RE-USE . RE-STYLE . RE-DISCOVER part two

Image created by me

There's so much you can re-use and re-style at home. Part two of the 'save the planet' series will give you the ideas and inspiration to make a change in your home for the good of our environment. I would like to explore the concept of re-use and re-styling household objects into functional and aesthetic pieces of Eco-friendly design. Anyone who likes cratfs will certainly enjoy the challenge of re-styling and anyone new to DIY could beging by re-using. I have compiled some images of inspiration for everyday items and how they could be re-purposed.

Blown out Bulbs
Cut them, empty them, wash them, paint them, glitter them, hang them... the list is endless when it comes to what you can do to style your blown out bulbs. With little bits and bobs you can transform your old bulbs into mini vases, tree ornaments, saltshakers, oil lamps and into so many more things. I stumbled upon a post about beautiful hanging vases made from recycled bulbs by Esprit Cabane and also a recycled incandescent bulb at Ready Made. Check them out.

Image from Esprit Cabane

Image from Ready Made

 Image by Wicked Stepmom

Empty Bottles
Got empty bottles waiting around to be trashed? Why not re-purpose them into unique vases and lighting fixtures. I saw this uber amazing chandelier "The Narrative Augmented Reality Chandelier" made from PET bottles by Julius Kranefuss.

Image by glassvase1.com 

 

The Narrative Augmented Reality Chandelier

Tin Cans

These are many ways to re-style tin cans. The first reflex would be to style them as pen/paintbrush holders or jewellery tins. Try using bits of tiles or foam and paint and create some colorful containers. Alternatively, try new things by cutting, bending and hanging them to create cute little lanterns or candle holders. Here are some examples by creativeman and junkwave.

Image by creativeman

Image by  the Junkwave

Being resourceful and creative shouldn't be a chore. Experiment with crafts and ideas and you will be surprised with what you can come up with. Bring new life to old things and save the planet one decorative tin can at a time.

xx christina xx

RE-USE . RE-STYLE . RE-DISCOVER part one

Image created by me

Want to save the planet and have a fabulous looking home at the same time? Three words for you... re-use, re-style and re-discover. It is becoming increasingly important in this day and age to consider the environmental impact we have and use in our daily lives. Looking after our plan it much easier than you would think. If everyone made a small difference in their homes there would be a great impact on our environment. At the risk of being labeled a 'treehugger' i'll begin with the energy tips that could help your home, the world and your wallet (part one). Then i'll get to the quirky Eco-friendly design ideas that could make reading and implementing these tips less of a chore... (part two).

Images by me (of energy in my house)

Electricity:

• Switch of the lights in a room if it's not in use and save £££ when the electric bill comes along
• Switch to low energy bulbs because they use only a quarter of the electricity and last up to 10 times longer
• Switch off all electrical appliances at the plug instead of leaving them on standby (6% of the electricity bill comes courtesy of your standby appliances)
• Let hot food cool before you put in the fridge and position the fridge/freezer as far from the cooker/heater as possible to improve efficiency

Heat:

• Reduce heating by 1 degree and by 1 hour less everyday.
• Install double glazed windows
• Make use of rugs around the house and draw the curtains closed at night to save heat
• Use the right sized pans for the food and hobs, also make use of lids to keep the heat in

Water:

• Fix leaky taps and try not to leave taps running as you wash dishes (I'm usually guilty of this) 
• Wash a full load of laundry only or use the economy settings if available. Also try washing dishes manually rather than using a dishwasher
• Use a low-flow shower head and save gallons of water and £££

Miscellaneous:

• Declutter your home by donating to charity or gifting unwanted/unnecessary objects (someone's trash, another man's treasure etc.)
• Re-use tapaware, bottles and jars for leftovers, marinades, sauces etc
• Buy potted plants instead of cut flowers. They last longer and improve the quality of air indoors

.....end of part one.....

xx christina xx