Repurposing or upcycling your clutter is a satisfying way to get creative, save money and give a new lease of life to items that you longer use.
Next time you go to throw out your bean can or you’re wondering what to do with all your old cake tins that you no longer need – it’s worth taking a moment to consider whether they could be used for something else. You might be surprised at what you come up with!
Methods of upcycling are becoming increasingly innovative and stylish – and are a great way to be kind to the planet. To help you get started, here are 10 clever upcycling ideas that will hopefully inspire you to get creative with your clutter…
Turn old jeans into a work apron
If you’ve got an old pair of jeans that you no longer wear, then you could turn them into a handy work apron. All you need is a pair of old jeans, some scissors and a needle and thread!
Turn an old stuffed toy into a door stop (pictured)
If your grandchildren (or you for that matter!) have stuffed toys that are no longer wanted or needed, then consider transforming one into a door stop. All you have to do is make a needle cut in the fabric, pull out the stuffing, fill it with something heavy like gravel or sand to make it weighted heavy – and then sew it back up!
Turn an old window into a piece of wall art
If you’ve recently had an old window replaced – or still happen to have one lying around from when you did – then you could give it a new lease of life by turning it into a piece of unique wall art.
Turn an old cable reel into a coffee table
This cute table will not only give you somewhere you enjoy your cake and coffee, it will also allow you to display and organise your books and plants in an interesting way. An added bonus is that it also spins!
Turn cake pans into a tiered organiser
Whether you’ve got too many cake pans, or yours are simply a bit worn out, they can easily be repurposed and used as a handy organiser. Whether you want to organise your cosmetics, herbs and spices, or random bits and bobs – your old cake tins could be the ultimate storage solution.
Give old wooden furniture a makeover
If you’ve got old wooden furniture that looks old and tired, or no longer matches your colour scheme, then rather than buying new furniture – why not just give your existing furniture a makeover? It’s really quite amazing how with a fresh coat of paint, some varnish and/or a new set of handles, something like a dresser, chest or drawers or wardrobe can look brand new.
Turn tin cans into pretty pots
If you’ve got green fingers and you’re keen to save money on plant pots, then why not consider keeping hold of some of your
old tin cans? In a few simple steps, an empty bean tin can become a pretty pot for your leafy companions. Consider hanging them in an arrangement on a wall or garden fence, using them as a table centrepiece – or even giving them as gifts to friends or family members.
Create your own blackboard
If you’ve got an old piece of wood knocking around that you no longer need, then why not create your own blackboard, where you can keep track of daily tasks and reminders? All you need is some chalkboard paint, a brush, and eventually some chalk! If you don’t have a piece of wood to spare, you can still create a blackboard on a wall in your home, using just the paint.
Turn bricks into planters
Plenty of us have a rogue brick or two lying around in the garden. If they’re sitting there unused, then you could consider using them as planters for your greenery. Simply scoop some soil into the brick holes and add in a few small succulents. Succulents typically have shallow roots which means they should still be able to thrive in their new home, even though the holes are fairly small.
Make coasters out of wine corks
Rather than throwing your wine corks away, consider holding on to them and making some decorative coasters for your coffee table. All you need is some strong glue and little creativity!
(Article source: Rest Less)
