Sometimes, we have more stuff than we can actually manage to use.
A lot of these things are just lying around the house or are hidden away somewhere, collecting
dust and taking up space. Oftentimes, we’re too busy, too lazy or
sometimes even too sentimental about some of the things we own that we don’t actually
use, and that’s why they’re still there – unused and unwanted.
Welcome to Jansen’s DIY. In this video we will discuss .
#1. Don’t throw away toilet paper rolls just yet, as you can upcycle these rolls and
give them a new lease on life by painting them or covering them with wrapping paper.
Keep unused cords and cables in each of the paper rolls and organize them in an old shoebox
so they’re not getting tangled up on the floor and waiting for you to trip over them.
That way it will be easier for you to find those cords once you’re ready to use them.
#2. Tattered and hole-ridden jeans may be a fashion fad nowadays, but if they’ve become
too torn to be worn, you don’t need to get rid of them.
You can use the fabric to cover a bench or an old chair.
Make a patchwork of different tones of denim fabric to perk up a seemingly boring room.
For the complete DIY guide, check out Frugal Family Times.
#3. Got some old cheese boxes you want to throw away?
Give your wall a vintage touch by turning your old cheese boxes into artsy shelves.
Take the cheese box lid, cut it out, and glue it onto the center of the cheese box like
a shelf to display lightweight décor pieces. Glue a worn leather belt around the cheese
box, leaving enough slack to be able to hang the shelf by the belt on a wooden peg. This
piece is sure to give your room an elegant country vibe.
#4. Love the quirky, nerdy style? Sew your old shirts, sweaters, and other clothing items
into cushion covers for an interesting look for your living room or bedroom.
Choose old clothes in varying shades of a single color for a monochromatic look.
You can also include the pockets when you cut out the fabric to store some potpourri,
lavender bags, or other trinkets. First, wash, dry, and iron your shirts, if
necessary. Next, measure your pillow. If necessary, create a template for it.
Turn the shirt inside-out and make sure the two pieces are aligned the way you want. And
then, you can start sewing! Once the fabric has been stitched, you can
unbutton it, turn it inside-out, and then stuff your pillow inside the cover.
#5. If you’ve got extra skewers at home, you can create an artistic knife block by
attaching the bottom part of all the sticks together.
After gluing the skewers together, you can tie them together with twine or abaca rope
(or any woven rope). Use a wooden slab of the right size to mount
the skewer creation for a more professional look.
#6. If you’ve got an old ladder that’s too risky to climb, you can give it a new
chance at life by turning it into a bookshelf. Cut a long ladder into smaller pieces and
then glue or nail them onto your wall to display your book collection.
Don’t worry if the ladder looks old. The more worn out, the better, as it will give
the shelf a vintage look.
#7. Suitcases with broken clasps shouldn’t be thrown in the trash just yet.
Upcycle them by turning them into chairs. You can add the right size pillows to create
a cushion for the chair as well. You can also use foam and fabric to make your
DIY chair more comfortable. As for the legs, screw leg attachments onto the bottom of the
suitcase. You can also paint your old luggage and apply
varnish on the legs to give it a fresh look.Check out the step by step guide on Lexikeen.
#8. Make dainty bookshelves out of old books For this project, you will need hardbound
books that you no longer read or are just collecting dust in the basement.
You will also need two L-brackets for each bookshelf, plus flat head screws, plastic
anchors, a ¼ inch drill bit, and a level. Screw the two metal L-brackets into the wall
where you want to place the bookshelf. Avoid damaging the book by using Velcro to
ensure that the bracket sits between the internal pages and the back cover.
#9. Vintage wooden tennis rackets are the best for this upcycling project.
You can take old mirrors to a glass shop and have them custom-cut to fit the rim of the
rackets. Apply liquid mirror adhesive onto the back
of the mirrors and attach the custom-sized mirror to the strings of the rackets.
Make sure you place the rackets on top of some newspaper to protect the surface you’re
working on. When you’re finished, place something heavy
on top of the mirrors to ensure that they stick to the rackets. Leave them to dry overnight.
#10. Add a cool vibe to a boring bathroom by repurposing an old broken bicycle into
a sink stand. You can use a regular white washbasin for
this project and it’s also recommended you choose a wooden countertop to complement the
look and feel of your vintage bike. If the bike has a basket, you can use it to
hold bathroom essentials, like towels, extra soaps, and other toiletries.
Have a plumber install the plumbing system to ensure that it’s functional.
#11. Turn old liquor bottles into pendant light fixtures.
First make sure you use clean bottles for this project.
Carefully cut off the bottoms of the bottles with a glass cutter tool and then smooth them
down with sandpaper. Insert the wires for the pendant lights inside
the bottles and voila! You now have unique, elegant, and romantic
pendant light fixtures that don’t cost a fortune.
You can hang them in your dining area or anywhere with a high ceiling.
#12. Old wooden frames with peeling or faded paint can be reused as serving trays.
You can place any fabric or design you want inside the glass to beautify the tray.
Also, consider giving the frames some fresh new paint.
#13. Use wrenches to hold keys and coats. You can create a DIY key rack for keys, coats,
and small tools by adding screws to an old wrench.
First, bend the wrenches to create hooks. Then, drill holes in the wall for the hooks
and then attach the hooks by screwing the screws into the base.
Mount the finished product so you can start using it.
#14. Make a coat rack from a pipe with valves. Make your own industrial-inspired coat rack
made of pipes, fittings, and valves. Clean the pipes and attach the valves, leaving
enough space between them for hanging coats. Then, mount the pipe and valves on the wall
and enjoy your new coat rack.