22 Ingenious Ways to Repurpose Old Junk
Get those old tires, keys, and coffee cans out of your garage and your drawers. It's time to put them to good use.
Landfills are full of steel rims available for cheap.
Place the rim on its side and you've got an instant fire pit. Surround it with bricks to protect hands and feet from hot steel.
Old keys can pile up quickly in drawers and lead to confusion.
Add a bend to your old keys into a U-shape and you've got the perfect wall hook.
An old pile of rusted pipe ends and fittings destined for the junk pile.
With a bit of rust remover to make them shine, you can transform your old fittings into a steampunk chess set.
These vintage glass bowls are pretty but always hidden away in cabinets.
Bring your beautiful bowls into the open by using them to plant succulents, which look great in any kitchen windowsill.
Abandoned entertainment centers are available at thrift stores across the country.
With a little paint and a few pieces of hardware, you can transform that sad entertainment center into a fun play kitchen for kids.
Steel office filing cabinets often last longer than the businesses they support.
Add some fresh paint, casters, a butcher block top, and some hardware, and you've got the perfect kitchen cart or island.
Source:
Doors are a dime a dozen on Craigslist. Look for wood doors with great character and panels.
Convert your door into a sliding screen that reveals a hidden pantry.
Source: Design*Sponge
A typical wire wastebasket doesn't seem very inspiring.
Turn it upside-down, add some paint and a stained wood top, and you've got a modern side table.
Source: Shabby Creek Cottage
Plastic containers can always be recycled, but why not upcycle them into something that will make your life easier?
Attach your plastic coffee canisters to a wood backing, and you've got easy-to-reach storage for nuts, bolts, and anything else small enough to fit.
Source: Instructables
There are myriad uses for old tires (just make sure to clean them thoroughly or you'll end up with dirt everywhere).
Here's one: Cut an old tire in half, attach a 12-foot board, and use it as a seesaw.
Source: Built by Kids
Cheese graters wear out and get rusty, but that doesn't have to be the end of their useful lives.
Repurpose old cheese graters into pendant lights. The rustier the better.
Pallets aren't your normal household item, but there are a lot of old ones lying around, and they can be found and reused in numerous and creative ways.
There are many uses for pallets, so why not turn one into something fun, like this cooler stand?
Source: Charles & Hudson
You can pick up old wrenches at any yard sale and put them to good use beyond their original purpose. Or maybe you're thinking about replacing your old tools with a new set and need something to do with them.
Hang your wrenches as decorative wind chimes to add a touch of industrial chic to any space.
Source: The Alternative Consumer
This rake has seen better days, but there's still a good use for it.
Secure an old steel rake on the wall and use the tongs to hang kitchen utensils.
Yardsticks are a DIY favorite, as you can use them in a host of different projects.
Yardsticks can be used to create simple crates for storing craft supplies and tools.
Source: Seven Sisters
IKEA Expedit shelves are very useful but totally boring.
From contemporary Scandinavian to turn-of-the-century: This IKEA shelving unit has been hacked into a rustic dresser.
Source: Sawdust 2 Stitches
Workhorse wheelbarrows have a limited lifespan, but you can put them out to pasture in a few creative ways.
Wheelbarrows make a natural planter for herbs and flowers. Just drill some drainage holes, and add soil and seedlings.
Source: Built by Kids
Jerry cans are typically used to transport water and fuel.
With a few modifications you can transform a jerry can into a secret bar with shelves for drinks and glasses.
Once your old computer has kicked the bucket, you can still put it to good use.
Ammo boxes are available at any Army-Navy Surplus store and make great storage bins as is.
But if you want to hack one into something amazing, just add a couple speakers and some electronic hardware and you've got a portable boombox.
Source: Armory Blog
Old metal tool chests can last a lifetime but in more ways than one.
Add a bucolic touch to your desktop by transforming a metal tool chest into a charging station.
Source: The Happy Housie
Hammer heads make natural hooks, you just need to figure out how to use them.