Do you also look at your home sometimes and feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff you’ve gathered? Marie Kondo would suggest the solution is to just throw away extra stuff, but that can lead to cluttering the environment and also wastes your hard-earned money! Think of an expensive top you bought and have now outgrown. Not only did producing it require a lot of environmental resources, textiles are notoriously hard to recycle.
The solution? Upcycling! The new buzzword means to repurpose or reuse items in a way that improves them or increases their values from before. Upcycling is great for the environment, and it is also super-fun because it gets your creative juices flowing! This Environment Day, let’s try something new and upcycle. We bring you five ways to upcycle that will leave you bursting with feel-good energy!
1. Ladders into bookcases
Have old ladders lying around? You can easily turn them into bookcases by first painting them in a cute, distressed finish. After the paint dries, there are many ways to convert a ladder into a bookshelf. The simplest is to place similarly painted plywood sheets across the steps to create shelfs and voila your rustic bookshelf or décor unit is ready!
If you’re up for a little more creative DIY, there are many ideas online on how to create horizontal shelves from straight ladders and even convert ladders that need support into awesome book stands.
2. Bottle caps into tea lights
Whether it’s beer bottle caps or caps from olive oil bottles, we end up throwing them away. And guess where they land? In landfills where they take ages to decompose. But now you can use bottle caps to make tiny candles and tea lights that are pretty, fun, and quirky. All you need for the tea lights is old bottle caps, old crayons, any essential oil lying round the house, and waxed wicks, the last easily available online.
Clean and dry the caps, line them up, place the wicks in the caps – waxed wicks have a metal stand that makes them stand upright.Now, melt the crayons in a double boiler till liquid, add a few drops of essential oil for scent, and pour into the caps. Let the wax cool and your homemade tea lights are ready! To make it more fun, you can paint the bottle caps in your favourite colours before you add the wax.
3. Cheese grater into earrings stand
Ok, we absolutely love this one for sheer creativity. Don’t throw away your old box cheese grater. Simply paint it with a fabric or enamel colour, let the paint dry, and now use it as an earring holder. The holes in the grater are easy to hook your earrings in, plus the grater-earring stand will give your dressing table a quirky, rustic feel!
4. Torn bedcovers and old saris into curtains
A new cotton curtain from your favourite handloom place would set you back by a few thousand, so how about turn those torn ethnic bed covers and old saris into curtains? You could stitch them at home or ask your neighbourhood tailor to work their magic, and you can have bright, Indian-themed vintage curtains for a very reasonable cost.
By the way, vintage saris are endlessly versatile in home décor. Have a sari with a frayed border or fading zari? Simply cut out or fold over those parts and stitch them into table cloths, curtains, cushions, and more!
5. Give to those in need
In our country, giving to those in need is the best form of upcycling. Of course, we have to make sure the items we give are in good condition, whether it be old furniture, used clothes, or utensils. You don’t have to wait for items to fray before you upcycle through giving, give away stuff you’d use yourself and feel oh-so-good about saving the environment, helping someone in need, and decluttering your home – and spirit!
Jai Surya
June 3, 2022🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Ashwani kumar singh
June 3, 20221 ) Reduse Reuse Recycle
Of empty Cartons and boxes of Amazon , And believe me these cartons have come so handy in my cleaning spree this time ! I’ve used all sizes of them to organise daily stuff in cupboards , dressing area and work desk
And used them form making organisers
And decor boxex.
Priyakshi
June 3, 2022Can be convert the old plastic bottles into a pen holder from my side and go green stay green
Anni
June 4, 2022I RECYCLE MY JEANS 👖 AND MAKES BAGS WHICH CAN BE USED AGAIN AND AGAIN AND DOOR MATS AND GIVE THEM TO NEEDY ..MAKE MATS FROM SARIS AND YUP THE MOST IMPORTANT THING USING PLASTIC BOTTEL TO PLANT TRESSS ….
Subiya chouhan
June 5, 2022I have donated my old clothes to needy people instead of throwing them and also I have resuse some of my clothes by making doormats , kitchen cloth , etc
Anam
June 5, 2022Smytten is very good app for orderd beautiful makeup and skin care products 😍
INFJ
June 5, 2022Hi,
1. You can make compost from kitchen waste
2. Water from washing clothes can be used in flush and floor cleaning.
3. Sell cartons and plastic bottles to recycler.
4. Different art pieces can be made from plastic containers.
5. Keep a small cloth bag always in your hand bag.
Shagun
June 3, 2022Recycling plastic bottles into diy recycled bird feeders
Shagun
June 3, 2022Recycling Plastic bottle-
1️⃣ DIY Recycled Bird Feeders
2️⃣ DIY Kitchen Storage Containers
3️⃣ DIY Magazine Rack
4️⃣ DIY Plastic Bottle Pet Feeder
5️⃣ DIY Mobile Charger Basket
Aysha Faizal
June 5, 2022Old tshirts can be converted to bags, diy face mask, reusing of empty tins, plastic plant holders etc…
Anveshika Gupta
June 3, 2022Best ways to upcycle are ✓ using as bird feeder, ✓using for plantation ✓ Using with string lights ✓ Using for various indoor games ✓ Using as a flower vase as well 😍
Mehak arora
June 3, 2022We can use empty container as a flower vessel
We can also use smytten pencils to grow plants
Kamakshi kamath
June 3, 2022Lovely ideas.
1) I give away clothes in good conditions to NGOs or the needy
2) I upcycle plastic and paper waste into Jewelry.
3) I separate my waste and give it to a recycled once a month
4) the not so good clothes are Upcycled into floor mats
Zar Nain
June 4, 2022Use tea bags to clean mirrors
Urusha saiyed
June 3, 2022Use recycled product and use eco friendly glas cap and other product save Envariment Paln tress save water
Pavleen
June 3, 2022Upcycling extra plastic bottles into self-watering herb planters!
Priyakshi
June 3, 2022Can be use old plastic bottles into a pen holder from my side and go green stay grow
Aqsa
June 3, 2022Upcycling, also known as creative reuse, is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials, useless, or unwanted products into new materials or products perceived to be of greater quality, such as artistic value or environmental
1. Recycle cardboard pendant lights
Recycle some old cardboard boxes with a few Edison-style light bulbs for these cool pendant lights.
2. Wine Bottle Pendant Light
Transform a wine bottle into a pendant light with this simple DIY.
3.Fabric Gift Wrap
Repurposing fabrics into gift wrap is a genius upcycling hack. Wrapping gifts with fabric (as opposed to non-recyclable paper wrap) is more economical and eco-friendly, plus, it looks beautiful! Also, the receiver of the gift can use their fabric wrap over and over again.
swaleha
June 3, 2022Perfect..!! I use empty skin care containers for DIY skincare or DIY lipbalm, also with the boxes used as accesories storage.
Sanjivani salunkhe
June 3, 2022We can make bottle art using glass bottles, make design in bulbs and we can create it’s wall hanging, chandelier….paper glass se craft bana sakte he… N spre n pump bollel me face ke liye rose water ya handwash dalkar use kr sakte he. Bolltel use kr sakte he… Brobar…..
Charanjeet Kaur Gandhi
June 3, 20221. Wedding cards can be converted into shagun envelops.
2. Leftover wool is used for making Christmas bells.
3. Plastic bottle base can easily be used for planting money plant or as a flower vase with paper flowers.
4. Old diwali diya 🪔 can be painted and givfn a complete makeover.
5. Used disposable cups can be converted into home decor pieces.
6. Old newspapers can be used to make beautiful pen stand.
Muskaan
June 3, 20221.Old suits can be made into apron
2.images on the calenders can be cut out and framed for home decor at the year end
3.carton boxes can be reused for storage / to keep heels protected
4.ferero Rocher box can be used to keep jewellery
5.hand mask can be reused as gardening gloves
6.empty toilet carron rolls can be used to seperate folds in curtains behind a pelmet
7.old furniture can be rebuilt into new furniture
Himanshi
June 3, 2022-Use for planning
-as a pen holder
-as a bird feeder
– clothes can be used as dusting cloth
Apoorva Panakkal
June 4, 2022Use broken pots to make fairy garden
Make kokedama to reduce buying plastic pots
Make use of your old pair of jeans for making baskets, pouch, coasters,etc
Use shoe boxes for storage and organization
Use online shopping plastic package for keeping used cloths while traveling
Use Pringles container as lipstick organizer by cutting them to desired size.
Deepak Acharya
June 4, 2022Instead of throwing plastic water bottles, I turn them into simple planters. They really work wonder.
Anni
June 4, 2022I RECYCLE MY JEANS 👖 AND MAKES BAGS WHICH CAN BE USED AGAIN AND AGAIN AND DOOR MATS AND GIVE THEM TO NEEDY ..MAKE MATS FROM SARIS AND YUP THE MOST IMPORTANT THING USING PLASTIC BOTTEL TO PLANT TRESSS ….
Shivangi
June 4, 2022● I give my clothes away to needy people
● I use my cosmetic or Skincarw products as crafty items they look adorable and I get the most out of it..
● I usually use Shampoo Bottles as Garden Hanging pots they look amazing..
● I use snytten pencils as seeds in my recycked pots..I make the most out of it..This is an amazingblog
@getsmytten
Sanjana
June 4, 2022Digging sanitary pads and use which are biodegradable.
Anshika Agarwal
June 4, 2022Cut plastic bottles into 3/4 and plant saplings in it
Sruthi Prabu
June 4, 2022I use mini tubs to store my small earrings, rings or necklaces especially when I travel! Even make a DIY tinted lip balm with Vaseline and old lipstick (for colour) or highlighter / eyeshadow and store it.
My empty nail polish bottles becomes a cute, mini table decor using some acrylic paints and a little magic! Or make a new pretty nail polish with store-bought clear polish and some eyeshadow of any colour of choice!
Nilam parte
June 4, 2022Purane kapdhe garibome ya baran vali ko dekhe bartan lena… Ya uska pochha banana…kach ke botal ko fuldasta banana…
Sujata D
June 4, 2022Love your ideas. I have always been an advocate of sustainability and love upcycling. I turn plastic bottles into lamps and old bottles into small home decor items
Rishi
June 4, 2022Another idea for upcycling is using empty plastic bottles to plant herbs like basil, coriander as have a home garden
Nausheen Shaikh
June 5, 2022Donate those who in need. Plus reuse things as much as possible this is my recycle idea.
Asmita Yadav
June 5, 2022Let us give the future generations a healthier environment to have a happier life…Best wishes on World Environment Day #GoGreenThisEnvironmentDay #getsmytten #smytten #new #trynow #ecofriendly #contestalertindia #giveawayindia #giveawaycontest #environmentday
AJ
June 5, 2022Reuse Masor Jars to grow money plants
Preeti Vishwakarma
June 5, 2022As I child I have seen many ways to upcycle some of them I would like to mentions
1. Coconut shell used as a bowl.
2. New pillow covers from old torn bedsheets.
3. Old clothes and shoes to be given to someone needy.
4. Old and broken utensils to be excahnged from utensil shop.
Thesibanisahu
June 18, 2022Indeed. We should obediently follow the 3Rs.
To dream for a better future.
Thanks for the information.
I would like try them.
Those ideas were awesome 👌.
Let’s save our mother nature.