Spring is the perfect time of year to dig out that dusty hand-me-down furniture you’ve been harbouring in your garage for years and turn it into something worth showing off!
By definition, upcycling is the art of turning unwanted products, waste materials, or by-products into something new or of greater quality and value. It’s often associated with old furniture and can be a cheap, fun, and creative way to give old décor a new lease on life.
If you’re stuck for inspiration, a quick internet search will provide thousands of ideas to help you embark on your next exciting upcycling adventure – plus, you can feel good knowing you’re saving the planet by repurposing raw materials and reducing waste.
At Halfords, we’ve got loads of tools to help you dismantle, reassemble, and decorate the likes of old drawers, bedframes, and coffee tables into a unique, upcycled masterpiece.
Before you begin, you’ll want to source the recommended tools we’ve listed below!
Pliers
Older fixtures and fittings can be tricky to remove, so it’s a good idea to always have a plier and wrench on hand. The Halfords 4-Piece Pliers and Wrench Set has everything you need including combination pliers, long nose pliers, a locking wrench, and an adjustable wrench, ensuring you’re fully equipped to handle and remove stubborn components.
File
A good file or two is a must-have if you want to deburr, round, or remove those hard edges. The Halfords Advanced 8-Piece File Set Modular Tray contains the most common file shapes in two different sizes.
The set is also part of our modular tray range, which is designed to help you build your ideal tool kit and fit neatly into any Halfords Advanced tool chest or cabinet for storage in your garage or shed.
Hacksaw
Add a Stanley Junior Hacksaw to your toolkit for cutting materials like metal, wood, and rigid plastic to size.
This compact hacksaw is perfect for smaller, more precise tasks. With a smaller handle and blade length, you’ll have the control you need to handle those fiddly bits like a pro. Plus, the quick-release hacksaw features a crafty lever in the handle for easy and safe blade change.
If you’ve got bigger components you need to chop, then try a larger hacksaw. We recommend the Halfords Hacksaw 12″ for slicing through tougher materials such as steel.
Craft Knife
A utility or craft knife, is ideal for cutting things like card, craft foam and even some fabrics, which is essential if you’re reupholstering an old sofa or armchair.
The Halfords Quick Change Utility Knife has an ultra-thin design for enhanced comfort, a quick-change blade release button for easy use, and retractable blade storage that can hold up to five blades for maximum storage.
It’ll get the job done neatly and safely, and for under six pounds, it won’t break the bank.
Claw Hammer
Hammers are here to lend a hand with life’s tougher jobs, so investing in a claw hammer such as the Stanley Fibreglass Curved Claw 20oz Hammer is perfect if you need to separate stubborn materials and remove old nails that are deeply embedded in wooden surfaces.
Our Halfords Advanced 8 Piece Hammer, Punch and Chisel Set is also a great option for those looking to dismantle old metal items that may require more force.
Sanding Sponge
If you’ve got rough surfaces that need smoothing down and priming ready for a new lick of paint or varnish, then you’ll need a sanding sponge.
The Halfords Contour Sanding Sponges include three sponges in medium, fine, and super-fine gradients. These sponges can be used on wet and dry surfaces and are flexible for working in hard-to-reach places to give you an all-round silky-smooth finish.
Tape Measure
No DIYer or upcycler can do without a trusty tape measure to get measurements accurate before taking a blade and slicing materials in two.
The Stanley 5m Pocket Tylon Tape Measure boasts a 5-meter tape length and an anti-glare matte coating, making numbers easy to read. It’s compact, lightweight and has a grade II accuracy rating. This tape is perfect for upcycling and general DIY tasks around the house, making it a great all-rounder.
Screwdriver
Every good upcycler needs a screwdriver or two to hand, which is why we recommend the Halfords Advanced 8-Piece Screwdriver Set. This set includes four plain slot screwdrivers and four Pozidriv ones with magnetised ends and comfort grip handles.
Screwdrivers are the key to removing old screws from drawer handles and inserting new ones alike. Plus, this set comes with a Halfords Advanced Lifetime Guarantee for added peace of mind.
Duct Tape
Duct tape has so many uses that there’s no way we couldn’t include it in this list. Sticky, strong, and – in some cases – weatherproof, duct tape can do everything from holding broken parts together to protecting vulnerable areas from a dripping paint brush.
Try out the easy-tear Halfords Heavy Duty Duct Tape for strength, versatility, and reliability.
Paint Sprayer
Designed to grip standard aerosol cans, the Can Gun 1 Spray Can Tool gives you an easy and comfortable way to spray paint or other fluids. You can let your colourful inner artist come to life while feeling reassured that this spray tool can deliver an accurate and quality finish.
You can also shop our range of automotive multi-use spray paints that are great for decorative use on steel, aluminium, wood, stone, and most primed plastics.
Toolbox
Now that you’ve got all the tools you need to kick off your upcycling adventure, it’s a good idea to invest in some storage to keep everything in one place. We recommend the Halfords Cantilever Tool Box, built from heavy-duty, long-lasting metal, it’s a classic and dependable design to house all your DIY essentials.
Once your upcycling kit is complete, it’s time to get into your garage and have a route through the rubbish!
If you can’t find anything fit for repurpose but you’re still keen to try your hand at upcycling, visit your local charity shop or car boot sale to find one-off pieces that are dying for a bit of TLC.