1. Clothing
Clothing and textiles are often among the first items donated to a thrift store, but you can also hang on to a few items to create a unique look in your home. “Gather a few different textiles to sew together a custom throw blanket or vibrant window drapes,” says Tripp. You could also transform vintage scarves or patterned scraps into decorative pillow covers to give your living space an instant pop of personality.
2. Furniture Drawers
If your kids are anything like mine, they can be pretty rough on their bedroom furniture. When it’s time to replace dressers, Tripp says you can keep a few of the drawers. “You can mount a single wooden drawer to the wall as a shadow-box shelf or connect several with a wooden pole for a tiered plant display,” he advises. Alternatively, consider adding casters to the bottom of a deep drawer to create a rolling under-bed storage bin for toys or extra linens.
3. Old Tires
If you have a few old tires lying around your garage, Tripp says you can turn them into a raised bed for plants in your backyard. “Lay a tire flat and fill it with soil to create a unique, durable garden planter,” he says. For a more polished look, you can wrap the exterior in rope.
4. Wood Windows
Tripp says another easy afternoon project is turning old window frames “into multi-pane picture frames or wall art by attaching photos or painting the glass.” You could also replace the glass panes with chicken wire or corkboard to create a functional and farmhouse-chic message center for your kitchen or entryway.
5. Glass Jars
This next tip can easily brighten up a kitchen shelf or table. Tripp says you can “repurpose extra jars into emergency kerosene lanterns or small herb pots for the windowsill.” Glass jars can also be used as vases for centerpieces or storage for dry goods like pasta.
6. Old Doors
Old interior doors can be given a second life rather than sent to the landfill. Lay a solid door flat across two sawhorses or a pair of filing cabinets to create an instant desk or workbench. Doors with raised panels can also be mounted horizontally on a wall and fitted with hooks to serve as a rustic entryway organizer for coats, bags, and keys.
