Design by Devonleigh: Upcycling Decor for Any Style
Spring has (almost!) sprung in most Devonleigh communities, and many of our homeowners are looking forward to DIY projects to welcome the warm weather.
At Devonleigh, we love inspiring home owners with decor ideas, because we know that it’s the small details that turn a house into a home. With the wealth of ideas out there, we’re always searching for creative ways to add personal touches to our homes.
We especially like the idea of repurposing old or unused materials to create unique home decor items, also known as “upcycling.” Upcycling is an easy and inexpensive way to get crafty and add your own signature touch to your home. In light of this recent trend, we’d like to share with you some of our favourite upcycling ideas - for any style!
Our decor centre has three main styles that we adhere to when helping our homeowners design their dream home: traditional modern, modern, and shabby chic. Whether you like a sleek, polished look or a more rustic and cozy feel, we can make it happen.
Shabby Chic
Let’s start with shabby chic. This style is defined by its undeniably vintage feel and its emphasis on comfort and simplicity. Think country homes, farmhouses, antique china, and rustic accents.
If this sounds like your style, here are some great upcycling craft ideas that would match your decor.
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On the left, a classic garden rake makes a charming wine glass holder, and would be a simple addition to any cocktail corner. Simply add some twine to the neck for decoration, and accent with brushed metal silverware and serving accessories.
Or how about painting an antique window shutter and repurposing it into a family mail centre?
Another staple of shabby chic decor is mismatched accessories. Different shaped and sized decor pieces will often create an interesting statement that furthers the welcoming, approachable feel that defines the style.
Reusing old, mismatched tins and treating them with a simple coat of paint can have a beautiful effect as table centrepieces.
Traditional Modern
If you like the charm of shabby chic but also enjoy a more contemporary feel, chances are you enjoy a traditional modern style. Characterized by clean lines with pops of vibrant colour, traditional modern is both comfortable and classic. It offers a blend of humble accents similar to shabby chic, but often incorporates the sleekness of modern design.
A great example of traditional modern decor would be this table runner. Made out of vintage book pages and cut with a shape stamper, it’s a relatively simple design that accents the antique table quite nicely. The more modern vase and the vibrant tulips give this table a bit of a modern edge.
Another upcycling idea for those who enjoy traditional modern might include reusing old comfy sweaters to make decorative pillow covers.
Similarly, antique dresser drawers can make wonderful shelving units for walls, especially if they have an abstract print on the backing.
Modern
Modern design is defined by sleek, clean lines and minimalism, and often features materials like mixed metals, stone, or refined wood. Modern design is essentially very similar to traditional modern, but focuses more on stark focal points and abstract designs.
For example, these repurposed mason jars use both metal and wood, and therefore might be considered modern when placed in a kitchen that features other metallic accents.
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Similarly, this antique table has been repurposed as a vanity with a great mix of polished metals and sleek accents:
On the opposite end, a monochromatic colour scheme is often a signature of modern design, as seen below with upcycled antique mirrors. For the craftier modernist, here’s a great way to incorporate the monochromatic theme with repurposed old books: simply take old books (maybe even outdated phone books), glue them together and spray paint with one solid colour. Voila! A sleek, modern accent table.
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The opportunities for reusing and repurposing materials in home decor are almost endless, and inspiration can be found anywhere! Whatever your preferences may be, there are so many possibilities to upcycle materials and create completely unique decor items that express your signature style.
Share your upcycling projects with us in the comments, or on our Facebook page.
