NHG Lifestyle Blog

Creative DIY upcycling projects for your home

If you are looking to update your home and be creative with it, we have the answers. We have put together a list of some of the best creative DIY upcycling projects that you can complete to recreate your home! Upcycling is a great way to make use of old and unused items that you have at home or inexpensive items that you can buy to give your home an imaginative, unique feel.

Use old wooden pallets to create a sofa

If you are moving into a new home, this is a great idea to create a distinctive sofa with convenient storage and at a good price. If you are lucky, you might have old pallets to hand, but if not, they are easy to get hold of. Purchase foam & cover or large cushions to build the comfortable part and add cushions for decoration. You can use the gaps in the pallets to store books and magazines, etc.

http://cuartoderecha.com/3819

Screw old furniture handles into wood to create a wall hanger

A creation like this could come in useful for so many things! Do you need somewhere to hang all of your winter coats as the warmer weather arrives? Regularly have a pile of tangled necklaces that have become unwearable? Organise your items with this easy to make, original hanger.  

http://visiblymoved.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/diy-necklace-holder.html

Create new display bowls from an old globe

Give your old globe a new lease of life by cutting it into two halves and creating some unique display bowls. Use them to share food when you have guests over, or they are great for holding potpourri or plants.

 

http://www.bhg.com/decorating/budget-decorating/cheap/style-tips-for-bargain-decor/#page=9

Make your own cork boards

Save up all of those bottle corks and use them for something productive instead of throwing them away. It is really simple to make by gluing the corks to an old photo frame and before you know it you will have these handy noticeboards with a twist!

http://simplyem.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/project-wednesday-cork-boards.html

DIY wood phone charger

Create your own mobile phone/iPod charging station using this tutorial and you will have a charging dock that all your friends will envy.

http://scarletwords.com/2013/03/04/86-build-something-from-wood/

Turn clothing pegs into fridge magnets

Wooden clothing pegs are extremely inexpensive to buy and easy to get hold of or if you have any laying around then this is a great project for you. Glue small magnets to and paint each peg to create your own notice holders that you can stick to the fridge.

http://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/DIY-Glitter-Clothespin-Magnets-33340444

Upcycle broken or old chairs into a French style bench

If you have spare dining chairs gathering dust in the garage or you manage to pick a couple up cheaply, upcycling them into a French style bench is a fun DIY project to get involved in. Your new couch can be enjoyed indoors or outside and will add something extra to your home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3O1YhAcLSY&list=UU7sSXR8nW7Udp300-1G6y3Q

The above projects are some of our top ideas.  Remember that almost everything can be reused. Bearing this in mind, just before your upcoming spring-clean think about what you were going to ditch and if you answer yes to any of the following, the item could be an upcycling gem: 

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  Could it be repaired?

  
  


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  Could I use it as something else?

  
  


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  Can it be refashioned for another use?

  
  


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  Would anyone else get use out of it?

  
  

Try to think creatively about how an item can be upcycled. 

Finally, enjoy upcycling. It can be fun to think differently about how we use and dispose of waste in our everyday lives.