I love a good DIY project, especially one that allows me to repurpose an item that has seen better days but has a lot of hidden potential. An old frame is an excellent candidate for this type of upcycling project. With a little imagination and dash of elbow grease, you can transform an old home décor accessory into a stunning accent piece.
Sourcing Frames For Your Upcycling Project
Don’t have a peeling, old frame at home? Visit a neighborhood yard sale or thrift store and chances are that you will find a frame that would be an excellent candidate for a DIY project. Vintage framed photos or old paintings are often overlooked, but these are your diamonds in the rough. You may not be a fan of the artwork, but the frame itself is likely made from quality materials.
Source: Pink Paper Clip via Pinterest
If you lack the patience to source a used frame, you can always find an inexpensive option at a craft store or big box retailer.
Old Frame to Chic Tray
What happens when you combine an old picture frame, a bit of paint, your favorite fabric, and two recycled drawer pulls? A chic and unique tray!
Small trays will accent your dresser or ottoman and can showcase knick-knacks, corral clutter, and protect your furniture from unsightly ring marks. The best thing about this project is that it’s simple to complete:
- Paint your picture frame a fun new color.
- Affix fabric, preferably a luxurious organic fabric or a bold print, to the frame with a hot glue gun.
- Don’t have a glue gun? Tacks can also do the trick – if you buy thumbtacks in a metallic finish you can recreate a nailhead upholstered look.
- Salvage or purchase new drawer pulls and attach them to the ends of the tray with a screwdriver.
Source: Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer
Ta-da! You’ve just created a completely unique tray from a picture frame. For the full tutorial, along with helpful step-by-step insturctions, see From Old Picture to Pretty Tray by Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer.
Jewelry Organizer
If you are looking for a new way to store your precious jewels, this is the project for you. Combining an inexpensive frame with crocheted lace trim results in a shabby chic inspired jewelry organizer.
Source: OfDesign.net
For this project, you can also add simple screw-in hooks at the top of the frame or at various heights to create more organization space for necklaces or bracelets.
The best thing about these projects is that you can make them unique to your style or taste. Plus, it’s an easy way to try out a new décor trend like Fall Color Trends For the Home.
