What is Upcycling? 

If spring is for clearing clutter and making way for the new, summer is the time for sprucing things up. You may be surprised to find that the old junk you didn’t think you wanted could actually be used to transform your home into the summer oasis you’ve always dreamed of - with the help of a little glue. 

Enter “Upcycling”. 

The term was coined by Reiner Pilz in 1994 to describe a system where “old items are given more value, not less.” 

Unlike recycling which is the process of breaking things down into a reusable material, upcycling is the process of reusing or incorporating unwanted items into something new; transforming trash to treasure.

Upcycling doesn’t need to be complicated or time consuming. Our products are tough to make DIY easy. 

Here are a couple of ideas to get you started; before you know it you’ll start to see the hidden potential everywhere you look.

DIY Pallet Headboard

Wooden pallets are upcycling gold—there is just so much you can do with them. Not only are they incredibly useful, they are also super easy to get your hands on, and very often completely free.

Use the wooden planks from a few old pallets to create a rustic and distinctive headboard. Start by working out the size of the headboard you’d like to make. Create the base by cutting a sheet of plywood to your desired dimensions. Next, cut the planks out of your pallets; it’s a good idea to cut the pallets next to the ends to avoid having to pull out the nails. Next, simply affix the wooden planks horizontally to cover the piece of plywood using Gorilla Wood Glue and allow the glue to set. 

Depending on the look you’re going for, sand and paint the headboard however you want and hang on the wall above your bed.

Wooden Crate Rolling Storage

Another great upcycling staple to be aware of is the wooden crate. Easy to find and

inexpensive—it’s a fantastic foundation for all types of projects.

You can easily create versatile rolling storage simply by attaching several crates together

and adding wheels.

Using wood glue, attach the crates together; we suggest 6 crates, with 3

rows of 2, and then simply joining the rows together. Use clamps to keep the wood in place until the glue dries. To finish it off, attach a piece of wood to the top and the bottom of the shelf to create a level surface. Once dry—attach your wheels and finish as desired. Voila!

Creativity is at the core of upcycling—so get those creative juices flowing. The sky really is the limit!

*Please check individual product packaging for instructions for use.