OK so I'm hoping to move to a bigger place soon and am looking for creative ways to find free or cheap furniture and I also have a love for steamer trunks=)
I currently have a steamer trunk that houses my daughters dress up clothes in her room I think if we do end up in a bigger place I'd love to get one in the entrance to sit to take your shoes off on and then place your shoes in.
We also have a swinger sewing machine base we plan on putting a table top on top of. I'd love to eventually find a free/cheap wooden barrell to do the same thing with.
Any other great recycling ideas for furniture or other ways to use a steamer trunk besudes as a coffee table or tv stand?
Emmy's favorite new idea since kindergarden taught them about recycling is..."mommy everything can be reused, if your door breaks use it as a table"
ideas?=)
jbiebs--how come you can spell ass but not all?
Hands down the most creative I have seen was my sister in law's conversion of a giant armoire. She laid it down on its back after removing the doors, all hardware and all shelving. The giant space remaining was enough to house her daughter's mattress. They painted it white and so it lives on as a bed frame. Who would have thought? Saw horses make good desk legs/stands. Happy recycling.
Here's an idea for a different cocktail table. Find four ceramic flower pots with colors or designs that you absolutely love and use as the four-cornered base to top with cut glass (rounded edges of course). Then as you change your color scheme, you can J. change out the pots. This J. came to M. and I might J. try it my darn self. :-)
Wooden pallets can be turned into coffee tables for a porch. Add some casters, and they can roll wherever you need an extra table or seat! I'm working on one now! Look on PInterest for pics.
Old doors can be made into headboards for beds.
Any old thrift dresser can be made to look modern with a good sanding and a new coat of paint. Ugly wood instantly becomes nice with paint!
I have some sour kraut crocks that my grandparents and parents used to make sour kraut in, I put large round metal trays on as tops and use them as end tables on my porch. I J. picked up the trays at yard sales and painted them the color I wanted them.
I also use my old sewing machine cabinet as a TV stand. I like it because it's higher than most TV stands and I can easily see the screen while laying down.
Stools of any height make good end tables or plant/lamp stands. If the top is curved J. put a round tray over it.
I like to use bedroom nightstands as end tables in the living room. They look nice and give M. more storage space.
Old tires can be cleaned, painted a bright color, stacked and you can put a tabletop on it for a cool pedestal table.
Go to pinterest.com and request an invitation to join! This site is my new obsession, it's free and easy and it will have EXACTLY the kinds of ideas and inspiration you are looking for :)
I made a "sofa" out of an old wooden bedframe. Headboard became the back. The foot of the bed which looked similar but was lower was cut and became the arms of the sofa. I had a cabinet maker add a board in front and plywood to make the seat. The seat cushion is a 6" piece of foam, custom cut and covered with fabric. Then I found one of those 5' body pillows to use as a back cushion, covered it in fabric to match the seat. It looks like some kind of antique and is super sturdy.
Check online for "repurposed" items if you're looking for something specific. I think that's also what these items are found under. You might be able to find more ideas.
I love recycled and repurposed things!! And I love that our kids are being taught about it! I keep wanting to make a planter out of an old file cabinet, but I haven't gotten to it yet.
This was cool thing to do with a steamer trunk: http://pinterest.com/pin/225180050088004101/
Good luck!!
behind the couch? Put casters on it. Take the lid off, turn it into a bookcase...
One thing I'm loving lately are all the pallet board furniture diys, old doors as tables... I'm another pinterest fan.
Maybe......
Steamer Trunk can be turned up on it's side and nailed to wall for a mini closet. You can either put in a poll for hanging clothes or shelves for organizing.
Toy Chest.
Old spools from construction sites. are great tables and end tables.
Mix-match chairs. Buy different cool chairs at garage sales. In fact, garage and estate sales has many cool things! I have a very cool old sewing table that I use as an end table.
Buy old mirrors in wood frames and paint whimsically. I once painted sanded and painted a chest of drawers that I bought for about $15 in red, white and blue theme. Stools are fun to paint too, and headboards for the bed.
Have fun!
i like to take old or cheap tables and do mosaics on top.
one of my favorites, i J. covered in glue, quickly laid down stained glass scraps, covered with a towel and hit with a hammer. then spread grout in the grooves, wipe off excess. when it is cured cover with a heavy clear coat.
my fav clear coat they sell at hobby lobby. it is the type u mix then pour over till it drips off the edge of the table. leaves a nice thick coat. looks great.
