Five Cool Items to Repurpose

Stop filling landfills with your stuff! Stop giving away your things! And avoid wasting money buying new items! Save yourself a trip to the store! Repurpose, repurpose, repurpose!

Don’t throw that out!

There are many household items that are no longer wanted or needed because they stopped serving their original purpose. Most people simply donate or toss those items. But guess what? With just a little redesign or sprucing up, many items can be reused in brand new ways.

Here are five examples of cool items to repurpose. We hope it inspires you to look around and see what time-honored treasures you can bring back to life!

1. ANTIQUE RADIO CABINET: Transform a non-functioning wooden radio cabinet into a bookshelf. Radio cabinets are the perfect height for a book/display shelf. Simply remove all the radio/speaker parts. Also remove the doors, if desired, to create open storage. Sand down the cabinet. Next, add shelving by drilling holes using pegs as support. Now you’re ready to add wood trim. Then, prime and paint the bookshelf your favorite stain/color. (Tip: For decorative purposes, add wallpaper or tin to the visible backing of the cabinet.)
2. MISMATCHED CHINA: Turn old unwanted China into cake stands. Gather three plates (be creative with patterns) and build your three-tiered cake stand. Note that the hardware is sold on Amazon or in craft stores. Mark the center of each plate with a pen. Wearing safety goggles, drill a hole in the center of the plate. (Tip: Use masking tape to help stabilize the hole when drilling. Also use the appropriate drill bit.) When done drilling, remove tape and carefully insert the hardware (handles, screws, washers, etc.) and tighten with a screwdriver. (Tip: Some plates are easier than others to drill, so do not use expensive China.)
3. EMPTY WINE BOTTLES: Turn empty glass wine bottles into attractive lighting fixtures. Using clean bottles, carefully drill a small hole toward the base of each one. (Tip: Wear safety goggles and use moldable plastic like InstaMorph when drilling the hole. Click here to learn more.) Thread a string of battery-run twinkly fairy lights (small, bright lights on a flexible wire) through each hole, keeping the battery pack outside the bottle. Battery powered lights allow the wine bottle fixtures to decorate any space. (Tip: fairy lights are available on Amazon or at discount stores like TJ Maxx.)
4. HOLIDAY SWEATERS: Transform old holiday-themed sweaters into festive pillows. To make one, turn the sweater inside out and sew the bottom shut. Then turn it right side out. Stuff a pillow insert into the neck hole. Tie the arms behind the back. Stitch the neck hole shut. (Tip: A festive idea for Christmas using an old holiday sweater!)
5. VINTAGE PHOTO FRAMES: Turn old photo frames into jewelry holders with this no-drill project. Simply remove the glass. Then glue or tape a black velvet background to the inside. Attach small attractive adhesive hooks on the velvet backing to hold the jewelry. Hang on the wall or stand upright. (Tip: These make great gifts.)

Show off your goods!

Repurposing household goods pushes the limits of the imagination. Why not showcase your crafty talents by turning old stuff into something useful and worthy? Projects like these five cool items to repurpose show that unused or unwanted items around the home can be brilliantly redesigned for greater good. Not only are repurposed things environmentally beneficial by preventing the buildup of unwanted goods in landfills, but they are also clever money-savers.

For more great ideas on repurposing goods, visit Bored Panda.