Love being creative but want to spend less money in a craft store? Turn your trash into treasure by giving it an upgrade. Repurposing and upcycling unused house items ensures that nothing goes to waste, and it's a great way to get creative or turn a regular afternoon into a family fun day of DIY. Here are some of our easy to do favourites.
Wooden Bowl Lamp
Give a wooden salad bowl a new lease of life, transform it into a pendent light.
- Use an electric drill to make a hole in the base of the bowl
- Gently sand the surface of the bowl (in the direction of the wood grain)
- Paint the bowl as desired (add a base coat too). Use a metallic finish paint on the inside of the bowl to help the light reflect
- Install the electric wire and bulb, and hang.
Dessert Pot Planters
Don’t throw away your used glass dessert jars, upcycle them into mini macramé hanging planters.
- Thoroughly clean and dry the glass jars
- Fill with pebbles (for drainage), and add soil
- Next plant your tiny houseplants and succulent plugs, and water
- Hang with knotted twine of your choice
Printed Pillows
Update tired bed linen with colourful patterns to give them a new lease of life.
- Lay flat your pillowcase and insert a piece of card where the pillow would go. This will stop the paint transferring through to the other side.
- Take a patterned stencil and use non-toxic fabric paint to add the design.
- Once dry, repeat the process on the other side of the pillowcase.
Key Rack
Turn an old wooden box picture frame into a key rack. Ideal for hanging dog leads and lanyards too.
- Paint the frame as desired with paint suitable for wood
- Once dry, screw in hooks deep into the frame
- Add patterned paper and/or decoration to the middle of the frame (in place of where the photo would usually be. Ensure it’s fixed in place with glue.
- Hang as desired, and hang up your keys
Corkboard Wall Art
Remember the old corkboards from the 90s? Turn them into contemporary wall art and pin boards.
- Cut the boards into hexagon shapes (or shapes of your choice).
- Mask sections of the cut outs that you do not wish to paint using tape
- Paint the relevant sections with colours of your choice (add patterns if you wish). Tester pots, or spray paint works well.
- Affix to the wall, display as you wish and pin on your photos and notes
For more upcycling and creative ideas, take a look at:
How To: Beginners Guide To Decoupage
How To: Make A Bird Feeder
How To: Upcycling Garden Ideas
How To: Upcycle Old Garden Pots