in which we turned into a drinks cabinet. We kept the metal drawers, nevertheless added a chopping board on top for cutting lemons on. At the back we painted a chalk board, where the owners could write a fun cocktail menu when they were hosting a party.”
“There are some great ways to use furniture as alternatives to pet beds,” adds Pticek. “For example, old TV cabinets can be turned into cat boxes.”
TELL US…
Do you have any great tips for finding free furniture? Share your ideas inside the Comments below.
This kind of show-stopping piece of furniture has been created by going to town having a variety of different pieces.
“This kind of’s easy to buy something boring,” says Moore. “nevertheless if you’re going to upcycle an item, you want This kind of to be unique. We once found an old aeroplane drinks trolley in which we turned into a drinks cabinet. We kept the metal drawers, nevertheless added a chopping board on top for cutting lemons on. At the back we painted a chalk board, where the owners could write a fun cocktail menu when they were hosting a party.”
“There are some great ways to use furniture as alternatives to pet beds,” adds Pticek. “For example, old TV cabinets can be turned into cat boxes.”
TELL US…
Do you have any great tips for finding free furniture? Share your ideas inside the Comments below.
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