The environment is becoming an increasingly important consideration in home renovations. People want to transform their properties, but they also want ways to avoid harming Mother Nature at the same time.
As such, we’re seeing an explosion of interest in using more reclaimed wood in the home. People are looking for opportunities to reuse this natural material instead of allowing it to go to waste in landfills.
But how, exactly, is it being used? Let’s find out.
Backsplashes
The first place we’re seeing reclaimed wood showing up is in kitchen backsplashes. Instead of constructing these from expensive tiles or using plastic-based cladding, many homeowners are looking for an all-natural material to give their homes a rustic ambience.
What’s more, it helps to use more of the material. Backsplashes are getting bigger, so sourcing virgin components is taking a long time. Many now stretch from the countertop to the ceiling, circumnavigating the entire room to prevent splatter and splashes from affecting the underlying walls.
Reclaimed wood is an eye-catching natural material that looks great in virtually any setting. The material always looks different in every room, so your setup will be nothing like anyone else.
Countertops
You might also consider using reclaimed wood on your countertops. While it is a bigger project, it can be immensely rewarding and makes your kitchen feel more “lived-in.”
Of course, if you decide to use reclaimed wood for countertops, you’ll need to ensure you treat them properly. Adding waterproof sealants and plenty of varnish is essential. You’ll also need to chop on chopping boards, not directly onto the surface, as you could damage it and cause the wood to rot.
Processing the wood for countertops is also a time-consuming process. Existing barn beams, antique furniture, and heart pine pieces might not be the optimal shape for the installation. You may need to cut and reconfigure them to ensure they take on the proper shape. Be prepared for a finished product that looks a little uneven. Try to get the colors to match a theme if you can to avoid it looking too haphazard.
Stairs
You can also use reclaimed wood on your stairs, either leaving it exposed or using it to replace the existing floorboards. If you decide to go for the uncovered look, you’ll need to coat it in a heavy polish layer to ensure it remains in good condition. You’ll also need to cut it accurately to ensure it fits the width of your stairs and flows elegantly onto the ground floor.
If the rest of your home is quite neutral, you can afford to use multiple different types of wood and turn your stairs into a kind of mosaic of interesting patterns and designs. Work with the grain if you can while placing each piece carefully over existing supporting structures.
Don’t be afraid to use dark wood in neutral settings. Even if it is patchwork, that’s okay.
Headboards
If adding reclaimed wood to your staircase sounds like too much of a job (it’s a lot of work), you might want to try it for the headboard in your home. Adding it here can be a fabulous way to make use of the wood without it turning into a month-long project requiring you to work on it evenings and weekends.
Headboards made from reclaimed wood automatically add personality to your bedroom. It immediately looks bespoke and custom because virtually all reclaimed wood is non-standard.
What’s more, you have a little more freedom over the source of the reclaimed wood compared to flooring or stairs. The headboard is more of a statement piece than anything functional, so it doesn’t need to be as hard-wearing.
Some of the best headboards are made from the wood of old barn doors. You can also use salvaged wood from older homes or demolitions.
Bar Tables
Using reclaimed wood to create bar tables is another cool idea worth considering. The material gives these pieces of furniture a class pub house look you can’t get when you buy materials directly from the shop.
Bar tables are an excellent option for rustic kitchens, basements, and cellars. Placing them next to kegs of ale looks fantastic and helps you complete your rooms.
You can also pair bar tables with stools made of reclaimed wood on tiled floors. This approach can give you the ideal place to drink or socialize with friends at home.
Dining Tables
Related to the last idea, you could also use reclaimed wood for a dining table, particularly if you have a large, single piece of wood you could use. Reclaimed dining room tables can look stunning if properly finished and are an opportunity to make use of a considerable quantity of wood if you have a lot of excess you need to use up.
For reclaimed wood dining room tables, avoid traditional legs. These are hard to make from waste wood. Instead, use panels as legs instead to eat up more of the material and put it to good use. Inset it a couple of feet from the end to ensure people can still sit at the head of the table.
Shelving
If you’re short on ideas, you can also use reclaimed wood for shelving. Adding the material to offices, living areas, bedrooms, and kitchens gives you more space to put things you want to access quickly.
Before installing reclaimed wood shelving, ensure the material is strong enough. You don’t want anything to collapse when you’re not there.
Doors
Finally, you can use reclaimed wood on interior doors. It gives your interiors a rustic, almost industrial look while capturing the material’s unique beauty.
Crafting doors from reclaimed wood takes some know-how and time. It may require several weeks to get it right. However, the results are usually worth it, particularly when you pair it with a neutral interior décor theme. It immediately adds character to your home and lets you enjoy doors that are a little different from the norm.
So, there you have it: some of the ways you can use reclaimed wood in your home. Which will you try?