Those who try to live a greener life may be in two minds about buying new furniture. Unless you have a lot of money spare, eco-friendly furniture can be out of most people’s price range. Nobody said saving the planet was going to be easy (or cheap)! So, when it comes to creating more storage in the house, it can be tricky to know what to do. On one hand, you don’t want clutter everywhere. On the other, you can’t afford the eco-friendly storage solutions. In this guide, we’re going to look at how you can solve both problems.
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Use Old Junk
You’d be surprised at how many things we usually throw out or recycle, that can be turned into storage. Here are a couple of tips and tricks for transforming that old junk.
- Glass Jars – Pasta sauces, dips, preserves. We tend to accumulate a lot of glass jars over the years, which then end up being recycled. Do some recycling of your own and turn them into clever storage. Simply wash thoroughly and use for bits and bobs around the house.
- Cardboard Tubes – If you’ve got some sturdy cardboard tubes lying around, then these can be extremely useful. You can use them in office for pens and pencils. Pop one in the kitchen to hold your spaghetti. If they’re wide enough, stick a few together to hold your umbrellas by the door.
- Cardboard Boxes – Any old cardboard boxes you get can be used to make storage containers. If they’re flimsy then just build them up using the paper mache technique. You can then decorate with old wrapping paper, for the ultimate in eco-friendly storage boxes.
DIY Storage Solutions
If you want to be kinder to the planet, then you could always make your own storage solutions. As long as you’re reasonably handy with a hammer. It isn’t actually as hard as you may think, to make your own cupboards, drawers and bookcases. You can also find sustainable materials from various DIY stores. Failing that, head to a reclamation yard and pick up some scrap. Don’t forget all of the fixtures and fittings you’ll need too. Things such as ball bearing drawer slides, nails, hooks and screws. Once you’ve got all of your kit together, you can then start building your new storage solutions. There are a range of different videos and guides out there, to teach you how to do it. You may be surprised at how easy it really is.
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Upcycling
One of the most eco-friendly ways to create more storage space in the home is through upcycling. This is a process in which you revamp old things around the home. A bit like what we did with the junk further up. You can use practically anything to upcycle into storage solutions. From old books to tyres, it all has some kind of use. One of the best places to find upcycling tips is Pinterest. There are some amazing transformations on there! If you’re stuck for ideas, simply give your old bookcase a lick of paint. Or sand down and varnish a tired chest of drawers.
Now you can have a clutter-free home that hasn’t cost you a fortune. Not only that, but you’ll be doing your bit for the environment too. Now, that’s what I call a winning combination!
