When you need a new piece of furniture, consider your options. If money isn't an issue, then maybe you'll just go to priciest store in town and buy whatever you want. That's one way.
But what if you want a special, unique piece of furniture for your home, something with style and character? Then consider recycling something you have or canvassing garage sales and flea markets for that perfect find. The possibilities of what you can create are endless. Here are a few concrete reasons to abandon retail and do it yourself.
1. A unique piece. Even if you and I recycle matching pieces of furniture in exactly the same way, using the same products and the same techniques, they won't match. They won't even come close because furniture recycling is a bit like cooking -- you can't ever duplicate the outcome.
And that's good. It means that your furniture will have your personal touch, your signature, and it will stand as a testament to your talent and creativity. Your recycled pieces will be the ones that visitors admire and say, "Wow, where did you get that?" A recycled piece will never look as though it came from a store.
2. Personal expression. Working with paint or fabric is a very personal experience. You can follow the rules and instructions that come with the products you use -- or you can choose not to and make up your own rules as you go. You can blend colors and textures and experiment with different techniques. No "Recycling Police" will arrest you for improper use of a glaze.
Each piece of furniture that you choose to recycle is a blank canvas, and you alone decide how it will look when it's done. It's your vision. There is no wrong way or stupid idea. This hobby is very forgiving.
3. Unlimited do-overs. If something doesn't turn out quite like you had planned, do it again. Then do it over again if you're still not happy. The only criteria for successful recycling is your level of satisfaction. When you've got the piece where you want it, then it's a success. If you make a few mistakes along the way, it doesn't matter.
Most likely, the items you recycle will be relatively inexpensive. So if you just totally ruin something (and in my opinion, few things are ever *totally* ruined), you can toss it. Chalk it all up to experience, and start on another piece. There is no guilt in furniture recycling,
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