Is it really trash?
How awesome would it feel to know that you created a unique piece of decor for your home from materials that were headed to the landfill site, not to mention that saved material didn't cost you a single cent? Pretty awesome, I think! Maybe like me, you are renovating your old home and while working through your demo stages you think to yourself, that is getting stored in the garage because I am going to use it for "said DIY project" in the near future. Perhaps you happened to drive through a neighborhood during large item pickup day and you came across a desk or a vanity that was screaming potential so you pull over and load it into your vehicle. It may feel a little embarrassing at times, but trust me, all these cases are worth it. Explore the different ways I use trashed materials to create DIY projects for my home.
-Ol' Bettie DIY
01
DIY wood slat headboard
Have you ever gone to bring bags of garbage out to your workplace's bin to discover it is filled to the brim with wooden surveyor stick markers from a local piping company and immediately thought; One, why are we throwing this wood in a trash bin rather than properly recycling it; and two, I could make so many things out of those sticks, then proceed to dive in and retrieve as many of those sticks out of that bin as you could fit in your vehicle? Hi there, I have! In this blog, I explain step by step how I DIY'd a modern looking wood slat headboard feature using FREE material! This project was achievable using basic tools, however I did use a miter saw and an orbital sander, and products you may just have in your home already like wood stain and glue. I accessorize this headboard with two bonus light features which were very affordable and available from my local IKEA store. Stay tuned for more Dumpster DIY's using this free repurposed material!
02
DIY Chevron address sign
Just like my wood slat headboard DIY project, this too is a material repurposing project that I believe has a modern, high-end look to it all while being made out of sticks that I pulled out of a dumpster. The chevron design, frame and backboard was all material I just had sitting in my garage, while the black metal numbers I purchased from Amazon. I achieved this piece with the use of my miter saw, orbital sander, a large square and of course some staining and sealing with polyurethane as it will be an outdoor decor piece. I promise this is a such an easy weekend project that has high impact, and I believe anyone could handle taking it on. You could also achieve this project with hand tools such as a miter box with pull saw if you don't have power tools in your collection. If you're nervous about trying a chevron design, vertical or horizontal slats would look just as great! Check out my blog for a how-to guide on this modern chevron address sign DIY.
03
DIY Retro style lamp makeover
I picked up this vintage floor lamp from a lady on marketplace who had it posted for $10, but upon realizing it was no longer working, she left it by her back garbage bins for free in case I still wanted it. Challenge accepted! I picked up a second hand lamp wiring kit for only $3.99, a can of bright blue spray paint and thrifted lampshade for only $2.00 and got to work. I pulled out the old wiring and replaced it with the updated wiring kit to get it working again. I prepped the lamp stand by scuff sanding the shiny gold finish down, covering up the glass top and new cord with paper and tape to avoid getting paint all over it. I gave the lamp 3 coats of a retro bright blue, allowing it to dry fully between coats. I finished the lamp with a white cylindrical lamp shade, popped in a new bulb and set her up by the side of my couch, in front of a bright window. This lamp really stands out with its unique, bold blue color, and fits in great with my retro decor styled living room.
-Ol' Bettie DIY
