If you follow my blog, you’ll know I love creating projects from recycled materials, and this time I’m sharing a DIY Upcycled Aluminium Can Wall Hanging that transforms empty Pepsi Max cans into embossed metal panel art. By using an embossing folder, pop rivets and a simple wooden frame, you’ll end up with a striking, interchangeable wall display that you can rearrange whenever you fancy a fresh look.
While scrolling through my local buy/sell site, I spotted a charming old desk for just $20. I imagined restoring it and giving it a new lease of life. But when I arrived to collect it, I was disappointed. Someone had already taken to it with an extreme shabby chic makeover, deep distressing and layers of chalk paint. Restoring it would have taken hours of sanding.
So I pivoted. Instead of restoring it, I repurposed it into something practical and fun. My great-niece visits often and loves playing in the sand, but dislikes sitting in the sandpit because sand sneaks into her nappy. That’s when the idea struck: a stand-up sandpit table made from a vintage desk.
This chaise lounge, made entirely from recycled materials, was inspired by a friend’s request. When she asked if I could build one, I doubted I had the skills to pull it off. I can’t work from plans—I only make projects up as I go. That’s why I choose recycled materials: if the build fails, I haven’t lost any money. Amazingly, it turned out so well that it now takes pride of place in my front-room window.
I had seen a repurposed piano on Pinterest and immediately knew I had to try one myself. But instead of a desk or bookshelf, I decided mine would become a Piano bar/Drinks cabinet. After spotting an upright piano on Facebook Marketplace for $120, I jumped at the chance. In hindsight, that was steep—many people give them away if you’re willing to collect. Like all my projects, I wanted to make this one truly my own.
From the moment I first spotted an elegant wine barrel coffee table, I dreamed of building one that felt more like fine furniture and reflected my style. In this guide, How to Create a Custom Wine Barrel Coffee Table, I’ll walk you through every step—combining photos from several tables I’ve made—to show you exactly how to remove odours, cut and sand the barrel, craft graceful arch legs, and finish your piece with stain, polyurethane, decorative bands and a personalised resin-sealed decal.
While cleaning my workshop, I found a lovely timber panel from an old piano I’d turned into a bar. It was too pretty to toss. I turned it into a DIY kitchen sign. It’s a reclaimed-wood wall organiser with a chalkboard message board, tea-towel hooks, a key rack and a small clock. It keeps everyday bits in one place and adds warm, upcycled character to the kitchen.
When my sister asked for a pallet daybed for her entertainment area, I jumped in. Pallet Daybed for an Outdoor Entertainment Area is the project that turned a pile of mismatched pallets into a sturdy, two-seater lounge they can enjoy with drinks and a view, rain or shine. The space is sheltered, but heavy rain sometimes blows in, so I designed this build to handle wet weather and come apart for easy transport.
When my daughter bought her first home, she wanted a stylish bedroom straight away, on a tight budget. This DIY barn quilt headboard delivers a bold, geometric statement for a king-size bed without the designer price tag. Built from 12 mm plywood and scrap timber, the pattern echoes classic quilt blocks but feels modern in a stained-or-painted finish. Go big or go home, right?
I turned a pile of old kitchen cupboard doors into a modern, stain-finished timber headboard—an upcycled build that looks custom. My sister wanted a headboard for her granddaughter’s room at her place, but she didn’t want it painted. She needed a piece she could dress with playful kids’ bedding, yet still feel right for adult guests.
I’m always on the hunt for free furniture to upcycle, and this old study desk was perfect for a DIY LEGO desk and activity table with storage. My plan was simple: cut the desk to toddler height, reinforce the frame, turn the drawer fronts into LEGO-style bricks, and keep the top flexible so it works for building, drawing, and crafting.
