The things you can do with “junk” are astounding. While some of these are easy, others require a little bit of know-how. But they’ll all blow you away. It’s all about being creative and taking a chance. If this is something that you’re interested in doing or you’re simply curious as to what others have done, you’ll love what these 39 people did to give junk a second chance.
You’d be surprised at the number of oil drums just lying around. If you want to make furniture pieces like these, visit old farms and refineries. They often have plenty of drums they’d love to get off their hands.
Oh my gosh. This is incredible. Just about everyone has old or mismatched spoons. Instead of tossing them out, turn them into art. If you don’t have any, you can find different sizes and designs at thrift stores for super cheap.
3. The world’s coolest barbecue ever
Okay, so getting your hands on an airplane engine might not be that easy but then again, you might have connections. Even if you can’t get one, you can marvel at this person’s talent at creating an awesome barbecue station.
While some women feel embarrassed to talk about their menstrual cycle, it’s part of life. Using remnants, this individual made pads that are comfortable to wear and washable. That’s a novice idea.
Bubble wrap and packing paper are expensive. But if you’re moving and need to fill spaces inside of boxes, use paper that would otherwise be tossed out. That includes receipts, newspapers, magazines, ad circulars, and more
Have you ever seen a broken lamp placed outside by the curb for the trashmen to haul away? Next time, grab it. Just because the electrical components won’t work doesn’t mean it’s worthless. As this person shows, you can use it as a planter.
If you have basic electrical knowledge, you could easily turn an old fan into something like this. Simply by swapping out the wiring and motor, then applying paint, this person created a fan that looks amazing and works perfectly.
If you look online, you’ll have no problem finding people giving pianos away. Sure, you need to move it but with some ingenuity, this is what you could accomplish. Talk about a beautiful conversation piece.
9. Controller organization
It seems as though gaming companies come out with new controllers every few months. If you have one that’s old, outdated, or broken, don’t throw it away. Instead, remove the control buttons and use the empty spaces to keep office supplies organized.
When hit with a strong gust of wind, a lot of umbrellas break. While it won’t keep you dry, the material is still good. This person took their broken umbrella and made a handy bag.
This teacher found a decorative container at a thrift store. After some new hardware, paint, a sticker, and stenciled lettering, she has an adorable miniature mailbox that sits on her desk. Now, her students have a place to drop notes and suggestions.
Originally, this desk was pretty battered. But this individual sanded it down, applied new stain, and spray painted a new chalkboard top to make it look almost new again. They then added new hardware to complete the project.
13. Circuit board notebook cover
Whether for a sketchbook, notepad, or journal, this is an excellent way to create a one-of-a-kind cover. With desktop computers obsolete, it’s not hard to find old circuit boards.
But this isn’t just any ordinary tee shirt quilt. Come to find out, this woman’s husband passed away. So, she took his old shirts and made each of their kids a special quilt. Now, their dad will always be near them.
Not only are conventional scratching posts expensive but cats destroy them pretty quickly. So, this person cut heavy-duty cardboard boxes into strips. After gluing them together, their cat can scratch all it wants.
16. Refurbished lawn chairs
After spending just $22 on three teak lawn chairs at a local thrift shop, this individual sanded them down. A new coat of stain and a sealer and they have beautiful outdoor furniture that’ll provide years of enjoyment.
Here’s another perfect example of what a little elbow grease and a fresh coat of stain can do. The best part…this table is an antique. But with smart shopping, this individual got it for a real bargain.
You read that correctly. These contemporary-looking chairs were made from old tires. Since they’re rubber, they’re both comfortable and durable. These things can withstand any outdoor element and still work just fine.
Who would ever guess that this majestic eagle was made from old CDs? While this project might’ve been a little adventurous, the result is undeniably gorgeous. When the light hits the CDs, it creates a stunning reflection of color.
20. Rocking chair transformation
For a mere $6, this person purchased an old-style rocking chair. To give it character and charm, it only took a little sanding and painting. Once they add a seat cushion, it’ll be ready to enjoy.
A young man works for a company that launders uniforms. Almost every day, he finds paperclips inside of pockets. So, he decided to make tiny hangers for his cousin. Now, she has a way to hang up her doll’s clothes.
Rather than spend hard-earned money on commercial pads for removing makeup, this woman sewed remnant fabric together with a hand towel. These small squares work great and they’re washable.
23. A chair fit for Royalty
Before, this chair was, well, ugly. But after using a deep purple dye and staining the light wood to black, it looks expensive. What an amazing transformation for less than $10 and a little time.
While thrift stores are a great place to find “junk,” so are the dumpsters. This guy discovered this old military filing cabinet inside a trash bin. New paint combined with making a wooden stand for it to sit in, he now has a functional piece of history.
25. Curtain makeup brush organizer
Considering what these organizers are used for, it’s not surprising they get damaged. But rather than pay for something new, this individual used her grandmother’s old curtains to make one.
Today’s weddings are much different from those 20 years ago. We now see couples building their special day around things they enjoy. So, for comic book enthusiasts, this bouquet is ideal.
After reading the newspaper, most people toss it in the garbage or the recycling bin. But this person came up with a different idea. By rolling newspaper tightly and in a specific way, they made working pencils.
For someone with time on their hands who enjoys a challenging project, this is perfect. Instead of covering a table or the floor with coins, this individual made a chair. That’s downright impressive.
Rather than just use spoons as seen in the parrot art, this person made a bouquet using all types of cutlery. There’s no question…this is beyond magnificent.
Books are in abundance. So, one individual used some he had on hand to make custom stools. Not only do they have a wonderful whimsical look but they’re also incredibly sturdy. Something like this would be great for a home office, library, or den.
31. Wine barrel wine rack
This individual found an old wine barrel. Wanting to make something both interesting and functional, they came up with the idea of a wine rack. This is truly amazing.
Since hardly anyone uses desktop computers anymore, they’re easy to find at thrift stores and in dumpsters. In this case, a group of students turned two of those computers into a workable bench. Great job.
Okay, so maybe this isn’t the type of project that just anybody would take on but for people in Northumberland, it was perfect. Needing to build sheds, they used old boats that no one wanted or used. It’s so amazing that we felt it deserved recognition.
34. Colored pencil guitar
Believe it or not, this guy used 1,200 colored pencils to make a guitar. Again, this is a more advanced “trash to treasure” type of project but with dedication, anything is possible. It’s just beautiful.
One person pulled an old white table out of the dumpster. While it was still in good condition, it didn’t look very pretty. So, they painted it and then created a design using money. The result is phenomenal.
It’s amazing what a rusted gear, old lightning rod, and witcher can become. In this case, an awesome Steampunk lamp. It has a ton of character.
37. Doll limb coat hanger
Okay, so this one might be a little on the creepy side but at the same time, it’s genius. Doll parts are often thrown away. So, this individual used what they found to make this handy rack. Hey, it works.
Not only did someone throw this clock into a dumpster but they spray painted parts of it first. But the person who found it had an idea. They spray painted a piece of wood the same colors, cut it into a circle, and attached it to the back. Now, this looks like the clock’s original design.
Today, almost everyone uses a metal ladder. That means the old wooden ones are ending up in dumpsters. For you, that’s good. If you find one, you can make an amazing shelf like this. It’s great for books, vases, knick-knacks, and a whole lot more.
