Think before you throw – Upcycle your home

If you are thinking of re-decorating or restyling your home, then you will also have thought about how you are going to pay for it. Like anything, interior design can cost as much or as little as you want it to – and that is where upcycling comes in. Upcycling is when you make something pre-used into something better, either by simply changing its’ function (using a banana box as a lamp stand) or by re-moulding it completely (making wire coat hangers into a picture frame). Here are some ideas which you can use as inspiration for your home:

Bath tubs

You can use your old bathroom to refit your new living room. Cutting the bath tubs up will take a bit of doing, but once they’re fitted out with some comfy cushions, they make great sofas:

Source: http://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uuuploads/creative-diy-repurposing-reusing-upcycling/creative-diy-repurposing-reusing-upcycling-19-1.jpg

If you want to know how make an up-cycled sofa, or want some other bathtub up-cycling ideas, visit blisstree.com.

Step ladders

Whether they are wooden or metal, step ladders can be used in two ways – you can turn them on their side, nail them to the wall and use them as bookshelves, or you can simply stand them up in the bathroom and use them as a towel rail. Roll up the towels for a spa-like look, and consider painting the ladder a bright colour.

Source: http://media.scraphacker.com/2012/06/ladder-DIY-special.jpeg

Scraphacker.com have put together a post dedicated to giving step ladders a new lease of life view the full post here.

Gift Cards, Credit Cards, and Other Cards

At some point, we’ve all wanted to cut up our cards – and many of us have achieved that dream. But before you get scissor happy with your old cards, why not get creative and up-cycle your old cards:

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From business cards you can create lampshades and Christmas decorations, you can create gift tags and bags from playing cards and finally from credit cards you can create picture frames and glue spreaders.

Wooden crates and boxes

You need to be a bit handy to do this, but any good quality wooden boxes can be made into allsorts. Take a look at this rustic crate table:

Source: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bG0IBRFApDk/UD4Vrll4SYI/AAAAAAAAGwk/LWNHR-FyVwY/s1600/cra.jpg

Michelle Kenneth has put together a feature on up-cycling wooden crates, she has some great ideas including shelves and a chaise lounge. You can find even more inspiration for old crates and boxes on Pinterest.

Luggage

Luxury travel items like leather suitcases make cool, kooky chairs. You need four ‘legs’ (think of the bed frame again), and some very comfy cushions – then you’ll have a chair that looks stunning in the corner of a room or in a hallway.

Source: http://diyready.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/chair.jpg

The guys at DIY Ready have put together 7 DIY Ways to Upcycle Vintage Suitcases which includes coffee tables, bedside tables and chalkboards some of which have How To’s.

Let there be light

Why would you ever chuck out old light bulbs when they can be used as part of a candle holder? They are great at reflecting light and add something different into a room.

Source: http://greencompanyeffect.com/useruploads/images/candle.jpg

Dishfunctional Designs provide great inspiration with their post on up-cycling lightbulbs with ideas like hanging vases, light bulbs and hot air balloons!