Renovation Column: Upcycling is a hoarder’s get out of jail free card

Having lived in a 320 year old cottage for over a decade before moving into The Vicarage I developed a passion for antiques.

I would love nothing more than spending a day hunting in a dust-filled and dark antique shop poised like a magpie to find that glimmer of treasure hiding under centuries of unwanted items.

I admit that over the years my passion for giving old things a new home has resulted in acquiring slightly more than I needed (including a husband).

When I was visiting the British Heart Foundation furniture shop daily during my lunch break instead of Topshop and sneaking new finds into the home each week, I realised I might have a problem.

The term hoarder has been thrown at me on occasion so when we moved, I vowed to change my ways. I would embrace a more minimal lifestyle, become a scandi-style aficionado and finally stop vetoing my husband’s more modern choices.

It was all going so well, I went along with the Ikea Pax wardrobes built-in hack. I gave away some antique items to family and friends and made daily trips to the charity shop to donate and not buy. Growth I think you’ll agree.

But what can I say? I have a soft spot for old and unwanted things. Before I knew it I was on Facebook Marketplace at all hours of the day and night searching for a new antique piece of furniture, pretending I was sending a text when in reality I was sending the annoying “Is this still available? message to the seller of a battered walnut chest of drawers. I imagine it’s how an online gambler trying to hide his addiction might feel.

I'd officially relapsed and just days later I was waiting for a man with van to deliver my latest project – a heat damaged and battered set of drawers that I’d picked up for £60. After a fair few eyerolls from my husband I set about transforming this unloved item into a piece to be proud of.

I would dedicate the next few weeks to restoring this diamond in the rough whenever I had a spare half hour. From stripping the old finish (twice) to sanding, mainly by hand, night after night before finally staining and bringing the wood back to its former glory. It now has pride of place in the spare room and is a much more sustainable and cheaper option than the Ikea alternative, in my humble opinion.

According to WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), the UK alone sends over 22 million pieces of furniture to landfill each year. So no, I’m not a hoarder, I’m just trying to save the planet and shape a more sustainable future one chalk painted dresser at a time.

Read my step-by-step guide to upcycling my chest of drawers online and keep up to date with all the progress by following @ohgodweboughtavicarage on Instagram.

Step-by-step upcycle guide:-

1. Remove all the hardware and then strip the old finish using Colron Furniture Stripper. Allow to penetrate the varnish and stain for around 30 minutes before scraping off with a scraper and wire wool (I did repeated this process twice because it was so heavily varnished)

2. Sanding – using an electric sander for the sides then hand sanding the more intricated drawers and delicate top – starting with a tougher grit (60-80) to remove finish and then gradually moving to a medium grit (120-150) and a final sand with (220-400).

3. Hoover away all the dust before wiping the whole thing down with a damp cloth and leave to dry.

4. Rub the Colron Danish Oil in colour Jacobean Dark Oak with a lint free cloth into the wood to reveal that stunning wood grain and create a dark, depth of colour. Allow the oil to dry for six hours between coats (I did the recommended three coats) and then a final buff with a clean cloth.

5. Clean the grubby and tarnished brass handles with Bar Keepers Friend – make a paste with water and the powder and then coat each handle, leave for 30 minutes and then rub with a scouring pad, screw back on once clean and dry.