Whether it’s a dining table, a feature wall, flooring or outdoor veggie patch, here’s how you can make a statement without chopping down any more forests.

Recycled timber is basically wood that has been used for something else – old houses, factories, bridges, railyards, schools or farmhouses – and remade into something different. The wood can either be left rustic in appearance or re-milled to look like new.

Many small businesses are making their living from recycled timber these days by salvaging the wood and repurposing it, so it’s easy to find someone to help.

They will inspect the wood, treat it so it doesn’t rot, pull out old nails and re-shape them to have a new purpose in your home.

Walk the walk

Ever thought about recycled timber flooring? Floorboards are all the rage now, especially in modern open-plan homes that incorporate a kitchen, dining and living area and look best with single, seamless flooring.

Recycled timber flooring will not offer a perfect veneer as new flooring would, but it has much more personality. Old nail holes and age knots will give it a wonderful charm and will be a great talking point when visitors pop over. In many cases recycled timber will be hardier than new floorboards and so will offer you a greater lifespan.

Recycled timber can come from such a variety of sources – imagine repurposing an old gym’s basketball court in your entertainment area. 

The disadvantage with using recycled timber is that it doesn’t come made to measure. Some sections will be too short for what you need, but an experienced carpenter or builder will work with the timber to make it look as seamless and stylish as possible.

Create a signature piece

Recycled timber is very popular for use in everyday furniture, especially signature pieces such as a dining table, lounge chair or even a bed.

Old timber can be made into anything – an old onion storage box can transform into a kitchen storage cabinet; a shipping packing box can become a reading seat with a cushion and a spot for book storage underneath; a garage door can be repurposed to become a magnificent dining table; a vintage entertainment unit can be flipped to become a durable kitchen cabinet.

If you’re handy with a saw, hammer and paintbrush with varnish, you could try your hand at some of these ideas by picking up some recycled timber at a salvage centre. Or there are plenty of experienced tradespeople and designers who have done the hard work for you.

Refine your palette

Recycled timber can also be a brilliant addition to your outdoor areas and your garden. Recycled timber can look a treat when used for outdoor decking, especially if you also include some planter boxes made from old timber on your deck to keep a few plants or herbs thriving.

Old railways sleepers are thick, hardy and durable, and make brilliant retaining walls for your garden and flower beds.

Storage palettes are by far the best kept secret when it comes to recycled timber. You can buy these very cheaply or get them for free on swap-sell websites and some industrial businesses even leave them out the front of their premises for people to take away.

You can cut them to make coffee tables, small stools or hang these on your back fence or stand them up to be used as planter boxes. Simply hammer in a piece of timber underneath each section to hold the dirt and then plant away! Paint them different colours to suit your yard but, if using them for herbs or vegetables, leave them in their natural state. Check out Pinterest for more great ideas on how to use timber pallets in your home.  

Using recycled timber will not only be a cheaper alternative to new timber pieces, you’ll be doing the Earth a favour as well. And, instead of featuring the same products and looks as everyone else, you’ll create quirky talking points – that will also be strong selling points when it comes time to put your home on the market.

To find a supplier of recycled timber in your area, look in the Yellow Pages.