Refurb Your Way to Stylish Decor

Instead of tossing out old and worn furniture, reupholster it to bring new life, and cut down on waste and further resource use. Also see new green furniture and furniture made from recycled products.

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Photo: Mikhail Pozhenko / Istock

By Brian Clark Howard

Instead of tossing out old and worn furniture, reupholster it to bring new life, and cut down on waste and further resource use.

Many antiques dealers would kill to get their hands on the bones of much of the furniture that is unceremoniously thrown away, left out in the weeds or even burned as firewood. Between 1960 and 2001, discarded furniture and furnishings swelled from 2.2 million tons a year to 8.1 million tons, reports the EPA. Furniture is bulky stuff that takes up a lot of landfill space.

Extend the life of furniture, and save money, by getting it reupholstered. Get crafty and do the job yourself, or support local artisans who specialize in the time-honored trade. The range of possible colors, textures and styles is nearly limitless, from ancient aesthetic to uber-modern. Get the freshest look to match your changing decor tastes without contributing to the removal of more trees or the mining of more metals.

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