The Upcycled Furniture Trend – Why Millennials are so Obsessed with Preserving Old Furniture

Let’s face it, redecorating your home can be a big expense. Purchasing new furniture certainly isn’t cheap and, honestly, a lot of times the quality just doesn’t live up to the price tag. But don’t fret, there’s a trending alternative to new furniture that can help your pocketbook and your peace of mind and you might find it in some surprising places, like your own living room.

Upcycling is the process of taking something old or useless and making it new again through alterations and restorations, which is why you might not even need to leave your home in order to redecorate. You likely have a tired, old piece of furniture lying around that seems to have worn out its welcome but don’t discount it just yet. You can easily breathe some new life into it and wind up with your new favorite bit of home décor.

So, why is upcycling so popular? Well, first of all, as we mentioned, it’s likely to save you a bit of money. Whether you choose to use a piece you already own or buy an older piece from a secondhand shop, you’re probably going to spend a lot less money on upcycling something yourself than you would on buying new furniture outright. Even if you decide to go with some pieces from a store or business that has already done the upcycling for you, your investment into the furniture is going to be worth a lot more than that build-it-yourself piece from Ikea.

Another major benefit of upcycling is the durability of the furniture. Unfortunately, unless you’re shelling out major dough for a custom-built piece, you have to face the fact that furniture nowadays is just not built to last. When you invest in a solid wood dresser or bookshelf from fifty or seventy-five years ago, you’re likely to have just purchased something that will stand the test of time in your home for the rest of your life – maybe longer. Of course, not everything old will look good if you just stick it in your home but that’s where the magic of upcycling comes in. A new coat of paint, some new hardware, or repurposing a few things to turn them into a new creation altogether can leave you with the perfect fit for your space.

Additionally, the process of upcycling will likely end up with a totally unique piece that you surely won’t find anywhere else. Since older furniture wasn’t produced to be mass-marketed across the world and not everyone took great care of their home décor, when you get your hands on an older piece, you’re probably going to be the only one you know who has one just like it. Then, when you go through the process of upcycling, you’re left with something that truly is unique to you and your home. Go ahead and paint the insides of your bookshelves teal, I bet no one else on your block has that in their home.

There are plenty of other reasons why upcycling is a good idea but the cherry on top, especially for the younger generations, is that upcycling is environmentally friendly. When you upcycle a piece of older furniture, you’re not contributing to any environment-harming business practices in the creation of new furniture, and you’re saving that old piece from winding up in a dump somewhere.

Whether you’re new to the upcycling trend or have been in the game for a minute, VNTG Home has exactly what you need. Shop our selection of already upcycled furniture or choose from our paint and upholstery options to spice up that piece you already own. Check out what we have to offer you in your next project on our sister company VNTG Home ‘s page!