29 Creative Ways To Repurpose, Reuse, & Upcycle Old Items

I am a very sentimental person. I will hold on to an item for years and years if it has a fond memory attached to it, even if that item is a scrap piece of paper. It's something I'm learning to let go of as I get older (and limited space making it necessary to purge), but there are some items that are just too near and dear to throw away. But what do you do when it's just sitting in storage collecting dust? How can you preserve the memory while also being able to make it usable or have it on display? Not all of us have an extra room we can turn into our own personal museum of memories. Well, why not use that special item by turning it into something "new" and functional, while also being able to preserve the memories attached. Hence "Repurposing" or "Upcycling"these items.

Of course, not everything we recycle or repurpose will have memories attached. Sometimes we just happen upon something old, unique, or antique that we think is really cool and would be useful as something else. Some of the ideas below are just that. Whether a memory is attached or not, these ideas can add a flare to your home.

The following pictures and ideas I came across on a post by Twisted Sifter. It's a great place to find unique posts on many different topics. I am not the brains behind these ideas, however, I love many of these DIY ideas and would love to incorporate some of them into my home one day.

While repurposing an item may take some money, work, time and energy (unlike my last post which gave ideas of easy, cost effective uses of everyday household items to help organize and declutter your life), it's worth it in the long run if it means you will be able to hold onto something precious to you or unique, while making it usable again in a new way.

Hope you enjoy the ideas below and maybe at least one will catch your eye! What other creative ways have you been able to repurpose something in your home? Share it with me and GG readers below in the comments! I love to find out new ways of recycling materials that help to be green :)

1. TURN A FAVOURITE OLD CHAIR INTO A SHELF AND TOWEL RACK

2. TURN AN ANTIQUE TUB INTO A LOVE SEAT

3. MAKE ANTIQUE BOOKS INTO SHELVES

4. TURN AN OLD BICYCLE INTO A BATHROOM COUNTER

5. REUSE AN OLD CARD CATALOG AS A MINI BAR

6. OLD WATER SKIES CAN BE MADE INTO A CHAIR

7. REPURPOSE AN OLD DOOR INTO A TABLE

8. TRANSFORM A CASSETTE TAPE HOLDER INTO A GIFT BOX

9. TURN YOUR OLD COMPUTER TOWER INTO A MAIL BOX

10. A MINI FRIDGE CAN BECOME A STAND AND STORAGE UNIT FOR GAMING ACCESSORIES

11. USE AN OLD DOOR AS THE FRAME OF A STANDING MIRROR

12. MAKE AN OLD SUITCASE A MEDICINE CABINET

13. CREATE A WINDOW COVER USING OLD PICTURE SLIDES

14. AN OLD PIANO CAN BECOME A BEAUTIFUL WATER FOUNTAIN IN YOUR GARDEN

15. REUSE OLD CUTLERY OR SILVERWARE INTO USABLE WALL HOOKS

16. MAKE AN ACCORDION FILE OUT OF OLD SUITCASES

17. CREATE A DESK OUT OF OLD BOOKS

18. REPURPOSE OLD BARRELS INTO A DRUM SET

19. FILL A BOX WITH SKEWERS TO BECOME AN ALL-PURPOSE KNIFE BLOCK

20. TURN YOUR FAVOURITE OLD TENNIS RACKETS INTO MIRRORS

21. OLD CREDIT CARDS CAN BECOME GUITAR PICKS

22. MAKE SIDE TABLES OUT OF ANTIQUE SUITECASES

23. TURN A BEAUTIFUL, OLD FRAME INTO A SERVING TRAY

24. REUSE OLD LIGHTBULBS AS CANDLES

25. UPCYCLE OLD BOTTLES, MUGS AND BOWLS INTO LIGHT FIXTURES

26. PLUG YOUR FENCE HOLES WITH MARBLES

27. TURN OLD WRENCHES INTO WALL HOOKS

28. USE OLD PICTURE FRAME CORNERS AS TILES

29. USE A PIPE WITH VALVES AS A COAT RACK

Happy creating!