14 Ideas To Turn Old Junk Into New Decor For Your Home

Junk that is currently in my basement: the hutch portion of a desk I no longer own, the cracked glass cooktop we replaced three years ago, a random assortment of rickety filing cabinets, and a large wooden cupboard with missing legs that looks like it’s been there since the house was built 100 years ago. And that’s just off the top of my head. Why is this junk still down there? Mostly because it’s a pain in the neck to get rid of it — and in the case of the ancient cupboard, I have no idea how they fit it through the tiny door in the first place — and I always forget about it when the special garbage pick-up days are in effect.

But what if instead of someday, maybe remembering to dispose of that stuff, I turn it into something new? 

1. Don’t discard those old garden hoses.

Did your old hose spring a leak? With just zip ties, you can turn it into a durable outdoor rug. Collect more from the garages of friends and neighbors to create a larger rug.

2. Used candle stubs shouldn’t be wasted.

Instead, melt them down to make new candles, decorated to match your decor. 

3. Those old candle jars are useful too!

A lot of fancy candles come in nice glass jars. When you’ve used up the candle, clean out the jar and you’ll have a lovely storage container for all sorts of things around the house.

4. Don’t cast out that old iron tub.

If you’ve got a cast iron tub that’s no longer in any shape to bathe in, you can use it as the bowl of a rustic outdoor pond. 

Don’t worry, there’s more to do with an old tub than just filling it with different water! Next!