Everyone has a lot of things at home that apparently are no longer usable. But don't throw everything in the trash straight away, maybe you can make something out of it. Creating something new and beautiful from old things not only saves you money but also encourages your creativity. We're talking about upcycling, which is currently very trendy. Regardless of whether they are made from corks, car tires or old plastic or glass bottles - these leftovers that arise every day can still be used. Even if your craft skills aren't that great or you simply don't have the time, there are still plenty of suitable projects you could try. In this article we have put together some of the best and simplest upcycling ideas for you. Let your gaze wander through your apartment and let yourself be inspired!
Even from the seemingly most useless waste, many people create beautiful and practical thingsThings that can be perfectly integrated into everyday life. Tables made from old pallets, flower pots made from tires and even dresses made from old trousers - the possibilities are endless and your imagination knows no bounds. Upcycling means taking responsibility for what has already been produced. This is about an attitude to life.
Sofa tray made of wooden boards
Simply write 3 wooden boards together and this practical armrest shelf for your sofa is ready. Add a glass of good wine and the evening is saved.
If you have a large garden with lots of trees and have some time to spare for crafting, this suspended branch clothes rail is perfect for you! It is one of the easiest and fastestUpcycling ideasat all and is a real eye-catcher in every bedroom. Of course, you could also mount the whole thing in the kitchen, add small hooks and hang your pots, pans or other kitchen accessories on it.
For more storage space
Do you have a few old ladders in your garage that are just collecting dust? Why not convert this into additional storage space? Think about how many shelves you still need and cut the rungs of the ladder accordingly.
Wall shelves made from old suitcases
You can transform beautiful, old vintage suitcases into an incredible number of things - seats, tables and even practical shelves. They will be the highlight in your room and fit perfectly into an apartment furnished in a country house style. To do this, carefully and cleanly cut off the fronts and attach them to the wall.
Make your own from pallets
A lot of beautiful things can be built from pallets - from sofas to coffee tables to herb gardens. An easy way toto be able to reuse old pallets, is to make a headboard for the bed out of it. This upcycling idea is also ideal for somewhat inexperienced craftsmen. All you have to do is sand the rough edges well and place it behind your bed. A few delicate fairy lights transform the room into a real oasis of well-being.
Upcycling ideas with shoe boxes
Who doesn't have them - the many shoe boxes that are just lying around in the basement or garage? If you have an empty wall that you want to freshen up and decorate in some way, then they are perfect for that! Organize a craft session with your family and paint them however you like! Another and even simpler option would be to cover the shoe boxes with colorful wrapping paper. It looks incredibly stylish and adds a personal touch to any room.
With cans
You often wonder about the many mountains of plastic waste in your home and keep asking yourself whether you can't do something with it? For example, empty cans do not have to be thrown away immediately. An incredible number of household items can be made from them - from lanterns to cutlery holders to small flower pots for the garden.
Lanterns made from old cans – DIY instructions
For crafting you will need:
- The canned food
- felt-tip pen
- Nail and hammer
- Spray paint or varnish
- Tealights
- Decorative material
- Remove the label and any remaining glue from the can. The easiest way to do this is under warm water.
- Prepare the tin for freezing - this will prevent it from deforming once you start hammering. Fill the can 3/4 full with sand (prevents bulging when frozen). Add water and leave the can in the freezer for 3-4 hours.
- Think of a motif or pattern that the holes should show. Use a pen to mark the respective points on the can or draw lines on which you will later distribute the holes.
- Use a hammer to carefully punch the holes in the can. It's better to do this slowly and carefully so that you don't slip and injure yourself.
- Spray the can with colored varnish or acrylic paint. If you use spray paint, we recommend applying it to an open window. Or if you have onegarden or a balconyhave – go straight outside. Wait until the paint dries completely before decorating.
- Last but not least, you can give your new lanterns an even more individual touch by decorating them with various decorative elements. Whether small flowers, hearts or a wide fabric bow – let your creativity run wild!
Interesting craft ideas with corks
You can do a lot with corks and that's why it's worth collecting them and not throwing them away. Especially after various festivals and larger parties, it may be that a lot has accumulated and that's exactly when you can start crafting! Since cork is easy to cut, you can use it to make really beautiful and unique keychains. They are lightweight yet large enough to quickly fish out in your bag.
The rustic look of the corks is perfect for table decorations. For example, if you are fora celebration in your gardenIf you still need place card holders, the brown natural material is ideal and can be easily adapted to the rest of the decoration.
Shopping bags made from t-shirtscraft
Do you still have your favorite T-shirts lying around in your closet that are completely faded or even torn and you still don't want to throw them away? Then we have good news for you – they are perfect for a beautiful and practical shopping bag. In this way you will not only save some money, but you will also be good for nature by avoiding the plastic bags in the supermarket. All you need is an old t-shirt, scissors and 10 minutes of your time!
Great upcycling ideas with old bottles
A lot falls into every household every dayUsed glass for upcyclingto. It would be a shame to throw it away after only one use. In addition to being used for storing various foods, such as cereal, coffee, etc., you can use wine bottles and screw-top jars to make beautiful flower vases, bowls or even lampshades.
Beautiful vases made from old plastic bottles – DIY instructions
Materials:
- plastic bottles
- primer
- Color spray in the desired color
- Scissors
- tape
- Make sure the bottles are clean and dry. Then cut off the top part.
- Put tape around the edge to avoid hurting yourself.
- Apply the primer.
- Spray the bottle with the color spray and allow to dry completely.
Convert teapot into a terrarium
An old tea or coffee pot that you no longer use can be quickly transformed into a living work of art. All you have to do is fill it with sand, small river stones and air plants.
Furniture made from wine or fruit crates for a rustic look
They look stylish and chic and give the room a special, rustic charm. Not for nothing, because with the simple wooden boxes you can find numerous upcycling ideas on the internet. For example, you can build side tables, flower boxes or even bookshelves. But larger projects, such as benches or television tables, can also be made quickly and easily.
Bicycle washbasin gives every bathroom a beautiful retro look
An old bicycle that doubles as a towel rack, washbasin and even a vase is ideal for a bathroom in a rustic country house style.
Simple upcycling ideas for your garden
A garden decorates itselfbasically about himself and even causes a lot of excitement on a regular basis. But you can give your garden a very individual character with old objects.
Planted car tires are a real eye-catcher
Time and again, old car tires are dumped in rest areas or even in the middle of the countryside, which is not only illegal but also harmful to the environment. They can be converted into charming and beautiful planters fairly quickly and easily.
- First you have to clean the tires thoroughly so that the paint stays well.
- Then apply the color – the more colorful, the better! Remember that light colors such as yellow or orange should be applied several times so that the dark background does not shine through.
- Once everything has dried thoroughly, you can plant the tires. To do this, simply layer foil, gravel and soil on top of each other and at the end decorate them with flowers of your choice.
Hanging sieve flower baskets
You can turn the good old sieve into a beautiful flower pot that is suitable for both outdoors and indoors.
Bringing broken flower pots to life
Do you have old flower pots in your garage or have you broken one in the last few days? But don't throw it away - there are endless upcycling ideas on how you can make a beautiful mini garden out of it!
Use an old paper towel holder to store your bracelets.
Creative upcycling ideas for wrapping gifts
Instead of wrapping your gifts in elaborate and expensive ways, you can make original and unique gift bags from old newspapers or catalogs!
