Upcycling in the real world usually means something like “the transformation of old products, waste materials, useless and/or unwanted products into new products…etc.” Here in the virtual world of HomeByMe it can mean so much more! We have the ability to endlessly combine and change the furnishings already in our product libraries and to make new products until we create exactly what we like. Everything can be upcycled!
This writer’s home-away-from-home project is almost entirely “virtually” upcycled furnishings. Everything in it has been changed and crafted to fit into my concept. Compare it with each of the methods of upcycling shown below and you’ll find new ways to make your own projects exactly what you want!
1 - Let’s start with something easy to do in HomeByMe. If something you like doesn’t fit in your space, like this Irea set of drawers, change the size! Just click on the bureau and then on the Edit properties button and change the dimensions until it does fits. It’s a lot easier to do it virtually first and make sure you like it.
2 - Here’s another easy one – many items let you change the colors or materials – click on the same Edit properties button and change the color of an entire item or parts of it. The vibrant wood pattern didn’t really match the rest of the room, so a couple of clicks have fixed that.
3 - Branded items can be added to your project in the colors that are in our libraries and you can check their website for other colors right from the HomeByMe screen. Sometimes you can change the HomeByMe details to match what else is offered. Here I was able to change the drawer front on this pair of duehome bureaus by adding a Free shape (Rooms>For all rooms>Free shapes), changing the color and making it a tiny bit bigger to cover the original.
With just these few minor upcycles I’ve helped the room look more at home with itself.
4 - More dramatic effects can be created by completely changing the proportions and colors and then using the new piece for an entirely new purpose. All of the dark window frames and handrails for the bridge were upcycled from living room shelves.
5 - Combine different items to make something new. Change the sizes until they work together and then look at the colors and materials too. These deck chairs and cushions go together functionally, but still required quite a bit of fussing to get the cushion sizes right, to add a Free shape bottom cushion and to blend the overall chair color with the rest of the deck furnishings. And, of course, to get the right fabric that could also be used for the canvas awning over the whole deck as well.
Upcycling should be fun and creative, but still fit into your plan for the rooms of your projects. This simple little office space is carefully designed to fit in and still be enjoyable.
6 - Add Free shapes by themselves or combined with standard or branded items to make all sorts of new items. These Vanadurga chairs have been modified with wood panels and accents (and don’t forget the coaster under the wine glass on the chair). The coffee table is simply Free shape cylinders stacked and offset in different colors and materials.
7 - Free shapes can certainly be used for more than simple items. With a little care and patience, you can use them to create whole rooms. With the addition of a few HomeByMe product library items, this small custom kitchen looks like no other. The writer and her colleagues will always find good food and drink here.
As you head off into your own projects, remember that everything can be a treasure with some clever creativity and a little help from HomeByMe.
Some quick tips:
– After you’ve worked to combine several items into something new – hold down the Ctrl key and select all the parts to move them as one piece.
– Use the same method and then hold down the Shift key to move them all without them snapping to other things.
– Or, after you’ve selected them, hold down the Alt key to make copies of everything you’ve selected.
It’s your turn!