One person’s trash is another’s treasure: 8 smart reuse ideas for DIY and remodeling

Imagination is the only limit when reusing old doors and windows, boards, bricks, and other materials in DIY and remodeling. Savvy crafters also incorporate leftover materials from previous renovations in new projects. It’s just as inspiring to give a piece of furniture a new job: a coat rack doesn’t have to stay in the entryway or even hold clothes. Remember to consider whether older materials can still stand up to wear and how they might behave in a new setting.

1. Windows and roof panels

Maria Meder’s greenhouse was built from old windows and reclaimed roof panels. The foundation is made of old bricks. Only the clear roof panels, frame, and wall boards are new. Despite its small size, the greenhouse has even hosted parties.

2. New spot for the coat rack

The classic Lahden Naulakkovalmiste coat rack works far beyond the entryway. Mounted above a crafting station and home office, it adds storage space and frames the setup. The shelf can hold houseplants, binders, and storage boxes. Use the rack to hang decorative pieces or baskets. In autumn, decorate it with seasonal lights.

3. A kitchen made from scraps

Anna Piiroinen calls her kitchen in an old bank “scrap kitchen,” because it’s assembled from recycled elements. The sideboard came from a bike repair shop, and the sink and faucet from a plumber’s scrap bin. A plank worn smooth by the sea serves as a shelf. Only the tiles were bought new from Värisilmä.

4. From one kitchen to another

Essi and Mikko received kitchen cabinets for their cottage from a friend who had upgraded to new ones. The cabinets now store dry goods. The doors are finished with leather pulls.

5. Floorboards for a headboard

The timber-framed headboard is clad in surplus floorboards and tongue-and-groove paneling in Antti Kuha’s log house by the Tornio River. The headboard is waxed in an oak tone. The frame is wired for reading lights.

6. The bunk bed

These beds were built from wood from the local forest, and they reuse timbers left over from the scaffolding in their own renovation. At Villa Mandala [in Finnish] there are even more reuse projects: the long dining table was made from old boards from the barn loft.

7. Crates into shelves

A playful open shelving display made from old wine crates is arranged on the kitchen wall.

8. Shingles on the surface

A modern sauna gets added warmth and character from shingle cladding. The shingle-clad wall continues across the ceiling through the entire shower area. The shingles were left over after a relative’s roof renovation. The shingle surfaces are treated with a clear sauna finish, and the spruce benches with white sauna wax.

+ source your tools secondhand