At the height of the boom, we, as a society, thought nothing of chucking old cupboards and ditching battered dressers if we suddenly decided they had overstayed their welcome in our home.
And then the recession set in, and so did our creative streak.
Instead of ridding our home of tired old fixtures and fittings, we began re-purposing certain items and re-modelling others. In other words, we got our upcycling on, and never looked back.
From clothes and home furnishings to ornaments and jewellery, we soon realised turning trash into treasure not only allowed us to create an item unique to our home, but also did much in the way of waste prevention.
And here are just some of our current favourites.
1. This vintage-style chest of drawers is perfect for dividing the kids' bits and pieces.
2. Talk about making the most of some old wooden pallets...
3. A simple change of fabric, and this chair has a new lease of life.
4. Re-purpose an old duvet just in time for the festive season!
5. Is there anything a little decoupage can't do?!
6. Lime washing is easily one of our favourite effects when it comes to the upcycling process.
7. Resurrect old brooches in time for your Christmas display.
8. Chalk paint is an absolute must-have in the arsenal of an any dedicated upcycler.
You can find out oodles more via the Environmental Protection Agency’s LiveGreen website. The organisation is tasked with protecting our island's environment; as well as providing household tips, advice, awareness and education on sustainability at home and in your community.
