Repair may not always be a good thing. If it’s an item that, for example, consumes a lot of anything fossil fuel-based then unless it does have e.g. significant (even potential) historic value, then it might be better to just recycle it. This may be a hard thing to do. I know the problem, I really do, having a number of things which are of sentimental value but, in one case especially, don’t really justify the cost of (decades of!) storage.
The reduce, repair, recycle mantra is an easy one but misses out the also important ‘eliminate’ and ‘dispose’ options. Depending on the item or structure, there will be limits to what can be eliminated from the parts list. We also have to accept that sometimes, responsible disposal, even if it is in to landfill, may be the best option. That can be painful to admit and may come at the end of a long chain of other poor decisions, such as use of non-recyclable components or materials, possibly years or decades earlier, even before our ownership of the thing. Recycling is generally getting easier – batteries, bulbs and small electricals being collected at more places is great. The cuts in use of polystyrene for packaging are great too although there’s always still more to be done.
Which gets me to “upcycling”. If you have a busted up bit of furniture that nobody loves or wants anymore, that you choose to strip down, repair, paint in as off the wall colour scheme as you like, swap the knobs for sea shells and stick plastic seahorses on it, then fine. Really. If it’s what you want and it’s going to bring joy to your, or your children/grandchildren then great. Personally, and it is a personal opinion only, I really have trouble accepting doing that just for sale. Both on the sale and purchase side. It just feels like it takes the joy of creation away from the purchaser and the fun of ownership away from the maker (albeit in return for often quite a comforting amount of cash.)
Argue in the comments if you wish.