CASE STUDY: 35-year-old turned her hobby into a full-time job – she shares 6 tips on how to start an upcycling side hustle

Six tips for Brits looking to start an upcycling side hustle, from an expert who has turned her hobby into a full-time job

An expert has released six tips for Brits looking to start an upcycling side hustle, which have helped her to make upcycling her full-time job.

Upcycling furniture is a fantastic, eco-friendly hobby and can make for a great side hustle for Brits looking to earn some extra cash amidst the cost of living crisis.

To advise Brits, based on first-hand experience, paint company Earthborn has partnered with influencer and upcycler, Danielle Bayliss, to share six important tips to be aware of when starting an upcycling side hustle.

“Upcycling is a great side hustle. I upcycled furniture for several years as a side hustle to make some extra money, before finally taking the leap into doing it as a full-time job. It’s a great way to make some extra money doing something creative.”

Danielle (@rediscoveredbydanielle) is 35 years old, living in Lichfield. She has amassed 119,000 followers on Instagram where she shares her upcycling creations, and sells approximately four upcycled pieces per month.

1. Measure thoroughly

“Not measuring, or measuring incorrectly, is the most typical mistake people make when upcycling for the first time. This applies to a number of aspects of the upcycling process. For example, incorrectly measuring fabric needed for a project, or not measuring at all, will ultimately need to be redone and will waste materials.”

“Many don’t think to measure the space that they’re going to fill in the home, so you could create a beautiful piece that you can’t actually fit anywhere. You also need to think of the transportation of the furniture – there’s nothing worse than going to collect a piece of furniture to upcycle, only to find that it does not fit into your car!”

2. Preparation is essential

“Arguably the most important step in the upcycling process is the prep work. When upcycling, most aspects of the process can generally be rectified if a big mistake is made. However,
without properly preparing the surface of the piece of furniture you’re working on, the paint just won’t adhere properly.”

3. Start with a local customer base

“When it comes to the business side of an upcycling side hustle, in my experience, it’s best to start out by building a local customer base. This will make things a lot easier, not to mention cheaper, as you initially won’t have to deal with commission fees and courier costs. Try to market yourself on local groups, such as Facebook Marketplace, to draw in customers nearby.”

4. Work on your unique style – don’t follow trends

“Don’t try to follow trends when it comes to upcycling. Create furniture that you love and you’ll attract the right kind of customers for you. It really shows when you love a piece compared to when you’re trying to flog something you’re not too keen on. Plus, this way you will build up your own brand with your own style, rather than competing with others who are all creating similar stuff.”

5. Make mistakes

“Don’t be afraid of making mistakes! It can be frustrating when you start upcycling, as it’s easy to make errors and feel you may have ruined a piece or have to start on a part of the project again. However, I have found that making mistakes is the best way to learn and improve. In fact, by making mistakes you may come across a new method or different style that you weren’t expecting – it’s all part of the process!”

6. Research

“It’s worth doing some market research on what is selling well in your area. You can find data on Etsy’s market reports and ‘trending now’ section to find out what people are searching for. That way, you can work out which items are popular, which can provide a good starting point if you’re feeling uninspired – and then you can add your own unique twist to your piece.”

Commenting on the tips, Cathryn Sanders from Earthborn said:

“Danielle’s tried and tested tips are fantastic for those thinking about, or starting up, an upcycling side hustle. Upcycling has become increasingly popular and is a great way to give a fresh lease of life to an old piece of furniture, upcycling as a side hustle is a fantastic way to earn some extra income whilst getting creative and learning a new skill as you go.”

Earthborn has released the tips in partnership with Danielle to advise Brits on the best ways to start an upcycling side hustle. For more inspiration, check out Earthborn’s full range of eco-friendly paints.