Craft: 19 Thrifty Ideas to Upcycle and Repurpose Items in Your Home
Rather than throwing away these items, get creative and turn them into something practical and original
Repurposing and upcycling are thrifty ways to enhance the look and character of your home. By using materials you already have, or by raiding your local second hand shop, you are also helping the environment by cutting down on the manufacturing of disposable goods, heavy transport needs and potential landfill. Yep, that’s right, by getting your DIY on and re-using items lying around your home and backyard, you can actually have a beneficial impact on your home, your bank balance and the environment.
Cast you eyes downwards and get inspired by the unique repurposing ideas below. Old doors, newspapers, packing crates and even empty tomato tins can transform your home into a creatively repurposed haven.
Cast you eyes downwards and get inspired by the unique repurposing ideas below. Old doors, newspapers, packing crates and even empty tomato tins can transform your home into a creatively repurposed haven.
Repurpose a window frame as a decorative feature
Arched glass doors and windows can make beautiful features in your home. This dressing table is perfectly offset by the window beyond. This really is repurposing at its most simple and effective. The stunning window when placed against the plain wall adds a sense of depth and visual interest to the space.
Arched glass doors and windows can make beautiful features in your home. This dressing table is perfectly offset by the window beyond. This really is repurposing at its most simple and effective. The stunning window when placed against the plain wall adds a sense of depth and visual interest to the space.
Turn newspaper into wallpaper
Use old newspapers as a fun alternative to traditional wallpaper. The owners of the gorgeous bathroom pictured here used a batch of old 1950s newspapers that they found under the lino flooring when renovating their home. The creative pair also repurposed a sideboard and turned it into an attractive vanity unit for their bathroom space.
See 11 different ways with wallpaper
Use old newspapers as a fun alternative to traditional wallpaper. The owners of the gorgeous bathroom pictured here used a batch of old 1950s newspapers that they found under the lino flooring when renovating their home. The creative pair also repurposed a sideboard and turned it into an attractive vanity unit for their bathroom space.
See 11 different ways with wallpaper
Build a wall with boxes
Use wooden fruit boxes and packing crates to make a feature wall with the added benefit of convenient in-built shelving. Painting the boxes all the same colour, too, can make for an attractive and useful display wall.
Use wooden fruit boxes and packing crates to make a feature wall with the added benefit of convenient in-built shelving. Painting the boxes all the same colour, too, can make for an attractive and useful display wall.
Make corks into a bath mat
Instead of throwing out all those bottle corks at the end of an evening with friends – turn them into a handy bathroom mat as this homeowner has done. As cork is resistant to water, it makes for a practical addition to the bathroom. The cork’s neutral colour also means that it will blend in well with most colour schemes.
Instead of throwing out all those bottle corks at the end of an evening with friends – turn them into a handy bathroom mat as this homeowner has done. As cork is resistant to water, it makes for a practical addition to the bathroom. The cork’s neutral colour also means that it will blend in well with most colour schemes.
Upcycle wine bottles into hanging art
So, now that we know what to do with all the leftover wine corks – what about all of those bottles? Wine bottles are ideal for displaying flowers in, or use them to keep a supply of water cool in the fridge. You can even turn your empty wine bottles into a chandelier-style feature, as pictured here. I love the shutter door on the ceiling the bottles all hang from on string – it’s a simple and effective dining room feature.
So, now that we know what to do with all the leftover wine corks – what about all of those bottles? Wine bottles are ideal for displaying flowers in, or use them to keep a supply of water cool in the fridge. You can even turn your empty wine bottles into a chandelier-style feature, as pictured here. I love the shutter door on the ceiling the bottles all hang from on string – it’s a simple and effective dining room feature.
Use suitcases as a bedside table
Stacked vintage suitcases make a great bedside table that doubles as a source of bedroom storage. Old suitcases can store winter jumpers, blankets or keepsakes. Pop in some drawer liners and add sachets of sweetly-scented dried lavender if the suitcases are second hand or have seen better days.
Stacked vintage suitcases make a great bedside table that doubles as a source of bedroom storage. Old suitcases can store winter jumpers, blankets or keepsakes. Pop in some drawer liners and add sachets of sweetly-scented dried lavender if the suitcases are second hand or have seen better days.
If you are not a fan of a salvaged suitcase’s colour, or if it doesn’t match a room’s colour palette – treat it to a lick of paint. Old suitcases and travel trunks can have a completely different effect when painted. If you are planing to use a stack as a bedside table, make sure you select a case with a flat surface for the top.
Repurpose household ladders for storage and display
An old wooden ladder attached to the kitchen ceiling is a great place to hang cumbersome pots and pans. By hanging larger kitchen wares overhead on S-hooks means that everything is in reaching distance and you can enjoy the benefit of having more kitchen storage below. Hanging a few pot plants provides an attractive touch.
An old wooden ladder attached to the kitchen ceiling is a great place to hang cumbersome pots and pans. By hanging larger kitchen wares overhead on S-hooks means that everything is in reaching distance and you can enjoy the benefit of having more kitchen storage below. Hanging a few pot plants provides an attractive touch.
Positioning a ladder horizontally in the laundry makes for an ideal indoor drying rack for clothes on hangers when wet weather is a problem.
When propped against a wall a ladder is perfect for displaying reading material in the living room, or for holding towels in the bathroom. I use an old ladder I found at the local markets as a way to hold and display my ever-growing collection of scarves and belts. Also pictured here is a simple wooden pallet that is used as a coffee table. By giving the pallet a coat of paint and attaching a few wheels to the bottom corners, you have a stylish portable coffee table.
Fashion pallets into a vertical garden
Wooden pallets are pretty easy to come by and are incredibly versatile when it comes to repurposing them for other uses. Due to their shape and open nature, pallets are a great place to display plants indoors and out. Create a hanging garden inside by cutting pallets in half, adding a coat of waterproof/plant-friendly paint and then fill with hanging plants.
Wooden pallets are pretty easy to come by and are incredibly versatile when it comes to repurposing them for other uses. Due to their shape and open nature, pallets are a great place to display plants indoors and out. Create a hanging garden inside by cutting pallets in half, adding a coat of waterproof/plant-friendly paint and then fill with hanging plants.
Turn glass jars into a vase
Re-use glass jars as drinking glasses or as vases to display flowers. After using up the contents of a jar, soak in warm soapy water to enable the label to come off before rinsing well and setting aside to dry and re-use. I like to give my jars a run through the dishwasher as well so they come up looking sparkling clean. Jam jars make great glasses. Larger jars, such as pickle and olive jars, are great for displaying flowers.
Re-use glass jars as drinking glasses or as vases to display flowers. After using up the contents of a jar, soak in warm soapy water to enable the label to come off before rinsing well and setting aside to dry and re-use. I like to give my jars a run through the dishwasher as well so they come up looking sparkling clean. Jam jars make great glasses. Larger jars, such as pickle and olive jars, are great for displaying flowers.
Transform a fishing net into a lighting feature
Who would have thought that old fishing nets would make such attractive light features? Craft your own by picking up a lighting kit from your local hardware store and use wire to support the net and create your desired form. Lighting elements can be tricky – so remember safety first! Make sure you don’t have the netting too close to the bulb, and when in doubt always seek the advice of a lighting professional.
Who would have thought that old fishing nets would make such attractive light features? Craft your own by picking up a lighting kit from your local hardware store and use wire to support the net and create your desired form. Lighting elements can be tricky – so remember safety first! Make sure you don’t have the netting too close to the bulb, and when in doubt always seek the advice of a lighting professional.
Use old cans as planters
Hold off throwing used cans into the recycling bin as they make excellent planters. Smaller ones are a great holder for seedlings or for striking plants. Larger cans (such as those that hold litres of olive oil) can be used as long-term planters as long as you punch a few holes in the bottom for drainage. Leaving the labels on the cans (particularly if they look cute!) can add a bit more colour and personality to your garden as well.
Hold off throwing used cans into the recycling bin as they make excellent planters. Smaller ones are a great holder for seedlings or for striking plants. Larger cans (such as those that hold litres of olive oil) can be used as long-term planters as long as you punch a few holes in the bottom for drainage. Leaving the labels on the cans (particularly if they look cute!) can add a bit more colour and personality to your garden as well.
Make a chalkboard from a picture frame
Turn old picture frames into chalkboards with a bit of easy DIY. Chalkboards are easy to make and look great when placed under a sheltered outdoor area or inside. When placed in the kitchen, they are a great place to write messages or grocery lists.
See how to make your own chalkboard
Turn old picture frames into chalkboards with a bit of easy DIY. Chalkboards are easy to make and look great when placed under a sheltered outdoor area or inside. When placed in the kitchen, they are a great place to write messages or grocery lists.
See how to make your own chalkboard
Decorate with used timber
Give old lengths of wood a new lease on life by finding way to recycle them into your home. Different colours and worn paint can add interest and texture to a humble kitchen wall, as pictured here. Previously painted panels in a variety of tones and colours also work wonderfully when repurposed into furniture such as deck chairs and tabletops.
Give old lengths of wood a new lease on life by finding way to recycle them into your home. Different colours and worn paint can add interest and texture to a humble kitchen wall, as pictured here. Previously painted panels in a variety of tones and colours also work wonderfully when repurposed into furniture such as deck chairs and tabletops.
Use a papasan chair as a garden bed
If you are bit over your papasan chair, instead of throwing it out reinvent it as an outdoor planter. Line the base of the chair with chicken wire and cover with plastic. Poke a few holes for drainage (for outside arrangements, of course), fill with soil and plant away! A mixture of succulents or herbs can look amazing.
If you are bit over your papasan chair, instead of throwing it out reinvent it as an outdoor planter. Line the base of the chair with chicken wire and cover with plastic. Poke a few holes for drainage (for outside arrangements, of course), fill with soil and plant away! A mixture of succulents or herbs can look amazing.
Make a wall from door frames
Turn old doors into an eye- catching outdoor wall. Stacking the doors horizontally provides a unique feature wall that is guaranteed to be a talking point when friends drop by.
Turn old doors into an eye- catching outdoor wall. Stacking the doors horizontally provides a unique feature wall that is guaranteed to be a talking point when friends drop by.
Organise with mismatched drawers
Old drawers can be used for anything from a quirky kitchen worktop organiser to floating shelving when fixed to a wall. If you have an open bookcase, a mixture of different-sized and coloured drawers can be used for storage instead of wicker baskets or boxes.
Old drawers can be used for anything from a quirky kitchen worktop organiser to floating shelving when fixed to a wall. If you have an open bookcase, a mixture of different-sized and coloured drawers can be used for storage instead of wicker baskets or boxes.
Turn a portable barbecue into a planter
Reinvent a derelict barbecue or metal grill into a sturdy outdoor planter. Natural rust looks lovely beside green plantings and blooms.
Reinvent a derelict barbecue or metal grill into a sturdy outdoor planter. Natural rust looks lovely beside green plantings and blooms.
Transform a fence paling into an artful rack
An old fence paling can become kitchen storage for your pots and pans. Fence palings can also look stunning when attached to an outdoor wall and paired with climbing plants.
TELL US…
How have you upcycled anything to create a practical solution or furnishings for your home? Tell us about it in the Comments below.
An old fence paling can become kitchen storage for your pots and pans. Fence palings can also look stunning when attached to an outdoor wall and paired with climbing plants.
TELL US…
How have you upcycled anything to create a practical solution or furnishings for your home? Tell us about it in the Comments below.
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This is an easy and instant headboard idea. The gap in the pallets are great for hanging things off as well. Try a string of fairy lights or miniature lanterns for a special touch. Weaving coloured fabric strips through the openings can also give them personality.