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5 Upcycling Ideas

by Kate Young
Kate Young

Kate is our interior design expert. Thanks to her keen eye for detail and vast knowledge surrounding design trends, she knows exactly what finishing touches all homes need. From compact rooms to large spaces, no job is too complicated for her artistic mind! Kate has built a rewarding career from her passions, working as a freelance interior designer and content creator. In terms of style inspiration, her main interests focus on 70s bohemian decor. This is clear to see through her beautifully designed home that features in many major publications.

Last Updated: March 31, 2021

5 Upcycling Ideas

Upcycling is a great way to save money, and care for the planet.  Here are just five ways you can do it, although there are many more.

1. Lampshades

Old lampshades nearly always have a fabric covering which reveals a styled wire structure or mesh beneath.  With a bit of spray paint, this cover-less lampshade can become a classy feature of your apartment or home.  Metallic silvers and golds can be quite striking in terms of adding a futuristic look, while the staggering range of lightbulbs, including cool smart lightbulbs on the market could result in a soft, warm glow to offset the metallic sheen.  Alternatively, it could become a unique candle holder; perfect for intimate dinners or dinner parties.

Lampshades

2. Skateboard Bookcase

Skateboards are often made from beautiful maple wood, which can be upcycled in a variety of ways.  One way is to strip the old skateboard of its wheels, flip it upside down, and use it as a bookcase.  Another way is to create shelves out of old skateboards, the beauty being that you can have one, two, or three boards, and if you want can leave the wheels on, so it brings that retro skater ‘cool’ vibe into your apartment or home.

3. Tennis Racket Mirrors

Tennis rackets are elegantly shaped and perfect for being upcycled into attractive-looking mirrors, anywhere in your home.  Older tennis rackets made from wood will create a more dated, iconic look, while modern rackets made from carbon fiber will lend a modernistic, professional air to your abode.  The best way to do this is to purchase the mirrors from a local hardware store, then get your nearest glass shop to custom cut them into the shape desired.  Buy an inexpensive mirror adhesive (preferably epoxy) and voila, a stylish mirror can be hung in multiple possible locations anywhere in your home.

4. Mason Jar Lights

For a quirky, trendy revamp of your light fittings, purchase some mason jars (incredibly cheap), use a fairly thin light bulb, unscrew socket ring, drill a hole in mason lid, use snips to cut hole, then add lid to socket ring, screw in light bulb, then screw jar on lid.  Then, the same again, as many times as you want.  You can even use tinted mason jars, or even tint them yourself using either acrylic or enamel paint.  This could be a great activity for children on a rainy day.

Mason Jar Lights

5. CD Spindle Bagel Holder

CD Spindle holders come in different sizes, but all are just about perfectly proportioned to store not just CDS but bagels.  When a packed lunch needs to be stored overnight, when going on a picnic, or just in those outdoor summer get togethers when flies are such a nuisance, CD Spindle bagel holders can come into their own.  There’s really not much preparation needed, other than preparing the bagels with whatever you want as a filling.  If it’s just for you then a smaller sized spindle could be incorporated neatly into a lunch box, and you can save on aluminum foil or saran wrap, both of which are terrible for the environment.

Sources:

  1. Simple Upcycling Ideas – Australian College
  2. 12 Creative Upcycling Ideas to Reduce Waste – Ocean Conservancy
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