I upcycled an old piano into a chic home bar and it only cost £10 – I can make £5,000 a month

EXPERT conservation experts have spent weeks restoring the 722-year-old oak throne used in today’s Coronation.

But amateurs can have fun with their own renovation this bank holiday using second hand furniture given away for free or very cheaply.

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Recycling – or refurbishing used items – has become hugely popular, with eBay searches for second-hand furniture increasing 80% in the first few months of this year.

Harriet Cooke explains how to source all you need and easy projects to try. . .

Where to find free things

YOU can often find sturdy and well-made second hand furniture for a fraction of the price of flimsy backpacks, and in many cases you won’t even pay a dime.

Sites like Freegle, Freecycle, FreelyWheely, and Nextdoor are full of unwanted items that people are rummaging through.

Also, try selling car trunks, Gumtree, eBay or Facebook Marketplace, as well as your local on-site store, if available.

Charity stores such as Sue Ryder, Emmaus and the British Heart Foundation have specialized furniture stores.

Check out the reuse-network.org.uk site for others in your area.

Leftover paint is often donated on the free websites mentioned, but you can also find paint bank schemes around the country at communityrepaint.org.uk.

“If you just want a feature wall or repaint an old home, this is a great way to cut down on the look,” says Elaine Penhaul, of Derby-based stylist Lemon and Lime Interiors. expense.”

Some paints can be used without primer such as Dulux Simply Refresh Multi Surface.

Before you start your project, make sure you clean the object with a vacuum cleaner and warm soapy water.

After painting, apply a clear coat of wax, such as Rust-Oleum’s Interior Finish Wax 400ml, £11 by Wilko, on top to help protect your craft.

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More luxurious details

A little paint and some clever new handles can turn a piece of furniture from cheap to luxurious.

Accountant Zainab Azam, 25, bought two simple-looking Ikea bedside tables and a chest of drawers, all for £50.

She transformed them with a paneling effect to create an upscale bedroom set.

Zainab, of Upminster, Essex, carefully measured the decorative slats from B&Q and used a hand saw to cut each end diagonally so that they fit together to form a rectangular border around each drawer.

She painted the drawers white and applied No More Nails (£4.50) glue to the gold metal handles she bought on Amazon for £8.99 for a pack of ten. pcs.

She then added gold furniture legs (£15.99 for four on Amazon) with screws.

She said: “I haven’t done anything like it before but have seen the videos.

“People say the tables and drawers look expensive and it’s unbelievable that they cost around £100.”

See other Zainab projects on TikTok at @Zainabstyless.

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Brighten accessories

IF you are not ready to deal with furniture, start with accessories.

Spray paint decorations are a quick and easy way to update your home.

Artist Poppy Collier, 30, who lives near York, transformed an £8 metal candle she bought from a charity shop.

She first cleaned it with silver polish, then applied Wilko spray primer, £7, and let it dry.

She added several coats of bright pink Plasti-kote, £12 and a coat of Wilko’s orange spray paint, £7, to create a two-tone ombre.

“It really has that amazing element,” says Poppy. Gradual coloring is important because if you spray too thick, the paint can get stuck in the details.

“I apply a few thin coats and wait 10 to 15 minutes for them to dry, then cover with clear spray paint (£7 from Wilko), which will dry in a few days.”

Follow Poppy on TikTok for more ideas at @ivyburtoninteriors.

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Give old things new life

SAVVY’s mom, Danielle Bayliss, turned an old closet into a rustic-style kitchen pantry.

What was once a hobby has turned into a side hustle and Danielle, 35, now earns £500 to £5,000 a month renovating items like cabinets and sideboards.

Her pantry started working as a wardrobe that she found for free on Facebook Marketplace.

To make a similar one, remove any hangers and support posts.

Measure the inside and decide how many shelves you want and how to arrange them.

If you’re not confident cutting your wood to size, the first five cuts are free at B&Q if you buy there, then 50p each.

Attach the racks by bolting to the smaller wooden slats on the sides and back, let the racks rest, or look for an old stand or wooden shoe rack to pop inside.

Danielle, of Lichfield, Staffs, also added chalkboards to the inside of a door using chalkboard paint, £12 per liter from B&Q.

She framed them with pine frames, also by B&Q, which cost £5.47, and created her own wooden spice and wine racks – you’ll find ready-made ones at charity shop or online.