5 Top Books on Interior and Garden Design April 2015

Upcycling may have been around forever but it is now more vigorous than ever before out of personal or planetary necessity and even fashion. Upcycling means re-using or re-styling things in an innovative and contemporary way, transforming an older piece of furniture from rubbish to remarkable. ‘Hacking’ is a related activity in which the same transformative activity can even be applied to mass-market modern furniture, which can be given a brand new use or an entirely different look.

Both upcycling and hacking are about re-purposing, taking a discarded or inexpensive item and re-working it into something special and unique. It’s not just about making the most of your budget, although upcycling and hacking will save you money. It’s also about having a home that reflects your style and individuality. Sometimes it’s just a question of looking at ‘that old thing’ in a different way, such as hanging an empty picture frame on the wall, using a piece of outdoor furniture inside, adding different doors to chain-store fittings, or combining traditional and modern in quirky, individualistic ways.