Fun, creative and great for the environment, upcycling is really taking off.
You don’t need a budget, it sparks your creativity and the whole family can get involved.
But what exactly is upcycling, and how can you get started?
Upcycling is a creative way of reusing things, bringing them back to life and transforming them. It’s becoming more and more popular as people want to express themselves by creating unique items.
With the right materials and enough imagination, you can upcycle almost anything.
You’ll find tons of great ideas on how and what to upcycle here.
What’s the Difference Between Upcycling and Recycling?
Upcycling involves transforming a used item by creating something new from its current state. For example, old globes can become stylish lampshades, or used car tyres can become practical planters. New uses but keeping their original shape or form.
Whereas recycling is more practical and involves the destruction of the original item to create something new.
This is what makes upcycling more environmentally friendly than recycling.
You see, although recycling is great, there’s still a lot of machinery and energy that go into the recycling process. Whereas with upcycling, it’s mainly done by hand and uses far less resources.
There are some great explanations and examples of the differences between upcycling and recycling here.
Upcycling Tells a Story
When something is upcycled, it’s often as a tribute to the original item. The original form of the item is maintained and enhanced, which gives each item a unique character and fascinating story.
Old fashioned suitcases can be made into attractive and comfortable chairs or stools.
Ladders can be transformed into unique bookshelves.
Tennis racquets can be upcycled into stylish mirrors.
These are all great examples of the original item keeping their shape and character but having their uses transformed into something else.
You’ll find lots more ideas for upcycling the whole family can do here.
Each upcycled piece creates an attractive focal point in the room and makes for a great story. People love hearing about the inspiration behind different types of upcycling. The journey each product took from its starting point to the finished article makes for great storytelling.
Storytelling and history behind upcycled products have been a big motivator in the surge in popularity of the upcycling movement.
Upcycling to Protect the Future
Another huge reason that has propelled the popularity of the upcycling movement is how upcycling helps to protect the planet.
As we all know, landfill and plastic waste is causing huge issues around the globe and needs addressing urgently.
Upcycling products that would have otherwise gone to landfill and creating unique, useful items, helps in two ways:
Firstly, it prevents the original item from going to landfill.
Secondly, it prevents more products being made for no reason. For example, transforming a chest of drawers into a kitchen island saves a new kitchen island being produced. This helps save vital materials and preserve the use of machinery and energy that would have gone into its production.
Portray Your Personality with Upcycling
Upcycling products helps you to show off your unique character. Transforming products into your own taste and style and creating valuable talking points to wow your guests with.
The only limitations you have with upcycling is your imagination. You can make anything you like, decorate it however you wish and fill your home and garden with individual pieces of magnificence.
For more inspiration for all things upcycling, check this page out.
Upcycled Shipping Containers
All these reasons form part of why, at PopUpHuts, we’re so proud of our Upcycled Shipping Containers.
Each upcycled shipping container is renovated and rejuvenated to a new glory. A glory that is brought to life in your garden. Becoming the main attraction of your garden and giving you a useful place to work and relax.
Every shipping container is upcycled using natural, sustainable materials that enhance the already strong and sturdy frame.
The strength and durability of the original shipping containers are perfectly complemented with natural materials that are stylish, comfortable and economical.
During the upcycling process, each shipping container is heavily insulated to help keep them warm and cosy in the winter and cool and breezy in the summer.
This helps you to enjoy your upcycled garden building all year round. Whether you need it for an office, fitness studio, or simply a place to relax.
With an abundance of comfort, space and functionality, you’ll love telling your friends and family about your upcycled shipping container as much as they like hearing about it!
Helping to Create a Community
Upcycled shipping containers are a great way to get involved in both the upcycling community and the tiny house movement.
Both these great communities are filled with passionate, creative people. People who want to make a difference, not just to their lives, but to the future of the planet. And upcycled shipping containers allow them to do just that.
With style, long-lasting comfort and sustainable, eco-friendly materials, upcycled shipping containers don’t just transform your garden, they help you live a new way of life.
You’ll love the comfort, versatility and style of our upcycled shipping containers. Each PopUpHut can be custom made to suit your exact requirements and make sure you get the most out of it. Please check out our specifications and pricing for the perfect upcycling shipping container for you.