Creative Ways to Upcycle Your Household Junk
For most of us, the junk drawer (or, in some cases, the entire junk room) is an inescapable part of the home. These hidden spaces are magnets for those odds and ends that don’t have anywhere else to go. Whether it’s socks with no matches, receipts you’ll never look at again, or broken things barely worth fixing, the clutter adds up fast.
You may only see two options for all that stuff: throw it away or let it continue gathering dust. But, with some creative upcycling, you can turn those seemingly useless items into something new while reducing waste at the same time.
Let’s look at some simple and eco-friendly ideas to turn your trash into treasures.
Sheet or Fabric Curtains
If you have old sheets or fabric that you don’t know what to do with, make your own curtains. This easy upcycle creates a truly one-of-a-kind product that you can use in bathrooms, bedrooms, living rooms, or just about anywhere else in your home. Start by measuring how long you want your curtains to be. You can use a measuring tape or take a curtain you already have as a guide and mark where to cut.
You’ll need extra inches at the top and bottom for hems, plus room for the curtain rod pocket. If you’ll be using a full sheet, simply fold down the fabric as needed and stitch the hems. For fabric scraps, sew them together first to get the right length, then finish with hems. If you don’t sew, fabric glue can also work for hems.
Plastic Bottle Planters
Plastic water bottles are often tossed into the recycling, but they make perfect planters with a bit of upcycling. Clean a few bottles and cut them to your desired height. For succulent planters or herb pots, cutting them in half typically gives you an ideal size. Use a pushpin to poke drainage holes into the bottom, then fill each about halfway with soil.
Add seeds or plant trimmings, and water them lightly. If you’re feeling extra creative and want to create more of a decorative piece, paint them, decoupage them with paper or fabric scraps, or wrap them in washi tape. Set your new planters on a windowsill or balcony, or punch holes and add string to hang them.
Paper Scrap Coasters
For magazines, receipts, or other bits of paper (discarded wrapping paper works especially well), you can DIY a set of drink coasters. Cut the paper into strips, then use a thin stick or pencil to tightly roll each strip into a tube. Glue the strips together to form a circular coaster that’s around 3 to 4 inches wide, adding extra glue as you go to prevent unraveling.
Let the glue dry completely, then seal the coasters by applying Mod Podge. You may need to seal them multiple times so they’ll hold up under a lot of moisture. If you want to make them extra durable, cut pieces of cardstock and attach them to the back with glue.
Keep Your Efforts Eco-Friendly
As you sort through your junk looking for things to repurpose, you’ll likely find some items that just can’t be reused. To keep your decluttering sustainable, make sure to use sustainable waste disposal solutions to responsibly get rid of these materials. No matter how much you upcycle, tossing truly unusable stuff the wrong way can undo all the good you’re doing.
Conclusion
These upcycles cut down waste by repurposing items you already have, transforming trash into one-of-a-kind, useful pieces that keep your space tidy and eco-friendly. So next time you come across something random at home, don’t see it as trash—see it as your next creative project.
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