This August Challenge Theme is Upcyle! I love to upcycle things, give them a brand new life and turn them into something beautiful and useful. This time I was inspired by my kid’s reading habit and a Pinterest post; IKEA Besta Hack – DIY Seating Bench Perfect for Small Spaces. Yes, I made a bookshelf bench out of an old bookshelf. It’s small bench with enough spaces for books. Kids would love to sit on a bench with their favorite books stored underneath it. My DIY Upcycled Bookshelf Bench is super easy to make. But before I move on, let me explain a bit about The Sustainable Pinterest Challenge.
The Pinterest Challenge has had a bit of a reboot for 2022 and is now the Sustainable Pinterest Challenge. Each month I join a group of creative bloggers and we select a pin or two that we feel inspired by and give it a go. Starting in January 2022 the Pinterest Challenge has a sustainable, eco friendly twist to it. All the projects shared will have something about them that involves recycling, upcycling, a general ethos of reducing waste and using what we have. It’s not about beating ourselves with a stick, it’s just about giving thought to how we can make small changes in our lives just a little more sustainable and reduce our impact on the environment.
Last month’s theme challenge was “Reduce Single Use” and I made an DIY Tiered Tray Upcycled Cookie Tins. For this month theme “Upcycle” as sustainable as a base to any of our challenge projects, I upcycled an old bookshelf into a bookshelf bench for kid’s reading nook.
Things To Prepare
An old bookshelf and a nice comfy pillow seat are the main things for a new bookshelf bench. Let’s see what are the short list supplies that are used to make this DIY Upcycled Bookshelf Bench :
- Bookshelf
- White wood paint
- Pillow seat
How To Make
Super easy to make since I painted everything in white. I like it in white because it’s like a blank canvas that will contrast to everything that you put on the bookshelf bench. Anyway, follow these easy steps on how to make DIY Upcycled Bookshelf Bench :
1 . I cleaned my old bookshelf before I started to paint it with white. All white! Let it dry.
2. Get a pillow seat that matches your bookshelf bench. Don’t forget to lay the bookshelf horizontally before you start to style your bench. I have the pillow seat in red that contrasted the bench. And all the books are like the colorful paint that decorating the white bench. I also add an adjustable white desk lamp.
Now, let’s take a look at what the other Sustainable Pinterest Challenge participants have made for their “Upcycle” challenge.
List of all participants
Julie | Sum of their Stories
Gail | Purple Hues and Me
Julie | Treasures Made From Yarn
Lydia | Life Beyond the Kitchen
Terri | A Good Life
Ann | The Apple Street Cottage
T’onna | Sew Crafty Crochet
Donna | Modern on Monticello
Allyson | Southern Sunflowers
Mel | Decor Craft Design
Here’s the list of projects :
Upcycled Tin Can with Decorative Top
You can also view the projects from below Inlinkz.
For more of my future Summer posts, please follow me! And if you wanted to add my creations to your Pinterest boards, please follow me on Pinterest! Also find me on Instagram and Twitter!
For creative fellow bloggers, don’t forget to join “You’re The Star” Blog Hop, Happiness Is Homemade Link Party and Home Matters Linky! Link your inspiring posts (anything, from recipes, home decor, DIYs, crafts, family, health to gardening) every Monday and Sunday. Get a change to be featured! I’m one of the co-host of You’re The Star blog hop for Creative Week and Happiness Is Homemade; I will choose the creative posts to be featured on Creative Features week and on Happiness Is Homemade. Please come and join the blog hop and I would love to see you there! Please join and share the news!
Decor Craft Design 
Amazing
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Thank you!
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Your welcome
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I could have done with one of these years ago when the kids were small by the front door for them to sit on and put on their shoes. We probably had a bookshelf that would have been perfect if only I had thought of it! It’s good to stop and look at what you have with new eyes sometimes isn’t it? We don’t always have to buy new, we often have something that can be upcycled or repurposed.
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I couldn’t be more agree with you, Julie! Gives a new life to an old piece. Always love that idea. Thank you, Julie!
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What a perfect project for anyone with children. I could also see this being used in a classroom. Great idea!
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I’m sure many kids would love to try to sit on it. lol Thank you, Ann!
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You can never go wrong by updating a bookshelf bench! I love that you painted it white! So many possibilities for using!
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Yes, white is just a blank canvas and kid’s stuff are usually colorful, so they blend together very well. Thank you, Gail!
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Your bookshelf bench looks perfect for a child’s room or playroom. I like your idea to add a cushion on top for little tushies, too! lol
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Yes, my kid loves it! It’s like having a new ride. 🙂 Thank you Allyson!
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I currently have a wall cabinet that I need to find a new use for and this is a great idea. Thanks for sharing your post and idea. It looks really good with a makeover.
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Thank you Donna! Happy to share!
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I wanted a bookshelf bench for my kids’ rooms, so I really love this upcycle. I ended up buying a book shelf from a neighbor’s yard sale for my son’s room, and after seeing this, I’m wondering if I can turn the bookshelf on it’s side and make it into a bookshelf bench! Great idea!
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What fun! I love the red cushion on the white bookcase. It’s the perfect size for little ones, isn’t it?
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It is perfect for my kid, true! My bookshelf bench serves as a mini reading nook for young kids, but for thicker and larger bookshelf, it can hold adults.
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