There is a lot of pollution in the modern world. Whether it is air, water, or some other kind of contamination, people just don’t seem to care about the environment. Moreover, a lot of people still do not recycle, which only leads to creating more trash. This trash does not only look bad, but it also destroys natural habitats and further pollutes vast areas of the planet. However, if you want to be a good citizen of this planet and contribute to its health, you could start off by reusing and recycling.
Whatever “trash” you might think you have, like plastic bottles or wood crates, instead of throwing them away, you could make something out of them. Every old thing can find a new use. Therefore, use your imagination and get to work. Not only could you make your home look great, but you could also sell those creations and earn a little bit of cash on the side. Speaking of, here are a few ideas on how you could turn your trash into treasure.
1. Make furniture out of pallets
If you, by any chance, have some old pallets lying around, or you know where to find them cheap, you could turn them into something useful. For example, if you have a balcony or a front porch, you could make a few furniture pieces. Something like a sofa, chairs or even a coffee table. Even better, you could put this furniture inside your home. And, if you like this idea, here is how to pull it off.
In case you are not very handy, you can make the easier type of pallet sofa. But for this, you will need several pallets. First up, sanding the wood is a must. This will make it smoother and better. Moreover, you won’t cut or scratch yourself and it will protect any cloth from being damaged. Once you are finished with sanding, you can paint the wood in any colour, or just put a coat of protective lacquer.
Then, depending on how many pieces you want (two-seaters or a corner sofa) and the height, connect two pieces of pallets one on top of the other. You can connect them with screws for more safety, but this is not necessary. On top of the pallet, you should put some cushions, for a more comfortable seating experience.
Additionally, you can design it with or without the back – it is all up to you. And, if you want a coffee table, just make a stack of two pallets, for example. Sand and paint the wood, and that is it. For easier movement, you can put small wheels on the bottom.
There are many other options as well, but what you want to make depends on your time and skills. Other than sofas, you can make tables, shelves, bars or even swings.
2. Use bottle caps in various ways
Everyone knows bottles could be re-purposed once emptied. Whether plastic or glass, each can find its new role. For instance, you can make chandeliers out of glass bottles or vases. There are many ideas that could be realized. However, if you use the bottle, the bottle cap will be left behind. Now, these tiny objects seem useless, but this is pretty far from the truth.
From jewelry and accessories, to home décor – bottle caps just cry DIY. No matter the type, the caps can be made into bottle cap art with little to no effort. All you need is an idea and a bit of time on your hands. For instance, the first thing you can try to make is some kind of wall art.
Using differently coloured caps, you can make shapes, and you can put your new works of art up on your wall. If, however, you want to freshen up your kitchen, you could make fridge magnets by gluing the magnet on the bottom of the cap. Or, you can make coasters for both glasses and pans. You would do this by connecting the caps with a wire.
If you get stuck in the design process, you can paint the caps or collect a specific drink cap, which would definitely make your DIY project unique.
3. Make flower pots out of old tires
If you are a keen gardener and you want your yard to look marvelous, add some flare to it by reusing old car tires. Instead of buying ceramic or plastic flower pots, use your tires, which will last longer. They can withstand any kind of weather; therefore, they are perfect for the garden.
First of all, plan the outline of your garden, like where do you want your flowers to be and in how big a space. Then, get yourself some tires, perhaps in various sizes. If you do not want them to remain black, you can buy spray paint and paint them in different colours. This would make your garden look more lively and fun, and the colours would go great with the flowers.
Once you are all equipped with the essentials, position the tires where you want them. For example, you can stack them on top of each other, or you can put them next to one another. Lastly, fill them with dirt, plant the flowers, and that is it. All you have to do now is keep your flowers healthy and alive.
This DIY task is really easy and quick. Usually, old tires can be found in a landfill, or you can even try your nearest mechanic. When it comes to spray painting, that is simple too. Clearly, this task can be done by anyone, in just a few hours.
Obviously there are lots and lots of items that could be recycled, and even more items to be made out of them. Anything from bottles, old clothes, or pallets could be made useful again. The only things you need, for any of the DIY project above, are will and imagination. Everything else will come easy.
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