Upcycling, also known as creative reuse, is the process of taking useless and unwanted products and repurposing them. The process of upcycling can be found in art, music and design. In the organizing world, we love upcycling because it allows clients to save on buying all new organizing supplies and products. It teaches us to use what we have and use it differently and it’s also great for the environment! 

Recycling vs. Upcycling
Recycling takes consumer materials — mostly plastic, paper, metal and glass — and breaks them down so their base materials can be remade into a new consumer product, often of lesser quality. When you upcycle an item, you aren’t breaking down the materials. You may be refashioning it — like cutting a t-shirt into strips of yarn — but it’s still made of the same materials as when you started. Also, the upcycled item is typically better or the same quality as the original. (Hipycle.com)

Decorating your space with upcycled materials does not only create functional pieces, but they can be one of a kind. Your friends will be asking you where you bought your incredible skateboard shelves and you’ll be able to tell them you made them from your childhood skateboard collection. Do you have an old trunk laying around? Why not upcycle it into a vintage-style mini-bar. If you have old fabric you’ve been holding onto or are ready to throw in the trash, why not use it to create a one-of-a-kind ottoman.

We’ve seen so many clients’ homes that have poor (and boring) lighting arrangements. Whether the space comes with terrible overhead fluorescent lighting or there are out-dated lamps being used, why not create your own fun lighting designs? Check out this chandelier created with old glass bottles. Maybe you’re really into the skateboarding theme and want to reuse old boards again, take a look at this fun lighting structure tutorial. One of my favorite upcycled lighting designs is made from tea cup sets – it’s fun and beautiful!

There are so many creative upcycled storage projects to try! If you’re anything like me, you have an obsession with mason jars… why not upcycle them too? Check out this incredible listof projects for reusing your mason jars from YesMissy.com. Do you have a box or bin full of tangled wires? Don’t worry – you’re not alone! Here’s a simple solution anyone can do with old toilet paper and paper towel rolls to get a hold of those “wirey” things. No closet? No Problem! My favorite upcycled storage project I’ve seen recently has to be this incredible DIY no-closet-closet. This is a beautiful example of how to give things new life and create organizational systems to solve problems in your space.

Get your kids involved in a fun DIY upcycling project this summer. They’ll love seeing their old toys being reused and they’ll be so happy to tell their friends that they made it themselves! Take an old toy, like a G.I. Joe figurine and turn it into a bookend in your playroom. Maybe you have a child who loves dollhouses. Here’s a great tutorial on how to make your own dollhouse by upcycling an old trunk or suitcase. Are your kids in the dinosaur stage yet (or maybe you still are!?), I bet they’ll love these upcycling projects. How about a game the whole family can play inside or out? Try making this fun bowling set out of old water bottles. And last, but certainly not least, check out this awesome guide for making a swing out of old skateboards (can you tell I have a thing for skateboards?)!

More Upcycling websites
There are so many upcycling projects and websites out there. Stop by our Pinterest Board to see more of our favorite projects. HGTV.com has a great upcycling section too. And of course, don’t forget to check out UpcycleThat for more great ideas and projects.

We want to hear all about your upcycling projects – post your project photos and success stories on our Facebook page!