Decorating
Finders Keepers: Incorporating Found Materials Into Your Decor
Sometimes it's worth considering what’s lying around in your own backyard – literally – to bring your interior to life
Often when we’re renovating, building or restyling we scour countless sources looking for something special. However, it can be difficult to find something that suits your style but stands out from the rest, particularly if you’re on a budget. The greatest additions to our decor can frequently be gained from our surroundings – as long as we think creatively. This approach is cost effective, environmentally friendly and, in many cases, one of a kind. From disregarded building materials or tree branches, to hard rubbish or old furniture collecting dust in your garage, there are ample opportunities to revitalise your decor with items you already own.
Sound like the look you’re going for? Grab your gloves and let’s go on a scrounge around the home to see what we can find.
Sound like the look you’re going for? Grab your gloves and let’s go on a scrounge around the home to see what we can find.
Play musical chairs
Have you inherited your great aunt’s lounge suite, or picked up an interesting chair from the side of the road? Perhaps your chairs or sofa are looking tired but you’re not ready to replace them? You don’t have to hit the shops to find a new suite – instead, get crafty and reupholster to give your furniture new life. With the help of a staple gun, cushioning and some additional trimmings, the world of fabrics is your oyster. If you’re reupholstering one piece, chose a bold and vibrant pattern to provide a complementary contrast with the surrounding furniture. You can further tie in the surrounding furniture with your new pattern by integrating cushions or colours from the same palette of your revitalised piece.
Have you inherited your great aunt’s lounge suite, or picked up an interesting chair from the side of the road? Perhaps your chairs or sofa are looking tired but you’re not ready to replace them? You don’t have to hit the shops to find a new suite – instead, get crafty and reupholster to give your furniture new life. With the help of a staple gun, cushioning and some additional trimmings, the world of fabrics is your oyster. If you’re reupholstering one piece, chose a bold and vibrant pattern to provide a complementary contrast with the surrounding furniture. You can further tie in the surrounding furniture with your new pattern by integrating cushions or colours from the same palette of your revitalised piece.
Branch out
If you’re short of hanging space why not incorporate branches into your room for a clever take on fixed hanging space? Hung from the ceiling or attached to the walls, the right branch (sanded back and treated) is a simple way to create an earthy feel in the house while keeping to a budget. This is also a fun idea for incorporating nature into children’s rooms.
If you’re short of hanging space why not incorporate branches into your room for a clever take on fixed hanging space? Hung from the ceiling or attached to the walls, the right branch (sanded back and treated) is a simple way to create an earthy feel in the house while keeping to a budget. This is also a fun idea for incorporating nature into children’s rooms.
Beam it up
Trying to find ways to incorporate a stripped-back style to your decor? Look no further than leftover or used building materials. Consider the shape and strength of the materials and think creatively about where they can be incorporated – here beams were used to build a flight of stairs, but you could also build simple shelving fixtures. Integrating raw materials into your home creates a modern rustic look with strong lines and sharp design that are likely to be a standout feature.
Trying to find ways to incorporate a stripped-back style to your decor? Look no further than leftover or used building materials. Consider the shape and strength of the materials and think creatively about where they can be incorporated – here beams were used to build a flight of stairs, but you could also build simple shelving fixtures. Integrating raw materials into your home creates a modern rustic look with strong lines and sharp design that are likely to be a standout feature.
Be a basket case
There was a time (the early nineties, perhaps) when it was the done thing to receive gifts in baskets, and you politely kept them aside for the day they might become useful again. Instead of piling your basket collection in a corner of your garage, turn it on its head (or at least on its side) and create an unusual feature wall using your family of baskets. The repetition of the circular pattern will hold them together in spite of different styles and sizes, with each basket’s weave and pattern telling a story of its own. You could add a splash of paint to them, too, and tie the colours into your existing decor.
There was a time (the early nineties, perhaps) when it was the done thing to receive gifts in baskets, and you politely kept them aside for the day they might become useful again. Instead of piling your basket collection in a corner of your garage, turn it on its head (or at least on its side) and create an unusual feature wall using your family of baskets. The repetition of the circular pattern will hold them together in spite of different styles and sizes, with each basket’s weave and pattern telling a story of its own. You could add a splash of paint to them, too, and tie the colours into your existing decor.
Peg it up
Do you have albums full of photos that never see the light of day, or you can’t quite find the right way to frame your memories? Try putting them all on display with the help of wooden pegs and a ball of string. Create your own photo bunting and run it down your hallway or pop a few rows on a bare wall. Alternatively, fix small magnets on the back of the pegs and attach your photo memories to your fridge or other magnetic surfaces.
Do you have albums full of photos that never see the light of day, or you can’t quite find the right way to frame your memories? Try putting them all on display with the help of wooden pegs and a ball of string. Create your own photo bunting and run it down your hallway or pop a few rows on a bare wall. Alternatively, fix small magnets on the back of the pegs and attach your photo memories to your fridge or other magnetic surfaces.
Milk crates for all they’re worth
Associated with your first share house and fruit deliveries in your childhood, crates are seeing a revival as a desirable vintage item. Providing the structure is strong enough, there are several options for these vintage beauties.You could turn the crate upside down to become a functional bedside table or side table in a casual living room, or place a crate beside the front or back door for shoes and umbrellas. Crates are also perfect for storing toys and games in children’s bedrooms and playrooms.
More: Bedside Tables With a Difference: 11 One-of-a-Kind Ideas
Associated with your first share house and fruit deliveries in your childhood, crates are seeing a revival as a desirable vintage item. Providing the structure is strong enough, there are several options for these vintage beauties.You could turn the crate upside down to become a functional bedside table or side table in a casual living room, or place a crate beside the front or back door for shoes and umbrellas. Crates are also perfect for storing toys and games in children’s bedrooms and playrooms.
More: Bedside Tables With a Difference: 11 One-of-a-Kind Ideas
Celebrate nature
The simplicity of nature can bring an earthy feel to your living room with an elegant display using a beautiful tree branch. If the branch is strong enough it should rest soundly against a wall or in a corner, otherwise place the base of the branch in a large vase or pot with heavy stones to keep it in place. To dress the branch, ensure it’s dry and smooth with any excess bark removed, then adorn with lights, garlands or Christmas decorations during the festive season. Try making your own garlands or decorations using paper cuttings and recyclables.
The simplicity of nature can bring an earthy feel to your living room with an elegant display using a beautiful tree branch. If the branch is strong enough it should rest soundly against a wall or in a corner, otherwise place the base of the branch in a large vase or pot with heavy stones to keep it in place. To dress the branch, ensure it’s dry and smooth with any excess bark removed, then adorn with lights, garlands or Christmas decorations during the festive season. Try making your own garlands or decorations using paper cuttings and recyclables.
Log it or leave it
Logs aren’t just for the fireplace. If you’re looking for a simple and natural addition to your room consider using a beautiful log of wood on its end. With a light sand and the treatment of your choice you can create a stunning bedside table or stool that will blend in easily with its surroundings. For the perfect finishing touch when using as a table, add a plastic or glass sheet to the top end to protect the timber.
SHARE YOUR IDEAS
How have you re-used pre-loved items into your home? Tell us about it in the comments section.
MORE
Second Best: 5 Reasons to Scour the Op Shops
Second-Hand Steals: How to Decorate on a Shoestring
Give an Old Chair a New Lease on Life With Upholstery
Logs aren’t just for the fireplace. If you’re looking for a simple and natural addition to your room consider using a beautiful log of wood on its end. With a light sand and the treatment of your choice you can create a stunning bedside table or stool that will blend in easily with its surroundings. For the perfect finishing touch when using as a table, add a plastic or glass sheet to the top end to protect the timber.
SHARE YOUR IDEAS
How have you re-used pre-loved items into your home? Tell us about it in the comments section.
MORE
Second Best: 5 Reasons to Scour the Op Shops
Second-Hand Steals: How to Decorate on a Shoestring
Give an Old Chair a New Lease on Life With Upholstery
Rather than popping your empty jars directly into the recycling bin, why not see if there is another way you could recycle by incorporating them into your living space? Filled with sand or pebbles, pens or flowers, glass jars can provide a subtle and understated vase or display for bathrooms, living rooms, kitchens and bathrooms. Use a wide-necked jar for holding your spoons or position it on your desk to hold pens and other stationery items. Or why not collect a set of similar jars and serve drinks in them? You could tie ribbon or some lace around the neck of the jar to create a more elegant look.
Read more about nifty ways to add class with old glass