What is ‘ChicCycling’? How you can make old furniture new again

If you have a piece of furniture that is getting old, but you don’t want to buy new, upcycling is the way to go.

As your furniture ages, it may start to look run down, ugly, or boring. Perhaps an old piece no longer matches your new, modern décor.

While it may seem like getting rid of a tired, old bookcase, or a coffee-stained table is the best option, there is a way you can freshen things up without breaking the bank.

Lisa Silfwerbrand, owner of Recreated Designs on Somerset Street West, spoke to CTV Morning Live on Thursday about “ChicCyling” your furniture.

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“You can transform anything on a budget without spending a lot. You can just look around your house, repurpose the things that you already have, and you don’t need to spend a lot to change those tings up. It’s just looking at things differently,” she said.

Also known as “upcycling,” it involves a bit of elbow grease and a bit of creativity. But even if you don’t consider yourself very creative, you can still make something old feel like something new.

“You would be surprised (at how easy it is),” Silfwerbrand said. “People are really intimidated. They think, ‘Oh, I can’t do it. I’m not creative.’ It does not take a lot of creativity, and we walk you through every step. Even people who think they are not creative are amazed at what they can do with their own hands.”

Examples of “ChicCycled” items

Old vintage bookcase

“We found it at a thrift store. It’s just tired looking. Maybe it didn’t go with someone’s décor. So, it’s easy to transform it. A little bit of paint. We made the inside pop out a little bit and it just feels lighter and airier,” says Silfwerbrand. “All the paints that we have do not require a lot of prep.”

Small chest of drawers

“It was just a little piece that someone gave us. The top was even sticky tile things. We completely repurposed it.”

Coffee table

“This is more of a modern coffee table, but it looks kind of dated and it was all dingy and scratched up. We love pieces that people don’t think they can do something with.”

Side table

“There was actually a set of these ones. Again, they were just dark and we made them more neutral and warm looking.”

Stained table

“It looks like plants were probably on it. You would never know it was the same table.”

Silfwerbrand offers classes for beginners on ways to paint, stain, and refresh old items. Many are in-person, but some are also available virtually.

“We do a lot of classes. You can be an absolute beginner. What we do a lot of is focusing on teaching you and bringing your creativity out,” she says.

“We have everything from furniture painting for beginners to staining for beginners. We have some more advanced classes if you’ve been doing this awhile. All of them are about two hours long.”

Prices vary, depending on the class or workshop, but most are $87. The virtual classes cost $17.

Silfwerbrand says classes are all-inclusive.

“We supply everything, and we teach you right from the beginning. You can come in, having never picked up a paintbrush before, and we will walk you through the whole thing.”

You can find more details on https://www.recreateddesigns.com/