Upcycling your stairs
We’re in an upcycling boom. The nation is saving mountains of unloved items from landfill and reducing carbon emissions by breathing new life into everyday objects.
Some 90% of people in the UK recycle everyday items like plastic and glass – but we all could be doing so much more. And your stairs can play a part.
Recycle, reuse and reduce is the mantra upcyclers use. But putting that into practice can be difficult, particular with such a prominent part of your home. We’ll take you through some of the things to think about when trying to make the most of your stairs.
Upcycling Recycle: Give your stairs a fresh look
Repairing something instead of replacing it can be fantastic, giving things a second – or even third – life. You could give your stairs a new lick of paint, go towards a totally different colour perhaps or even strip it back to its bare bones and go for a rustic look.
Get creative by checking out our blog about using contrasting colours.
Upcycling Reuse: Get an upgrade using existing materials
If you opt for a totally new staircase, that’s great. But think about how you might be able to save and reuse items that would normally be thrown out.
By reusing items that have already been produced, we can save precious carbon that would have been emitted in the production process.
So don’t just throw things in the skip when the builders turn up. With a little creativity, you could turn old panels, banisters, spindles, and newel posts into things like bookshelves, tables, candlesticks, headboards, planters and kitchen racks. The possibilities are almost endless, with social media platforms like Pinterest full of ideas.
Reduce: Go for something a bit different
You can play a part in reducing the things that go to landfill by using items non-traditional staircase items as part of your new-look staircase.
This is your opportunity to think outside of the box. For example, reclaimed bricks could form part of the sturdy frame or traditional carpet from other rooms used as stair runners.
Whatever you choose, you’ll end up creating something that is truly unique and will become a huge talking point for your home and showing off your personality.
Or if just one part of your staircase is looking like it’s past its best, you could look to keep some parts and replace the dreary looking parts with something new. For example, sprucing up your old staircase with a set of totally new spindles, which could even go horizontal instead of the traditional vertical. Take a look at our products to give you some inspiration.
