While virtually everyone is familiar with recycling, fewer people have heard of “upcycling.” Upcycling is the process of taking old goods and transforming them into functional products. Many families have started upcycling to create a range of useful things for their homes or gardens. Let’s look at five creative upcycling ideas for your home:
1. Building Shelves from Books
If you have a pile of old hardback books, you have the perfect building blocks for a useful shelf. Start by purchasing shelf brackets or hangers that will attach to a wall. Instead of using a wood shelf as a support structure, lie one of your hardwood books horizontally across the brackets.
2. Turning Clothes into Stuffed Animals
If you have old clothes or fabrics lying around your house, it’s easy to turn them into stuffed animals. Cut up the clothes and get creative with the sewing machine – what a fun activity to enjoy with your kids, too! You can also use old clothes as the stuffing for your new animal, but feel free to purchase prepackaged filler, too.
3. Turn Tools into Hooks
If you’re looking for a creative way to build hooks for a coat, hat, or umbrella, you can use old tools as hangers. An upside-down hammer is the perfect industrial-sized hook. Just attach it to your wall with a small bracket or screw.
4. Turn Books into a Knifeboard
If you’re looking for a knifeboard to store your kitchen knives, old books can do the trick. Take three or four hardback books and tie them together using a rope. You can then insert your knives in between the pages of the books, and they’ll stay securely in place.
Be sure to dry your knives thoroughly before you place them in your new knifeboard. Otherwise, the pages can begin to stick together.
5. Wood Hanging Shelves
If you can find a sturdy piece of wood, you can create a useful shelf for books, potted plants, and a variety of other items. Start by polishing the piece of wood and creating grooves at each end to tie ropes around. After tying a rope around each end of the shelf, you can hang the ropes from a support structure or a hook attached to your wall.
The wood will rest against your wall and provide plenty of support for a few books, picture frames, or potted plans. Just don’t overdo it.
Reduce Your Waste
While it may seem easier to purchase some of the items mentioned on this list, it’s essential to recognise the value of cutting down on waste. Our impact on our environment is becoming an increasingly hot topic around the world, and upcycling in your home is an excellent way to reduce your impact on the environment.
Contact a Tradesperson for Help with Your Next Upcycling Project
For upcycling projects that require a little more expertise, Top Tradespeople can connect you with expert tradespeople in your area.
