Simple Ways to Reuse and Repurpose

Simple Ways to Reuse and Repurpose

Reusing and repurposing items is a great way to reduce waste and get creative. Repurposing allows you to get creative and personalize things. Whether you’re turning an old table into a unique piece of art or making a DIY craft, repurposing encourages innovation and self-expression. Here are some simple ideas to get you started:

Glass Jars and Containers

• Reuse: Use them as storage for food, office supplies, or craft materials.
• Repurpose: Turn them into candle holders, vases, or even mini herb gardens.

Old T-shirts

• Reuse: Use them as rags for cleaning.
• Repurpose: Cut them up and make a quilt, tote bag, or even a headband.

Cardboard Boxes

• Reuse: Organize your closet, garage, or office.
• Repurpose: Make a DIY cat house or a storage organizer.

Wine Corks

• Reuse: Use them to cork bottles or for arts and crafts.
• Repurpose: Turn them into a bulletin board, keychains, or plant markers.

Tin Cans

• Reuse: Store pens, pencils, or small tools.
• Repurpose: Create a lantern, pencil holder, or plant pot.

Old Furniture

• Reuse: Give it a fresh coat of paint or new upholstery. Old dresser drawers can be repurposed into shelves. Paint them a fun color and add wall paper inside.
• Repurpose: Transform an old ladder into a bookshelf or turn an old door into a table.

Plastic Containers

• Reuse: Use them for organizing small items, like screws or buttons.
• Repurpose: Cut them into a scoop or even use as a plant pot.

Old Newspapers or Magazines

• Reuse: Use them for wrapping gifts.
• Repurpose: Create paper mâché projects or turn them into wall art.

Old Plates

• Reuse: Convert into cute cake stands.  Simply adhere the two with epoxy and spray paint it the desired color.  If you paint the platter, make sure you place a napkin on top with unwrapped food to make it food safe.
• Repurpose: Transform them into planters, bird feeders, or quirky decor.

Plastic Bottle Caps

• Reuse: Drip old candle wax into a bottle cap and add a wick for an instant tea light.
• Repurpose: Create a mosaic or use them to make jewelry.

Being creative with everyday items can help reduce waste and give new life to things that would otherwise be thrown away.

More Ways to Reuse and Repurpose

• Large oatmeal canisters are the perfect size to hold 2 rolls of toilet paper. Cover it up with decorative scrapbook paper to match your bathroom to make the perfect, but necessary hiding place.
• Pringles cans are the perfect size to store cookies. Pretty it up with wrapping paper and ribbon and there you have the perfect hostess gift.
• An old rake can add some rustic charm and be used to hold wine glasses in your kitchen, jewelry in your bedroom, or tools in your garden.
• Coffee mug racks make handy accessory and jewelry racks.  Spray paint it a fun bold color and it doubles as art.
• A spice rack can be repurposed to hold beads or small notions for a craft room.
• Drawer pulls can be mounted on your wall to cleverly and decoratively hang picture frames with twine or ribbon.
• The clips from plastic pant hangers make perfect chip clips.
• An unused magazine file holder can be used in your pantry to hold and organize (vertically) foil, plastic wrap, wax paper, etc.
• An old wall mounted magazine rack can be used to hold extra towels in your bathroom or guest room.