INSIDE STORY Phillippa May on upcycling

INSIDE STORY PHILIPPA MAY

Get spraying and rejuvenating with an all-surface paint like Rust-Oleum

ON THE UP Philippa on the joys of the renaissance art of upcycling

This year there’s been a huge shift in consumerism, with environmental sustainability no longer just about buzzwords. We’re changing how we produce and consume products. More than ever we’re aware of the drastic impact our ‘fast fashion’ culture is having on our environment and possibly our mental state too. Yes, Amazon, broke records in lockdown, fuelled by fast trends, the need for speedy delivery, and yet that way of buying feels more disposable than ever.

This year has affected us in so many ways, one shift that’s become obvious was the education of a nation. People were taking the time to learn more – how to cook, how to crochet or even how to lead a more sustainable lifestyle.

Whilst we’re still a long way off the large battle to save our planet, there has been a home DIY renaissance leading a new type of revolution – the upcycle.

“Our parents’ generation rarely threw anything away, but rather reused, repurposed or handed down”

Buying good quality furniture and home décor is always sensible, but in a new world where delivery is lengthened and supply chains struggle, a sensible and faster way to reinvent your interiors has been to just do it yourself, and save an old piece of furniture from being dumped at the same time.

We’ve all seen those TV programmes showing you how to turn your trash into treasure, but who has the time? Turns out repairing over replacing has found a place in our hearts. Instagram has been overflowing with upcycling hacks, from a simple paint job to bespoke concrete worktops, we’ve seen the imagination bloom and a new type of emotional escapism emerge. Getting our hands dirty and creating something beautiful with a new lease of life is, I think, more exciting and rewarding than saving up and buying that mass-produced piece you’ve been marketed. Homes will be filled with one offs and a strong sense of personal taste, rather than a replication of a trend.

Of course when you brag about your new upcycled sideboard to your parents it’s met with the classic ‘well you didn’t invent make do and mend dear’ but a millennial friend will sit in awe of your new masterpiece. Furniture upcycling is hardly a new thing, our parents’ generation rarely threw anything away, but rather reused, repurposed or handed down – something we enjoyed this year with our ‘new’ old cot, still going after being bought in Harrods thirty years ago…

But you also need to have some imagination or be ready to graft, rarely will a modest lick of paint create something wildly new and exciting. Think bigger and better – take that old marble topped sideboard, give it a good sanding and some of Neptune’s Isoguard Oil in ‘Chalked’ and turn it into your new bathroom vanity unit. If you’re feeling bold, Rust-Oleum’s Universal Paint needs no priming and will cover most surfaces including metal, wood – or even a veneer. With some careful cuts and a good coating of their matte black paint, you can restore an old oak cupboard into a trendled sideboard, just add some texture with thick hessian or a radio weave rattan to really make you proud, then make sure to top it all off with some beautiful, handmade bowls (try Fi Underhill in Frome) and maybe a leaning print or two to properly make it look at home.

Philippa May is an interiors enthusiast and is director of her own branding and marketing company Mayd Studio. Follow her on Instagram @_philippamay_