You take something old and worn, give it some TLC – a bit of sanding here, a coat of paint there – and you end up with something new and desirable. Our grandparents called it “make do and mend” and it was born in a time of shortage and hardship. Today, the same practice is known as up-cycling and it is enjoying something of a revival.

“These days, everyone is so conscious of both budget and sustainability,” says Better Homes and Gardens decorator Tara Dennis. “Up-cycling is a fantastic way to save money on regular store-bought items, and to find a new use for something that has been pre-loved, or that you are reluctant to throw away.”

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