A Great Interior Design Challenge Tennis Racket Upcycle

If you've been watching The Great Interior Design Challenge on BBC Two, you'll know that the upcycling task is often where the real personality comes out. Alongside the main room makeovers, contestants are handed something unpromising and asked to turn it into a piece worth keeping. It got us thinking about the old wooden tennis rackets gathering dust in our loft, and this great interior design challenge tennis racket upcycle is the result.

Searching for bbc2 tennis inspiration may bring up Wimbledon highlights, but we're firmly in the craft corner here. Wooden rackets have beautiful shapes, and with a little paint and patience they make witty mirrors, hooks and wall displays.

Why upcycle old tennis rackets?

Vintage wooden rackets turn up regularly at car boot sales, charity shops and in the backs of family cupboards. Their teardrop heads and laminated frames are genuinely handsome, and they carry a nostalgic, summery feel that suits a hallway, a child's bedroom or a garden room.

Upcycling them is also a good beginner project. You don't need specialist tools, the materials are inexpensive, and if one racket goes wrong there's usually another in the pile.

The best upcycling projects keep the character of the original object and simply give it a new job to do.

Our great interior design challenge tennis racket upcycle: a mirror

Our favourite idea is to replace the strings with a round mirror, so the racket head becomes a frame. Here's how we did it.

1. Remove the strings. Cut them carefully with sharp scissors or a craft knife, then pull out the remaining lengths from the holes.
2. Clean and sand. Wipe away dust and grime, then lightly sand the frame to give the paint something to grip.
3. Measure the opening. Trace the inside of the head onto paper to make a template.
4. Get a mirror cut. Take the template to a local glazier and ask for a mirror cut to fit, ideally with smoothed edges.
5. Paint the frame. Use a primer and then a bold colour. We went for bright orange and sunny yellow on alternating rackets.
6. Fix the mirror. Attach it to the back of the frame with a strong mirror adhesive and leave it to cure fully.
7. Hang securely. Fit a sturdy picture hook or D-ring to the handle and frame, and use a wall fixing suited to the weight.

More bbc 2 tennis-inspired ideas

A mirror isn't the only option. Once you start looking at rackets as raw material, the possibilities multiply.

• A gallery wall: hang several painted rackets together in graduated colours for a playful display.
• Jewellery holder: keep the strings and use them to hang earrings, or hook necklaces over the frame.
• Coat hooks: mount a row of shortened handles on a painted board as an entrance-hall peg rail.
• Memo board: weave ribbon through the strings and tuck postcards and notes behind it.

Tips for a professional finish

The difference between a charming upcycle and a slightly sad one is usually in the preparation. Take time over sanding, especially around the string holes, and apply thin coats of paint rather than one heavy layer. If the racket has a manufacturer's logo or a worn leather grip, consider leaving it unpainted; those details are part of the appeal.

Colour matters too. Strong, cheerful shades suit the sporty origins of the piece, but a muted heritage tone can look sophisticated in a calmer room. If you have leftover paint from a recent project, such as our Little Greene paint colours, this is a perfect way to use it up.

Bringing upcycling into your home

Shows like The Great Interior Design Challenge are a reminder that good interiors aren't only about buying new. A characterful, homemade piece often becomes the thing guests ask about. If you're in the mood for more hands-on projects, our renovation diary includes one partially failed DIY that taught us a lot.

So raid the loft, visit the charity shop and give an old racket a second life. It's game, set and match for the wall.

Questions readers ask

How do you turn a tennis racket into a mirror?

Remove the strings, sand and paint the frame, have a glazier cut a mirror to fit the head, then fix it to the back with mirror adhesive and hang it securely.

Did The Great Interior Design Challenge include upcycling?

Yes. Alongside the main room makeovers, the BBC Two series gave contestants smaller upcycling tasks, turning unpromising objects into new pieces.

What paint should I use on a wooden tennis racket?

Lightly sand the frame, apply a primer and then use thin coats of a durable paint suitable for wood. Leftover emulsion or eggshell from home projects works well for decorative pieces.