5 Repurposing Ideas for Sustainable Decoration: Breath New Life Into Old Pieces

You’d be surprised how many “old” and “useless” things you have at your home that actually have the potential to turn into something new, beautiful, and useful. Repurposing old items into new pieces is not only a significant contribution to a more eco-friendly lifestyle, but it is a very fun recreational activity too. By giving new life to these items, you will be reducing waste and minimizing your environmental impact while at the same time bringing a unique, personal touch to your living space.

Here are some repurposing ideas for an eco friendly decoration:

Turn Old Glass Bottles into Vases or Candle Holders

Empty wine bottles, soda bottles, or glass jars can easily be transformed into beautiful vases or candle holders. Instead of throwing them away, you can just give them a good rinse and get creative with paint, twine, or ribbon to match your living room’s decor. Clear bottles can even be left as-is for a minimalist look, or you can paint them to add a pop of color if you like.

Repurpose Wooden Crates as Shelves or Coffee Tables

If you have old wooden crates at your home, you can easily repurpose these items into shelves or coffee tables, which will be adding a rustic/industrial vibe to your living space. These crates are sturdy, and with a bit of sanding and staining, they can look brand new. Stack several crates together to create a custom bookshelf or turn one upside down for a unique coffee table. For a highly functional coffee table, you can even attach wheels or hairpin legs to the bottom of a crate for mobility! These will be a great addition to your sustainable decoration!

Transform Old Sweaters into Cozy Throw Pillow Covers

Everyone has old sweaters that they longer wear, but there is really no reason to don’t toss them out! Instead, you can easily turn them into throw pillow covers for a cozy, textured look in your living space. The soft, knitted fabric makes for the perfect accent pillows that will instantly warm up your space.

To do this you just need basic sewing skills. You can easily cut the sweater into the shape of your pillow insert, leaving a little extra fabric for seam allowances. Then sew the edges together, leaving an opening to insert the pillow, and then just close it up.

Use Old Picture Frames as DIY Art or Chalkboards

As another eco friendly decoration practice, instead of letting broken or unused picture frames go to waste, you can repurpose them as DIY art displays or chalkboards. With a bit of creative touch, you can transform these frames into stylish and functional pieces for your living room.

How to do it? Just remove the glass from the frame and either insert a printed piece of fabric or paint the backing with chalkboard paint. You can use the chalkboard as a fun place for notes or quotes, or you can create a gallery wall with framed fabric swatches or pressed flowers for an artistic touch.

Upcycle Wooden Pallets into a Coffee Table or TV Stand

You can use wooden pallets to contribute to your eco friendly decorationas well, as they are incredibly versatile and can be repurposed into a variety of living room furniture such as coffee tables or TV stands. Pallets are often discarded after shipping but can be found for free or at a low cost from local businesses. And they will add a very cool, industrial look to your living room.

There are almost endless possibilities for decorating your living space in an environmentally conscious way. These were just few of them. By trying these out -and finding your own using your creativity- you can start reducing your ecological footprint, save money, and create a living space that is truly unique! If you have any other repurposing ideas for sustainable decoration, let me know in the comments section!