Do you find it hard to throw things away because they have special memories? Or do you like the idea of reusing things to create less waste? Repurposing your household items that no longer serve you is a great way to kill two birds with one stone, or as I like to say, achieve two goals with one go.
Ultimately, you may need to let go of some items from your home. However, here are a few ways to give certain items a second life before you give or throw them away.
Wine bottles can be used for several purposes, including being turned into vases or similar décor items. You can turn wine or beer bottles into drinking glasses if you’re incredibly crafty.
Plenty of DIY projects exist to upcycle empty glass bottles; what you choose to do with them will depend on your craftiness and personal taste.
Empty Egg Cartons
Easter is over, but you can still upcycle the egg cartons you’ve been collecting and swearing to yourself you’ll find a use for. They may not be an aesthetic decoration, but egg cartons can be easily repurposed.
Use them to store your ornaments and keep them from getting smashed in storage, or start seeds growing inside each little compartment.
Broken Mugs or Cups
Have no fear if you have a cup or mug that you love or was gifted to you but has been cracked or can no longer be used for its intended purpose.
You can give new life to a broken mug in a few ways, as long as the crack isn’t too big. One idea would be to make a candle inside the mug or turn it into a terrarium or plant pot. You could also use a cup or mug as a pencil holder.
Empty Shampoo Bottles
Shampoo, soap, and other beauty product bottles can easily be used several times so long as they are adequately cleaned and dried. If you’re learning to make your bath and body products, you can wash them out and refill them with your concoction.
Some stores even sell bulk products like soap or laundry detergent and offer discounts if you bring your own bottle.
Old Food Containers
There are some containers you might get food delivery in that can be reused for their intended purpose: storing food. However, other plastic food containers aren’t going to hold up to another use, especially if they’ve been microwaved.
Instead, turn old plastic containers into planters or compost. You could also use an old Tupperware container as a drawer organizer if it is still in good shape.
Used Toothbrushes
Once a toothbrush has served its time, it could be sanitized and used to clean small areas, such as window sills, grout, or nooks and crannies.
Some people use old toothbrushes to clean their computer keyboards or even remove dust from their vehicles’ hard-to-reach areas.
Old Bath Towels & Flannels
Need some new rags? Before you head to the store, check out your linen closet and see if there are old bath towels that you’re no longer using.
Not only can this give a new life to an old towel, but it can also reduce your disposable paper towel use.
Toilet Paper Rolls
You might have done crafts with old toilet paper rolls when you were a kid. If you’re not feeling like undertaking a craft project, don’t worry. You can still find a good use for your collection of toilet paper rolls.
There are other uses for these cardboard rolls besides crafts, such as seed starters, bird feeders, and fire starter material.
Old Blankets or Fabric Scraps
Depending on how crafty you are, old fabric or blankets can be used for numerous purposes. They can be used as animal bedding, turned into rags for cleaning, or turned into tote bags, headbands, or dog toys.
Blankets that no longer serve you in your home could also be stored in the car for emergencies. Some animal shelters also take donations of old blankets or fabric.
Empty Tissue Boxes
My favorite use for old tissue boxes is storing plastic bags under the sinks in my home, making it easy to grab just one when I need it.
Tissue boxes could also store and organize small items like pens or jewelry. If you’re worried about the appearance, you can hide it out of sight or decorate it.
Plastic Grocery Bags
Some people switch to reusable grocery bags to avoid collecting or wasting plastic grocery bags. While this is an excellent choice for some, it doesn’t work for everyone.
So, the question remains—how can you use the plastic grocery bags you’ve been collecting? Instead of buying trash bags for your small cans, reuse the plastic bags you already have. Or consider using them to pack or protect items for shipping purposes.
Old Furniture
Do you have a piece of furniture that’s falling apart, but you can’t let it go? There are a few ways you can give your furniture a second life.
Consider adding legs to a door and turning it into a table. Doors, ladders, and mirrors can be cleaned or painted and turned into garden décor. Drawers that are falling apart can become planter boxes or be used for storage.
Turn Items Into a Garden or Patio Planter
Instead of buying an expensive pot from the store, you may have several items that could be turned into a planter for your backyard or patio garden. An empty coffee can is perfect for planting something in, and you can decorate it however you’d like.
Another idea for an upcycled planter is to use an old boot. It might seem silly, but what else will you do with an unwearable boot? It’s worth trying, especially if you have a funky decorating style in your home or yard.
Creations You Can Make From Cardboard
Cardboards can be reused in several ways, from turning a cereal box into a magazine holder to making a playhouse or ship for kids. Of course, certain types of cardboard are sturdier than others, so what can be made out of cardboard will vary based on what kind of cardboard you have on hand.
Things You Can Create Out of Old Jeans
Do you have a bunch of jeans that no longer fit you? Or perhaps you’re done having children, and your kids have grown out of their old denim outfits. Whatever the case, you can upcycle denim in several ways by turning the fabric into organizers, dog toys, quilts, or even handbags.
Upcycling old denim requires some patience, but the ideas are all there. If you’re unsure where to start, search the internet for DIY projects using old jeans.
Skip the Store-Bought Wall Art: Use Broken Plates
A beautiful technique to bring new life to broken things is Kintsugi. Also known as a repair method, Kintsugi is used to fix broken dishes or pottery using glue, typically a Japanese lacquer known as urushi. The shattered pieces are then painted or decorated with silver or gold powder, making them “new” again and able to be displayed.
If you have an old plate or piece of pottery that has broken or cracked and can’t let go of it, this may be an ideal option. You can put it on display once it has been put back together and painted.
What to Do With an Old Window or Shutters
Have you been holding onto your old window frames since your windows were replaced? Or have you seen someone offering old shutters online and wondered if you could turn them into something useful?
There are plenty of upcycled creations that can be made with an old window or shutters, such as turning them into a notice board where you can hang notes, photos, and even mementos. You can also use old shutters as a statement piece in your garden.
Use Ice Cube Trays for Storage
Plastic storage containers are expensive, especially when you buy a bunch of them, only to bring them home and realize they don’t fit the intended use. You may even have a wide variety of storage containers you’re not using and have forgotten about.
When organizing your junk drawer, consider using an ice cube tray instead of buying another set of expensive organizers. Ice cube trays are the ideal size, with plenty of compartments for little doodads.
Plastic Bottles Make Great Seed Starters
Interested in starting a small herb garden on your patio or inside your home? Old plastic bottles can be your friend in the seed-starting process. Some people cut the bottom off and create a greenhouse effect by putting the bottle over the seed. This will allow you to monitor the growth of your seed and see how moist the soil is.
Plastic bottles can also make candlestick holders, garden planters, accent light décor, and more.
Use Shipping Pallets in Your Garden
When you see old pallets listed on Craigslist for free or by the side of the road, are you tempted to pick them up despite not having a concrete idea of how to use them? Pallets can be used for many DIY and home improvement projects, including a bathroom organizer, coffee table, or coat rack.
Be sure to research how to properly care for a pallet, especially if you get it from an unknown source. I typically store items like this outside until I can properly clean them.
Look No Further for Your New Décor
Whether you’re looking for one new thing to spruce up your home or completely re-do your décor theme, old, unused materials are a great place to start. Often, the items you have lying around look more like trash than décor. This is where a creative mind comes into play.
A few examples of materials that could be used for décor include vintage wood balusters (spindles at the end of a staircase), radiator screens, old pieces of lattice or strips of wood, the feet from a clawfoot tub, and even old dresser drawers which can be turned into display shelves.
Re-Purpose Old Fabric Into Something New
Whether you are a professional seamstress or have never dabbled in sewing, fabric is one of the easiest things to upcycle. If you’ve got a bunch of old curtains you’re no longer using, they may be begging to be turned into something new.
For example, curtains could be turned into a seat covering for an old chair you’re fixing up. Likewise, old t-shirts or other cloth
