WEEKEND CRAFTS: DO YOU PREFER BUILDING FROM SCRATCH OR UPCYCLING OLD STUFF?
I get where you’re coming from—there’s something about those little quirks in an upcycled piece that just feels more “yours.” That said, I’ll admit I’m a bit skeptical about the whole upcycling trend. Tried turning an old side table into a bar cart once, and it ended up looking... well, let’s just say it didn’t fit with the rest of my place. Sometimes, starting fresh is just easier if you want a polished look. Still, I can’t deny there’s a certain charm to those imperfect projects.
Tried turning an old side table into a bar cart once, and it ended up looking... well, let’s just say it didn’t fit with the rest of my place.
That’s the risk, isn’t it? Sometimes upcycling just doesn’t mesh with your style, no matter how much effort you put in. I’ve had a few “what was I thinking?” moments after painting or reworking old furniture. But then again, I’ve also had some wins where the piece became a conversation starter. Do you ever find that working from scratch feels more intimidating, or is it just more straightforward for you?
Sometimes upcycling just doesn’t mesh with your style, no matter how much effort you put in.
- 100% agree. Upcycling can be a gamble—sometimes it’s a win, sometimes it’s “what was I thinking?”
- Building from scratch? Honestly, it freaks me out less. At least you know what you’re getting into, and there’s no weird old paint or wobbly legs to deal with.
- That said, I do feel a bit guilty about using new materials when there’s so much old stuff out there begging for a second chance.
- My last upcycle turned into a “conversation starter” too... mostly people asking if I meant for it to look like that.
Building from scratch just feels more predictable to me. You know the materials, you know the structure, and there are fewer surprises hiding under layers of old varnish or inside drawers. Upcycling is great in theory, but sometimes the “character” of the piece is just too much to work around. I’ve had a few projects where I spent more time fixing old problems than actually building anything new. Still, there’s something satisfying about giving an old piece a new life... when it works out, anyway.
Totally get where you’re coming from—old furniture can be a real wild card. I’ve had my fair share of “surprise” repairs that made me question my life choices. Still, there’s something about saving materials from the landfill that keeps me coming back to upcycling. Sometimes the quirks end up being the best part, even if they’re a pain at first. It’s not always the easiest route, but it feels good knowing you’re giving something a second shot.
