Upcycle the junk in your garage

Upcycling the junk sitting behind your garage door is a fun way to repurpose old items, giving them a new, functional life. Not only is up cycling a cost-effective way to decorate your home or create useful items, but it also helps to reduce the amount of waste you send to landfill. With a little creativity and some DIY skills, you can easily transform garage junk into beautiful and functional decor items and everyday essentials. Read on for our ideas on giving a new lease of life to the junk cluttering your garage!

Old furniture is often well-built and worthy of a new purpose.

One simple way to start upcycling or repurposing your garage junk is to find a new use for old furniture. If you have an old chest of drawers or dresser that you no longer need, why not transform it to have a different function? For example, you could paint the piece a bright colour (use enamel paint for wet areas), add new hardware, and use it as a bathroom vanity or storage unit. Or, you can remove the drawers and use the frame as a bookshelf or a plant stand. Sand the item first and either paint it to match the room or apply a few coats of stain, then rub it with linseed oil for protection. Now you have a unique piece for a tiny cost.

Doors and shutters have loads of potential. A door can be transformed into a makeshift trestle table or home office desk by coupling it with some trestles or even a stack of bricks. Old shutters are a coveted upcycle item that can be repurposed into racks to hold pot lids, CDs or magazines or simply as a decorative item outdoors.

Sturdy pallets have awesome potential, even if simply to make an insect hotel (above, centre bottom) for the kids to enjoy!

How about upcycling more of your garage junk to create functional items for the home and garden? Old wooden pallets have a multitude of potential uses. You could create a sturdy and stylish outdoor bench, a raised garden bed or even a garden swing. Repurpose old tyres into a durable and functional ottoman or footstool. Another option is to simply stack them up and fill them with soil to grow potatoes. These types of projects are easy to make and provide a practical solution for your home - or to give to students and first homeowners who may not have the funds to purchase the items new.

Yes, the ottomans above were made using an old tyre as a base!

Another great way to make use of your garage junk is DIY projects from old tools and hardware. Got a bunch of old pipes and fittings lying around? You could create a unique industrial-style lamp or chandelier. Old metal scraps could be repurposed into coat hooks or a one-of-a-kind sculpture. These types of projects will get your imagination working while adding a unique touch of character to your home.

Upcycling old jars can be as simple as removing the label, or you can make a showstopping feature with a little time and imagination.

The next category of garage detritus up for repurposing is old bottles, jars and cans. Let's begin with glass. Use bottles and jars to create vases, candle holders, and organised storage. Large cans, such as old oil cans, are much more useful than they look. Turn them into plant holders by piercing the base for drainage. Then, paint the can with coloured paint to match other planters, or hot glue fabric, pebbles or broken tiles to the outside as decoration. Another use for large cans is to cut them open vertically and create a fire pit. Make sure it's well supported at the edges for safety - and we have to mention that you should never leave a fire unattended. These projects are super simple to make, often so simple that the items can be overlooked as valid candidates for upcycling.

Find the link to these can planters here. 

We've only just scratched the surface of ways to give new life to old items in your garage and reduce the waste you send to landfill. The next time you're cleaning out your garage, don't just discard that old piece of furniture or tool, give it some thought and give it the DIY treatment!

Garador specialises in reliable, quality garage doors and opening systems made in New Zealand. Find your local dealer from over 30 nationwide.

Back to articles