Turn your old piece of furniture into a modern work of art for your home. It involves the transformation of discarded furniture into stylish, functional, and often a one-of-a-kind piece that enhances any space. Whether it’s giving an outdated chair a modern makeover with a fresh coat of paint or re-purposing an unused table into a unique statement piece, up-cycling furniture not only reduces environmental impact but also adds a personalized touch to your home decor. This can involve

• sanding

• painting

• recovering

• filling holes with wood putty

• polishing

• replacing broken dowels

• and sometimes fixing broken pieces.

Utilizing a variety of materials such as glass, tiles, or stones, artists arrange these fragments meticulously to form intricate patterns, scenes, or abstract designs. Mosaics have a rich history, dating back to ancient civilizations, and have been used to adorn everything from religious structures to public spaces. Whether adorning floors, walls, or decorative objects, mosaics continue to be a timeless and versatile art form that captures the imagination with its kaleidoscopic beauty.

You will need: a base:

• Table, picture frame, mirror, terracotta pot, anything that is strong enough to hold the mosaic pieces.

• Tesserae: small pieces of tile, glass pieces, crockery, shells, pebbles

• Cutter: tile cutter (can be purchased at Mitre 10), hammer (you will need a cloth to catch any small shards), glass cutter

• Adhesive: strong glue Grout: purchase from any hardware store

• Sealant: for outdoor pieces, polyurethane works well

• Safety equipment: safety goggles, gloves, footwear

• Sponge: for cleaning excess grout.

The process

1. Prep your materials. Clean off any debris from your mosaic base and tesserae pieces. Cover your work surface in newspaper or plastic to protect other surfaces from the mess, and be sure to work in a well-ventilated area.

2. Create your design. Sketch your design onto a piece of paper and transfer it to the base using transfer paper, or use a marker to draw your design onto the base. The more complex your design, the smaller your tesserae will need to be.

3. Lay the tesserae onto the base. Configure the tesserae onto the base, and use a glass cutter, a tile cutter, or snips to cut pieces to fit the design.

4. Apply the adhesive. Put a bond over your entire design or apply the glue to each piece before placing them on the base.

5. Wait for the adhesive to set. Set aside to allow the adhesive to dry completely, up to 24 hours. Wipe off the excess glue after it is dry.

6. Apply the grout. Using a spatula, apply grout onto the entire mosaic and spread it evenly, so the grout enters every crevice. Wait for the grout to set, about 20 minutes. Wipe the excess grout off from the surface of the tesserae using warm water. If the grout has hardened too much to remove, use a non-scratch nylon scouring pad. Wait 24 hours for the grout to fully cure before proceeding to the next step.

7. Add a protective sealant. You may need to apply multiple layers if the mosaic is outdoors or if it will be frequently handled, such as a tabletop. After the sealant dries, you can then admire your beautiful mosaic.

Pallets are so versatile and can be used for almost anything. The key is to used pallets that are Heat Treated. You will see a stamp on the pallet to confirm this. The reason for this is some pallets are treated chemically and due to the sanding process can cause health issues, it will also ensure your finished piece is food safe. Look for the HT stamp, see image one.

Steps:

1. Using a good sturdy crow bar, remove the back framing, leaving the supporting boards as shown in image two.

2. Using a good sturdy crow bar, remove the back framing, leaving the supporting boards as shown in the image three. Using a hammer, bang down any exposed nails, in some cases you can remove the nail completely or cut them using a wire cutter. Be careful not to remove nails that are holding the slats to the stringer (see diagram image three)

3. . Using a sander, start with a heavy grit (40 - 60) and sand the front and edges of the pallet until it is smooth. Then move onto a medium grit (100 - 150). If you want a really smooth finish, lower your grit to 200 - 300 (image three).

4. Attach wheels. This part can be tricky, depending on your pallet. You may need to add a support strainer so your wheels have something to bolt into. Use good sturdy wheels and nuts and bolts (image four).

5. Using a brush, paint with wood stain. Allow to dry completely, then go over with a light sand by hand. This will add to the rustic look if that is what you choose, or alternatively paint your headboard any colour you choose.

6. Bolt to your bed base.