“Use What You Have” Is a Rewarding Daily Philosophy
When you want to make a change around the house; look around you. There’s a really good chance you already have what you need; it just needs to be repurposed. You can avoid spending more money, have the delight and pride of reducing your impact on the environment, and save time.
Dresser-Top Watch Box
Smoking’s out – but keeping time on attractive timepieces sure is in style!
Bill’s cigar humidor is one of my favorite repurposed projects. I lined it with rich royal blue felt, added a separator for my Withings watches and was finished.
No former smokers around but you like the looks? You can find cigar humidors of all shapes and sizes at great prices to make your own.
Pretty Way to Add Height
Using cake plates, or, in this case, antique Teaberry gum stands I collected decades ago; adds height and glamour to your dresser space. While I scoured antique shops, you can find them online instantly on eBay – link above.
Arrange favorite perfumes, personal items and boxes to organize your every day essentials.
Items You Touch Daily
Vitamins that you access on a daily basis – housed in unattractive, Yahtzee-sound rattling plastic containers don’t have to be so unsightly.
Bring some of your more beautiful trinket containers into use. What your hands touch daily should be beautiful and elegant.
For a very specific style, check eBay for “antique ceramic trinket box.” Not only can you find some incredible deals, you can set up a watchlist for one that matches your decor perfectly.
Drawer Organizers
Being unable to find your belongings when they are unorganized wastes time and yields frustration.
As assortment of cell phone boxes, kitchen containers, and small baskets can transform your messiest chaotic drawer into an organized space.
I bet you had no idea that empty cell phone boxes are so collectible that they are sold online! Finding that crafters and others will reduce/reuse/recycle just about anything makes me happy!
Serving Pieces
When you think you don’t have the right serving piece; wait before you rush to purchase something new.
Check your cabinets, and see if you already have something that will work. I use my trifle bowl for far more than desserts!
Finding a trifle dish with a lid is not easy! You can use a glass bowl supported by another bowl. Pampered Chef used to have one, but it’s retired. Publix supermarkets have them in the baking section. An eBay search for “trifle dish with lid” yielded a few options – but very few.
You might like: Trifle Bowl Salad – Elevate Your Table.
Repurposing Furniture
If you have quality furniture, wait before you ditch it. See if there’s another way to use it.
Currently, I’m using a family heirloom hutch as a headboard for a bed! It’s got drawers that hold linens, and the shelves are perfect for books.
I think the best, most eco-friendly way to obtain furniture is from auctions. Incredibly good quality items go for very low prices. With everyone avoiding crowds, I checked eBay for “wood dresser” and was astonished at the range available!
This photo is from an Airbnb where we stayed – I think the owner could have spent a lot less and gained a lot more quality and personality by shopping used pieces.
More Furniture Adaptation Ideas
Side tables can change to end tables, and vice versa. Two vintage side tables put together form the table behind our sofa and act to hold our workout gear under their tops. Online you can find a lot more options faster than you can shopping in person.
We have a couple windows that dip very low, displaying the back of dressers. Repurposing a large mirror behind the dressers makes a bit of tromp l’oeil by reflecting the outdoors instead of the backside of furniture.
Weird and Wacky
Same outdoors! If you have supplies, before you toss them in the trash – consider a use.
These turn-of-the-century corner foundation stones from some 1900’s homes are being repurposed as front porch supports at our home.
During that project; I learned that you can purchase vintage bricks online! I was researching some of my finds, and found that people sell old bricks!
Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make It Do, Or Do Without
Before making any snap decisions to order furnishings, look at what you have already.
There’s a good chance you have something that will work perfectly, except it’s languishing in another room.
I use dressers for attractive storage in my studio instead of anything plastic.
Slow down, look around, and discover how delightful it is to repurpose something you already have instead of buying more “stuff.”
Spending More Time At Home
It seems that with spending more time at home, we finally have the time to ponder reorganization of our lives from furniture arrangement right down to drawer organization.
Before you buy new items; see if you can repurpose something you already have. Or, purchased “previously loved” to keep from adding to the landfill.
Over 20 years old, “Use What You Have Decorating” by Lauri Ward is where Bill and I got the phrase, and now we use it for far more than just home furnishings.
