Many people are familiar with the idea of recycling unwanted items, breaking them down into base materials to be re-used to create a new product. Upcycling refers to the concept of improving, reusing, or restoring an old item to create something that's more valuable.

One of the best ways to renovate and update the look and feel of your home is to take old, damaged, or worn out furniture and give it a new lease on life. 

Below, you'll find fun DIY projects ranging in skill level from beginner to expert, to upcycle...

A Cabinet Into a Vanity

If you've got an old set of cabinets that are dinged up, scratched, worn out, or otherwise incompatible with your home decor, it's relatively easy to transform it into a unique bathroom vanity. Simply sand down any rough edges, repaint it to match your bathroom decor, and install it under your sink.

A Broken Bench to an End Table

Similar to the nightstand idea above, you can take a broken bench and attach it to a wall near a sofa or an armchair to make a great end table. Simply cut off the broken end to make a straight line, sand, paint, and varnish. It's a simple and affordable decor idea to update your living room!

A Bookshelf to a Child's Play Kitchen

This is a really fun way to convert an old or dilapidated bookshelf unit into a fun play kitchen for the kids. The top shelf will be the sink "counter". Cut a hole and insert a pie pan or dish for the "sink" and glue three painted wooden blocks together to be the "faucet". Add a tension rod and an old scrap of fabric for a curtain to create the "skirt" that covers the bottom of the bookshelf where your child can store "washing up" items and kitchen toys. 

Mismatched Chairs to Make a Set

If you have a collection of different "orphan" chairs, a really fun idea is to decorate them so that they look like a matched set. Paint and upholster the mismatched chairs the same way so they all match. Now you've got a fun and eclectic matched set of chairs for your dining table, breakfast nook, or great room.

A Broken Table Into a Nightstand

Tables are only as good as their legs, so when an old table gets a broken or chipped leg and can no longer be used, it can be difficult to repair. The good news is, it's really easy to take a small broken table and convert it to a really chic nightstand.

Simply cut the table in half (or to size to meet the needs of your bedroom), sand, repaint, and add a coat of varnish if needed. After that, attach the half with no legs directly to the wall next to the bed. Now you've got a beautiful little nightstand that won't take up a lot of floor space.

A Baby Mattress to a Daybed

Once the children have outgrown the crib, don't get rid of it too hastily – there are many things you can do with the mattress. For example, you could upcycle this item by using it as the foundation of a cute daybed. Add legs to the bottom and a matching upholstered header and now you own a daybed, perfect for the guest room or for curling up on and enjoying a great book.

Cardboard to Drawer Dividers

Whether it's old cardboard from boxes or cardboard inserts from the insides of packages, a really great way to upcycle this material is to cut it into strips and use it to make a lattice of dividers. Cardboard dividers are great for organizing the contents of drawers like socks, underwear, ties, scarves, mittens, and jewellery to reduce clutter in your bedroom. 

A Dresser to Outdoor Furniture

One really innovative idea to breathe life back into an outmoded dresser is to convert it for outdoor use. Paint and sand the dresser as needed and then place it on your front porch, veranda, or balcony. The re-purposed dresser can be used as a buffet table, storage area, or bar.

Wallpaper to Line Cupboards or Drawers

Instead of attempting the tricky process of painting cupboards or shelves, a really neat idea is to line them with wallpaper. This can match your existing decor or use a complementary design featuring bold colours, prints, or patterns that breathe new life into your old item.

A Headboard Into a Foyer Piece

One truly cute and innovative idea is to upcycle a headboard into something you can hang in the foyer. Cut out a space in the headboard the same size as a blackboard, using the outer edge of the headboard as a frame. Add a series of coat hooks along the bottom of the headboard and mount it in the foyer or even in your exterior entry to impress your guests. This can be a place to leave inspirational quotes, or messages and reminders for your family, while also serving as a stylish place to hang coats neatly.

Pretty much any damaged, outdated, or scratched piece of old furniture can be given a new lease on life with a fresh coat of paint, new upholstery, or a new coat of varnish. Get creative – give furniture items a distressed look, a rustic look, or even a weathered look to add charm and style to the piece. Always give broken or old furniture a second look to see if it can be upcycled into something that will add personal flair to your home.

Photo credits: painting, nightstand, bathroom