5 Easy Upcycling Ideas for Your Home and Garden

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Do you want upcycling ideas for your home and garden? Here are tons of inexpensive ways you can upcycle things for your yard and to use around your home. Not sure which items to upcycle, I will offer tips on which items to upcycle for yard and home decor.

Upcycling Ideas Video

5 Upcycling Ideas for the Garden

Add a unique touch to your yard with upcycling projects this spring. There are plenty of simpler options that won’t need much time or effort. Try repurposing old items in the home to put them to good use in the garden.

You can make quirky plant pots out of just about anything. Think of creative storage ideas for a vertical garden, such as old shelves or wooden crates. You could even DIY your own bird and butterfly feeders to welcome wild visitors. Here are a few easy ideas to get you started.

Free-standing pond

You can make a free-standing pond using old household items. These include buckets, kitchen sink, garden trug, or plant pot. Any old container will do, depending on the size you want. Fill your pond with gravel and plants, but avoid dirt getting in. If you make a larger pond you can keep the water nice and clean with a Shinmaywa pond pump. A pond makes a lovely decorative feature and will also attract wildlife. There’s no need for it to be a huge project, however.

Unique planters

Look for items around the house that you can use as plant pots. The quirkier the better. These will definitely add character to your garden. You could even decorate your plant pots for a fun family project. Here are some easy upcycled planter ideas to give you inspiration.

Hanging baskets

Why stop there? Household items can double up as hanging baskets as well. Try using mason jars for example so you can watch the roots grow from below. One of the most useful gardening tips for beginners is how to make use of vertical space. If you’ve got a more modest yard, then hanging baskets are ideal.

Repurposed shelves

Another great way to create storage or vertical space in your garden is with repurposed shelves. These are great for holding small plant pots and other accessories. You could either use old shelving units from your home or even DIY your own by stacking wooden crates. There are many uses for wooden crates in the garden if you’re creative enough, so keep them handy for more fun upcycling projects.

Homemade feeders

Invite local wildlife into your garden making homemade feeders. There are also plenty of creative ways to make your own bird feeder. Go through your recycling and see what you can find. You’ll soon spot some beautiful visitors coming your way.

Now that the weather is getting warmer it’s the ideal time to get creative in your yard. You can involve the whole family in your upcycling projects. Collect a few unused household items and see which ones you can repurpose into quirky garden accessories. Upcycling is the most original and eco-friendly way to decorate your yard.

Check out some of my other posts!

• Easy and Awesome DIY Gazing Ball Garden Globe for your Yard
• Super Easy DIY Garden Mushrooms on a Budget with Video
• Garden Flowers Made From Dishes

6 Upcycled Crafts for the Home

Glass Bottles and Jars

I like to reuse glass bottles and Mason jars around my home. I like to make matching sets for my bathroom and kitchen. That way I have a cohesive storage solution for bathroom supplies, like makeup brushes, cotton balls, and a matching soap dispenser. For more ideas on jar crafts and upcycling bottles, see 29 Awesome and Easy Bottle and Jar Crafts.

Upcycled Milk Crate

With a little creativity, milk crates make a perfect bookshelf on a budget. Repurposed milk crates work well in offices or playrooms. I’ve used them before as a dresser to store clothes in the closet. Fold your clothes and stack jeans, shirts, or sweaters in each crate. This allows you to easily see your options and keep your clothes organized. For the complete tutorial see: Milk Crate Ideas.

Upcycled Tin Cans

When it comes to saving money with upcycling projects, I think tin cans are the most affordable. There are so many crafts to make with recycled tin cans and great crafts for kids. See what you can come up with and here are ideas for luminaries, indoor planters for succulents, Christmas decor, windchimes, candles, and more: Tin Can Crafts.

Upcycling Glasses and Vintage Dishes

Nothing says trash to treasure by using vintage glass dishes. I love the look the old dishes create when upcycled. I’ve created elegant home decor with old dishes. To see what I’ve made and get inspiration to bring new life to old dishes, see these: What To Do with Old Dishes: Creative and Easy DIYs

Upcycling Storage Containers

I didn’t like seeing inside my storage containers. By lining them with strips of contact paper or wrapping paper, I can leave them out in the room without feeling unorganized by the clutter inside the drawers. This is a perfect upcycle for crafters to hide craft supplies or to hide art supplies for kids, like scissors and old crayons. For the full tutorial see: How To Upcycle Storage Containers Easily and on a Budget.

Upcycle Clothing

Thrift cheap clothes and give them new purposes. Denim from old jeans can be used for patchwork quilts or pillow covers. I like to work with old sweaters for the texture element to add to my home decor. See how to make this pillow cover: Repurpose Old Clothes: 5 Items From ONE Thrift Store Sweater.

Take old t-shirts and turn them into a reusable bag for groceries, lunches, and more! This can replace those plastic bags and make you more eco friendly! You can find the full tutorial at Shirt Bags: Convenient and Eco-Friendly Easy DIY

Upcycled Furniture

Grab and old dresser and transform it into something you can use and love. This kind of sustainability can save our planet! I’ve upcycled benches, an old tabletop, dressers, side tables, and more. You can find all of these tutorials in my Furniture Flip section of my website.

Plastic Bottles

There are so many things you can do with plastic bottles! Stop throwing them in landfills and let me show you several ways I have come up with to repurpose and upcycle them into useful and fun items for your home. You can see all of these tutorials at Exciting and Useful Plastic Bottle Hacks To Start Using Right Now

Items to Upcycle and Where to Find Them

I find most of my items around my home. I recycle the tin cans and glass jars just from my kitchen’s recycling bin. When I’m working on a specific project, I start at the thrift store. I also like to source upcycling items from yard sales, flea markets, online marketplaces, and even through friends and family who are looking to get rid of old stuff. One of my favorite patio furniture upcycles came from a piece from a family member.

For the garden, think about items like old buckets, vintage dishes, broken terracotta planters, kitchen sinks, wooden crates, mason jars, and any unused household items that can be repurposed into unique planters, feeders, or solar landscape lighting.

For home projects and decor, items to resource are old furniture, wooden pallets, wood scraps, vases, glass jars, vintage frames, cardboard boxes, and fabric scraps. Repurpose these items into new furniture, wall art, storage bins, and other creative decor pieces and makeovers for your home.

Looking for more upcycled home DIY projects? Try these:

• 5 Easy Upcycles Using Contact Paper For Furniture
• Upcycling a Side Table with Stenciling on Wood
• What To Do With Old Blinds: 10 Easy Ways To Upcycle
• Fast and Easy Way To Create An Etched Wine Bottle

Upcycling Ideas Video

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