When it comes to moving in a new home, money is one of the biggest factors. It dictates the size, location, and features of the house you can buy, rent, or lease. Besides the house, you also have to spend money on the repairs and the utilities.
On the bright side, there’s a way you can save money on necessities. Instead of buying brand new, expensive furniture, why not make your own? If you upcycle your old shelves and tables, you can also help the environment.
Even if you’re still in talks with a custom home builder or realtor, you can start on projects now. Here are a few kinds of furniture you can build yourself:
Shelf
One of the best pieces of furniture is a shelf. You can use it to lessen the clutter around your home. It can also be used for decorative purposes. You can put framed photographs, small plants, and pieces of art on it. It can even maximize your space. If you have little room, you can build a mounted shelf instead of a standing one. Plus, it’s cheap and easy to make. Whether you’re a beginner or have limited tools, you can build a shelf.
The first thing you should do is to decide the type of shelf you’re going to make. If it’s a floating shelf, measure the area where you want to install it and the wood you’re going to use. For a standing bookshelf, you should ensure that you have enough material for the size of shelf you want. You can also make a shelf that you can move around so your things are more accessible as you’re working. If you’re going to use wood from an old desk or cabinet, make sure to sand and paint the material. Then, you can start installing your shelf.
Table
Depending on the size, prices of tables can range from a little over a hundred of dollars to almost a grand. Most of the time, the high price is because of the way it was built. You’ll notice that the product description boasts the table is handmade. But you don’t have to break the bank to get a handmade one. In fact, all you need to do is add legs to an old piece of furniture to turn it into a sturdy table.
For example, you’ve replaced a door for a sliding one or a glass type. Instead of throwing the old door out, you can make it into a nice dining table. If you don’t have the space for a big one, you can transform a large piece of wood into small, useful tables. You can make a bedside table or one that can be used in your patio or deck. If you want more storage space, you can even build compartments into the table. The best parts about tables is its variety of uses. You can use one at the kitchen, garage, bedrooms, bathrooms, and even outdoors.
If you want to test your skills, you can build a foldable table. They’re great because they save space and they’re more portable. If you have a lot of people coming over, you can just unfold one and instantly have extra seats. Another great option is a mounted table that you can fold. This is ideal if you have a small kitchen.
Planter Bench
DIY furniture isn’t limited to indoor rooms. You can build one for your yard and instantly upgrade its appearance. One of the best pieces of furniture you can make your own is a planter bench. As the name suggests, it has two purposes: a seat and a holder for your plants.
While a wooden seat doesn’t exactly scream comfort, there are ways you can improve it. You can attach a backrest, so you won’t experience any body aches after sitting on it for a while. Then, you can add cushions so it would be a more comfortable seat. A cozy planter bench will encourage more people in your household to spend time outdoors. Plus, it can also help your plants. If you see them more often, you’re more likely to water and tend the plants.
Making your own furniture doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. If you have a old tables or desks you don’t use anymore, you can re-use them into useful pieces of furniture. They can still look nice even if they have some damage or scratches. You can sand the wood and paint them so they can look as good as new.
If you don’t have old shelves you can upcycle, you can still help the environment by buying sustainable lumber.
