Updated on: October 14, 2026
Every discarded object is a material waiting for its next brief.
Upcycled furniture starts where most objects end. Pipes, carpet offcuts, old window glass and waste paper are taken out of the waste stream and remade into chairs, lamps and tables worth more than their parts. Over the last decade, this way of working has moved from the fringes of the design world to its center, and it now sits at the heart of sustainable product design.
This guide explains what upcycling means, how it differs from recycling and reclaiming, and why it matters. It then profiles four sustainable designers who have shaped the movement: Lucas Muñoz, Riccardo Cenedella, Ehécatl and Samuel Aguirre. Alongside them, you will find upcycled pieces available to collect today.
What is upcycling?
Upcycling is the process of turning discarded materials or products into new objects of higher value, either in function, in beauty or in both. The term was popularized in 1994 by German engineer Reiner Pilz, who contrasted it with recycling, which he saw as breaking materials down into something of lesser quality. In other words, upcycling adds value, whereas conventional recycling often subtracts it.
In furniture and lighting, upcycling means using industrial remnants, reclaimed wood, broken glass, textile waste or paper as the raw material for a new piece. Consequently, the object carries two stories: the life its material lived before, and the one it begins now. For a deeper look at the idea, read our essay on upcycling as crafting new from old, or browse our selection of upcycled designs.
Upcycled vs. recycled vs. reclaimed furniture
These terms are often used interchangeably, but they describe different processes. Recycled furniture is made from materials that have been broken down industrially and re-formed, such as recycled aluminum, bronze or plastic. Reclaimed furniture reuses materials largely as they are, such as salvaged timber beams or old bricks. Upcycled furniture takes an existing object or material and transforms it creatively, so the result is worth more than the original.
In practice, many designers combine all three. Indeed, the pieces in this guide include recycled bronze, recycled glass grit and recycled wood fiber alongside truly upcycled construction parts. What unites them is intent: each one treats waste as a resource rather than an endpoint.
Why upcycled furniture matters
Furniture is one of the harder household categories to recycle. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Americans discarded more than 12 million tons of furniture and furnishings in 2018, and most of it went to landfill. Upcycling offers one response: it keeps material in use and gives it a reason to be kept.
It is also a practical expression of circular design, which aims to design waste out of the system altogether. Moreover, upcycled pieces tend to build a stronger bond with their owners. An object with a visible history is easier to value, repair and keep for decades. For more on the wider picture, see our guide to sustainable furniture and design and our essay on sustainability and our relationship with possessions.
Lucas Muñoz: upcycling construction materials
Madrid-based Lucas Muñoz works between art and design, and his practice has long centered on construction materials. His ongoing O.F.I.S series, short for Objects From Interstitial Space, takes components meant to stay hidden behind and between our walls, such as steel pipes, rods, ventilation ducts and bricks, and reassembles them as furniture meant to be seen. Each piece keeps its engineered character while gaining a new domestic function. Notably, his work has earned recognition from the FRAME and ICON awards for its contribution to material circularity.
O.f.i.s Series Table Lamp in Pipe, Rod And Brick by Lucas Muñoz Muñoz
A steel pipe, a threaded rod and a single brick, all standard construction parts, come together as a table lamp. Nothing is disguised: the joints and fittings stay visible, so the lamp reads as a short lesson in how buildings are made. As a result, it is the most accessible way into Muñoz’s work. Please note that it is wired for EU standards.
€280 incl. tax
O.F.I.S Series, Tubular Armchair, Anitgoon Edition by Lucas Muñoz Muñoz
Muñoz built this armchair from galvanized steel ventilation pipes and elbow connectors found in his atelier, together with copper sheets taken from a metal junkyard. The curved ducts form both frame and arms, while the copper adds warmth to the industrial gray. Consequently, it is a collectible piece of upcycled furniture that turns building services into seating. Browse more armchairs.
€28.000 incl. tax
Riccardo Cenedella: transforming waste into functional art
Italian designer Riccardo Cenedella works with materials relegated to the waste stream. Inspired by the idea of the “bricoleur,” who builds with whatever is at hand, he developed low-tech processes during his studies at Central Saint Martins to turn discarded carpet and broken Murano glass into furniture, lamps and mirrors. Furthermore, as an educator, he encourages young designers to think critically about materiality and environmental impact.
Cenedella’s earlier pieces are no longer available on ADORNO. However, the idea behind his recycled glass mirrors, giving a precious material a second life, continues in the work below.
Mooncrater, Lunar Edition Mirror by Wanderart
Italian atelier Wanderart casts this mirror frame in 80% recycled bronze using the lost-wax technique. Its cratered surface draws on the spontaneous processes of land formation, so each frame looks geological rather than manufactured. In this way, recycled metal becomes a sculptural centerpiece for a hallway or living room. See more wall mirrors.
By Wanderart
€3.880 incl. tax
Ehécatl: revitalizing old window glass
Mexican studio Ehécatl built its practice around old window glass. Rather than sending discarded panes to be crushed, the studio reshapes them into lamps and pendants, so each piece carries the memory of the building it came from. Meanwhile, its forms, such as mushrooms and mother-of-pearl shells, draw on biophilic design and a close connection to nature.
Ehécatl’s lamps have since sold out on ADORNO. By contrast, the piece below shows how recycled glass is still finding its way into sculptural lighting.
Kalia Table Lamp in Glass and Resin by Justyna Poplawska
Justyna Poplawska casts Kalia from a composite of recycled glass grit, bio-based resin and pigment. When lit, the embedded glass particles shimmer through the translucent shell-like body. Notably, one face is matte and the other glossier, so the lamp changes as you move around it, a quiet echo of the recycled glass lamps that defined Ehécatl’s work.
€536 incl. tax
Samuel Aguirre: advocating for circular design
Samuel Aguirre belongs to a generation of designers who start with the life cycle of a material rather than its look. Through research into the origin, composition and afterlife of what he uses, he designs objects that can return to the system cleanly. His 03v07 chair, developed at the Rhode Island School of Design, was made from a paper composite, proving that waste paper can carry real structural loads.
Aguirre’s chair is no longer available. Even so, the potential of paper as a furniture material is growing, as our feature Paper Trail explores. The table below follows the same principle.
White Plinth Low Coffee Table in Paper Pulp and Cement by Donatas Žukauskas
Lithuanian sculptor Donatas Žukauskas binds recycled paper pulp and cardboard with organic cement to create a composite that looks like cast stone but weighs far less. He calls it the third life of wood. At about 19.7 x 19.7 x 19.7 inches (50 x 50 x 50 cm), the low table keeps the marks of its making on show, so every piece is one of a kind. Browse more coffee tables.
€1.300 incl. tax
More upcycled furniture to collect
Beyond these four designers, a growing number of studios are building with leftovers and recycled fibers. Here are two more pieces worth knowing.
Mono Grande Coffee Table in Terrazzo by Assimply Studio
Assimply Studio makes its terrazzo from leftover glass crystals collected from a crystal factory in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Because the waste varies from batch to batch, each tabletop has its own colorful pattern. The top rests on three solid cylindrical legs whose weight gives stability while keeping the silhouette light. Explore more tables.
€1.720 incl. tax
Le Banc — La Planche Collection by Olive®
Le Banc is made from Valchromat, a board produced from recycled wood fibers, and each sheet is used in full to avoid waste. Designed in Montpellier and made with local craftspeople in Sète, France, it is finished in a glossy pink lacquer. It measures about 23.6 inches high, 38 inches wide and 20.4 inches deep (60 x 96.4 x 51.9 cm). See more benches.
By Olive®
€725 incl. tax
How to choose upcycled furniture
Ask where the material comes from
The best makers are transparent about their sources. Look for a clear description of the waste stream, whether it is construction offcuts, factory leftovers or post-consumer paper. If the origin is vague, ask the designer directly.
Check build quality and stability
Upcycled does not mean fragile. Steel, bronze, terrazzo and dense fiber composites are as strong as new materials. Still, check weight, joinery and finishes on the product page, especially for seating and tables that will see daily use.
Think about care and longevity
Sealed paper composites, lacquered boards and metal frames usually need little more than a damp cloth. Nevertheless, keep pieces made with paper pulp away from standing water, and choose designs you will want to keep. After all, the most sustainable chair is the one you never replace.
Buy fewer, more meaningful pieces
One collectible upcycled piece often does more for a room, and for the planet, than several fast-furniture purchases. For more ideas, see our upcycling collection and our sustainable design selection.
Frequently asked questions
What is upcycling?
Upcycling is the process of turning discarded materials or objects into new products of higher quality or value. Unlike recycling, it usually keeps the material largely intact and transforms it creatively.
What does upcycling mean in furniture design?
In furniture, upcycling means building new pieces from waste, such as construction parts, glass, textile offcuts or paper, so the result is more useful or striking than the original material.
What is the difference between upcycling and recycling?
Recycling breaks materials down into raw form before remaking them, often at lower quality. Upcycling transforms materials with less processing and adds value along the way.
Is upcycled furniture durable?
Often, yes. Many upcycled pieces use steel, bronze, terrazzo or dense composites that perform as well as new materials. Always check the product details for materials and care.
What is circular design?
Circular design aims to keep materials in use for as long as possible by designing products that can be repaired, reused, upcycled or recycled instead of thrown away.
Who are some designers known for upcycling?
Lucas Muñoz, Riccardo Cenedella, Ehécatl and Samuel Aguirre are four sustainable designers known for upcycling construction materials, carpet and glass waste, old window glass and paper.
Why upcycling is the future of design
Upcycling is a powerful response to environmental challenges, and it also reshapes our relationship with the material world. Designers like Lucas Muñoz, Riccardo Cenedella, Ehécatl and Samuel Aguirre show that sustainability and creativity are not opposites but partners. In every discarded material lies the start of a new object, and every upcycled piece is a small step toward a more circular way of living.
