DIY: Innovative ideas of reusing stuff at home

How many times have we gone and thrashed household items only to realize it's worth at a later date. Maybe, next time, you throw things out, think of how they can be reused. In fact, reusing household items to create new things goes beyond creativity and can actually save costs in the long run. Besides being environment-friendly, reusing existing stuff can nurture a real sense of value for these items and there are plenty of ideas. Just think about it!

The more popular ones are gardening and art ideas. Empty wine bottles have been used to pot plants. Colorful wine bottles when upturned and set on the soil can be used as borders to illuminate garden patches. Wine bottles have been used as lampshade holders too! Empty wooden pallets can be placed upright and used as planters for smaller areas or balconies. Have you tried using old newspaper shreds as a foundation layer to mulch your garden?

Innovative Ideas

Let us look at some DIY ideas to reuse 'used' stuff:

• Egg Cartons

Egg cartons are great buddies that add to home decor and can be reused as craft items for kids and has other uses too. Try using egg cartons to organize coins and store them handy for your next change! Smaller pieces of jewellery could also be kept and sorted in each of the compartments for easy access during travel. Secure the top and bottom parts of the egg shell flaps with a sturdy rubber band and fold your jewellery amongst your clothes. So, shut it and forget worrying about your tiny trinkets!

Have you tried to using an egg carton to store golf balls? If you have more golf balls to juggle, best is it to use more egg cartons and stack them!

• Old Clothes and Fashion

While old clothes are more often than not recycled; it could be best to try and reuse old clothes. It could be clever to cut out wipes or rags from clothes with sturdy fabrics. Depending on the fabric and texture, the cloth could be converted into reusable grocery shopping bags. 'Out of fashion' denim trousers can be re-converted into denim skirts! Try using them as door mats.

Teenagers could think of recycling and reusing their old scarves, socks, shoes and tops to make new fashion statement. Sneakers are a great way to finish a well groomed look. No need to go for the hi-ended branded labels. Why not make one at home? Old white sneakers could be given a new look by adding a splash of cool colour on to it. Use decorative shoe laces to finish the look. Better still, dye the shoe lace to match the tempo of the shoe colour.

• Jewellery

Tired of wearing the same old, beaded necklace? Then stitch it and decorate it onto a T-shirt. Outline the pockets of an old coat with shells or beads from a broken string of necklace and create a new look. If not, use these spare beads to decorate and accessorize handbags, wall-hangings, tea coasters and other items around the house. A combination of wood and shell is always a great idea!

• Furniture:

Go for a change if you're just fed up of the same old look on your furniture. Old or discarded furniture can be revamped by adding a touch of color. Instead of discarding old furniture in the garage or attic, it could be dressed up with attractive covers, adding new mattresses to an old sofa set or painting vibrant colors, especially for furniture in the kid’s room.

Ideas for reusing household items are numerous, just take a look around and you could just fancy a tissue box to be used as a seed organizer or as an accessory box for your kid’s clips and other paraphernalia. So look around and grab that empty toothpaste tube, kitchen roll tube and think hard, you will just find a way to increase the life span of your home products. Better still decorate them and use them as gift ideas for your friends and family. The list is endless. Try it!