Upcycling has good news and bad news. First, the bad news: The upcycled showpiece you’ve been designing in your head consists of multiple elements, some of which you may already have collected, and others maybe not quite solidified in your mind but waiting to be found.
What do you need to complete your upcycled project? Discarded furniture, retro fabrics, old magazines, costume jewelry, vintage tools, old hardware, or plumbing fixtures. The pursuit of the perfect upcycling materials takes time and money, which leads me to a disclaimer of entitlement. I’m privileged to have the resources to devote myself to my passion. Courtesy of family, I have space to not only work on projects but also room to warehouse my collection of upcycling materials and equipment.
Now for the good news: Half the fun of upcycling is in the art of the find—hunting for elements to complete your upcycled game plan. If the essence of upcycling is its impact on the environment, its beauty is with the treasure hunt—discovering hidden gems and creating opportunities to find them.
Lucky for us upcyclers, treasure troves abound. The following is an Art of the Find List of the best places to frequent for upcycling materials. NOTE: Be sure to read my blog, Upcycling Storage & Workspace. As a professional upcycler, you will need a storage area to house (and display) upcycling materials until you’re ready to get to work.
- The Collector: Friends and family may not know about upcycling, but dub yourself a collector, and people will 1) invite you to “take what you want” when they’re cleaning out the basement or garage or 2) bring stuff right to your doorstep.
- Dumpster Diving: As the saying goes, “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” This doesn’t necessarily mean digging through dumpsters, although there’s no shame in that. When driving through neighborhoods, take note of trash day and watch for refuse of distinction. If trash picking gives you the jitters, I promise it gets easier with time.
- Antique Marts: These shops are great places to treasure hunt and the perfect place to dream. Dealers are known for displaying items in the most unusual (upcycled) fashion. Develop a relationship with the owners and/or dealers and let them know your interests (e.g., cracked plates, broken smalls* or damaged furniture). The next time they encounter such items, they may collect them just for you.
- Thrift Stores (e.g., Salvation Army/Goodwill): These shops are an all-around excellent source of upcycling materials such as smalls,* vintage linens, lamps, and kitchenware. I like to create pique-assiette mosaics using broken dishes and damaged jewelry. I feel better when I can buy these materials for pennies on the dollar. In general, thrift stores regularly offer deep discounts on clothing, making these places my go-to spot for velvet and denim.
- Habitat for Humanity Restore: The Restore can be “hit or miss,” so it’s a good idea to frequent this shop consistently because the good stuff always goes first. While each Restore is different, depending on the donations, it is always an excellent source for deals on quality used furniture, lighting/ceiling fans, and tools. You can also find a plethora of leftover materials from home renovation and construction sites, such as cabinetry, doors and windows, and sinks…. Pro tip: Occasionally, the larger hardware store chains donate to Restore so that you can find brand-new items such as mismatched paint, special orders, leftover building materials, and closeout items ⎯ at a fraction of the original price.
- Garage/Yard Sales: Expect a miscellaneous selection of household goods at bargain prices.
- Estate Sales: For a limited time, the entire belongings of a family home are on sale. The prices are typically higher than a garage or yard sale, but one can often find deals up to 50% off on the last day of the sale.
- Flea Markets: Unlike a brick-and-mortar thrift store, flea market venues are seasonal, and vendors are willing to barter their odd and unusual, often upcycled treasures. Consider this: Vendors spend a considerable amount of time and effort carting their wares to market. They’d rather wheel and deal than return home with their lot.
- Store Closings: These are not closeouts but closings. When stores close their doors, they often sell shelving and display cases, which you can reuse in your storage area.
- Craft Stores: Another great place to be inspired and an excellent source of ancillary materials such as glues, mastics, and glitter.
A capable upcycler will schedule time throughout each month to visit these spots and look for upcycling materials. Happy hunting!
*Smalls (noun): Small objects displayed for beauty and interest and also referred to as tchotchkes, bric-a-brac, objet d’art, or keepsakes.