SATCoL’s Handy Guide To Furniture Upcycling

“I really enjoy taking something old and making it new and interesting again, something that someone would want to buy.“

Furniture upcycling has become a new and exciting way to transform old furniture pieces into staples of art. With more shoppers prioritising sustainably in their purchases and choosing to opt for pre-loved pieces, it's no surprise that furniture upcycling has seen a growth spur over the last 10 years across the UK.

Charity shops and donation centres can be treasure troves for great affordable, and unique furniture pieces waiting to be given a new lease of life. And you don't have to look far, with over 250 high street charity shops and donations centres, SATCoL, the trading arm of The Salvation Army, are proud to offer customers just that. Keeping our stores running are our team of dedicated colleagues and volunteers, many with skills of their own.

One of these is Johannes Witter, a passionate and creative upcycler from our Burnely donation centre. Johannes is no stranger to our customers, after appearing in our Winter 2024 edition of the Restyle magazine, we couldn't help but reach out to Johannes once more to ask for his favourite handy tips on getting started with your own upcycling journey.

"I love encouraging people to make a good use of everything. When you're upcycling, keep all the handy hardware bits such as the handles, screws, wheels and hinges in a little jar for your next project. Everything has a use. You can even make candle sticks out of old legs!"

On getting started, Johannes shared: "If you have an old table just give it a go, why not? Don't be afraid to make mistakes. If it goes wrong, try something else. A lick of paint, a bit of sandpaper and you can really change things then."

Johannes, who started as a van driver, is helping to put the Burnley donation centre on the map for his crafty and impressive upcycles, and  feels strongly about giving every furniture piece a chance to shine. After a bookcase spent weeks on the shop floor, Johannes knew that he needed to do something.

He shared: "We often notice the dark wood furniture not selling as well, which is a shame because they have so much potential. I thought 'why not try a different colour?' and got some dark and pale green. I then used some spare bit of wallpaper I had at home to really make it stand out. I was glad to see it had sold in a couple of days of being out, and we were able to help raise some money for the charity in the process."

Furniture upcycling can be a daunting thought for many, but with the right tools and passion, anyone can have a go!

Download our Handy Guide To Furniture Upcycling below to learn more tips and tricks on getting started, and visit your nearest donation centre to see what treasures await you.

Download your FREE Handy Guide To Furniture Upcycling