Use a footstool as a side table, move that full-length mirror you have in your bedroom to the entryway, there’s so much that can be done with little to no investment and effort.
Here we give you some tips about how you can kick start your sustainable décor journey.
Decorating doesn’t have to be costly, especially if you know how to recycle and reuse things that you already have. While many people might frown upon this, it’s not just about being frugal it’s also about sustainable living. Sometimes all that your space needs is a little sprucing up and that can be achieved simply by moving things around the house and giving items you already own a new purpose.
Your guide to stylish, sustainable décor
Glass jar for flower arrangement
Glass can create one of the best decor pieces in your home, if done right. You can recycle anything and everything glass ranging from bottles to containers to mirrors. If you have big glass containers stacked somewhere in your storage room, it’s time to bring them out and turn them into glass vases for both indoor and outdoor use. Similarly, you can use glass containers as pantry storage – beans, rice, cereals tend to look pretty aesthetic when kept in glass containers as you can see their diversity in colors. Moreover, you can use smaller glass containers that jams, pickles, honey come packaged in and turn them into desk organizers. In it you can keep pens, colors, markers etc. You can also put them to use in the bathroom to keep your toothpastes, toothbrushes, and night creams. Wine bottles coupled with fairy lights make for cute lamps and decor pieces. Similarly, glass bottles can also be used as fences in your garden.
The magic of old furniture
Old furniture, especially wood, can be a steal deal when it comes to decor. A chic vintage look for your rooms never goes out of fashion and gives the home a warm and an elegant vibe. Be it a wooden bed, chair, or a cupboard, each and every part of that furniture can be reused. You can make magazine racks using the arms and rails of old wooden chairs. Similarly, wooden boxes can be stacked up and used as night tables – it can be pretty functional too with both compartments and a tabletop. Blocks of wood taken from beds and chairs can be hung up as individual slabs to make coat or cup hangers. Wooden blocks paired with ropes make for a hip hanging rack where you can keep books and other miniature figurines. Similarly, recycled wood can be used to make storage boxes, mail boxes as well as bulletin boards.
Reusing fabrics
There is a lot you can do with large fabrics like curtains, bed sheets and shawls. You can use these to make some pretty cool décor items like cushions and throws. You can collect a variety of old fabrics of different designs and colors, patch them together and make a pretty couch cover. Pair it with plain cushions and you have got yourself a brand new couch. Similarly, you can use old bed sheets and shawls to make braided rugs. Braided rugs are quite simple and easy to make and there are so many tutorials on YouTube that can help you with it. You can use bigger fabrics as an outdoor table cover or even as a picnic mat. And finally, as a last resort, you can use leftover fabrics as dusting and moping rags to clean your house.
Suitcases as pet beds
Overtime we tend to collect many suitcases, many of which simply get old and are never used again. One of the best uses for old suitcases is to turn them into pet beds. Suitcases already have a large space where you can fit a cushion for your cat or dog to use as a bed. This makes for a sustainable yet fashionable place to house your pet and because of its depth and size, they can make pretty comfortable pet beds too. In case of leather or vintage suitcases or briefcases, they make for a good decor piece – be it as a table or as a base to keep your plants on.
Other fun things worth a try
Vintage books and stamps can be shaped like lamps and they look pretty good when light falls on them. Similarly, as the use of CDs become less frequent, you can use the CDs lying around at homes to make décor pieces out of them, say a mirror with CD pieces as the frame. The rainbow reflection from the CDs adds an extra layer to the mirror, making it look classy yet simple. Similarly, old glass/wooden doors that have been switched for a new one can be used as a collage photo frame plastered to a wall or just simply kept at an open space as a décor piece. It can also be repurposed as a table. Wooden crates might seem pretty useless after the stuff in them has been taken out but, with a little creativity, one can make wooden shelves out of them. You can also cut an old globe in the middle and use the hollow space as a basket to store fruits and other kitchen stuff. You might have to use a base to keep it steady but this idea makes for a unique looking décor piece.
