More and more South Africans are embracing DIY and rolling up their sleeves to tackle home upgrades and renovations, but renovation projects often leave behind a variety of materials such as paint, tiles, lumber, and cement. Instead of discarding these leftovers or leaving them lying around in your garage gathering dust and getting in the way, why not transform them into something useful and beautiful?
Orlando Luis, CEO of Brights Hardware, a leading independent hardware retail chain, offers some clever and creative ideas for repurposing these materials, adding a personal touch to your home while also being environmentally conscious:
Leftover Paint
Paint can easily be used to refresh and revitalise your space with minimal effort. Here are a few ideas:
- Accent Walls and Furniture: Use leftover paint to create striking accent walls in your home. A pop of colour on one wall can transform a room’s ambiance. Additionally, you can repaint old furniture to give it a new lease on life, whether it’s a chair, table, or bookshelf.
- DIY Artwork: Turn your extra paint into unique pieces of art. Abstract designs on canvas, geometric patterns on wood, or stencilled art on walls can add personality to any room.
- Planters and Pots: Brighten up your garden or indoor plants by painting your old pots and planters. This can also give a new lease of life to tired and weather-worn pots.
- Decorative Trays and Frames: Upcycle old trays and picture frames by painting them to match your decor. This is a simple way to create custom home accessories.
- Murals: Use leftover paint to create murals on walls or fences. This can be a fun family project and adds a unique artistic element to your home.
Leftover Tiles
Tiles can be incredibly versatile when it comes to DIY projects. Consider these ideas:
- Mosaic Art: Create stunning mosaic art pieces for garden paths, tabletops, or even wall art. The different colours and textures of leftover tiles can make for beautiful designs.
- Coasters and Trivets: Smaller tiles can be transformed into coasters and trivets. Simply add felt or cork to the back to protect your surfaces.
- Backsplashes and Borders: Use leftover tiles to create backsplashes in kitchens or bathrooms, or add decorative borders around existing tiled areas for a refreshed look.
- Plant Stands: Cover the tops of small tables or stools with tiles to make unique plant stands.
- Outdoor Stepping Stones: Embed tiles into cement to create colourful stepping stones for your garden.
Leftover Lumber
This is perfect for crafting and building projects. Here are some ways to repurpose it:
- Shelves and Storage: Build custom shelves or storage solutions for your home or garage. This can help organise your space while adding a personal touch.
- Picture Frames: Craft unique picture frames using leftover wood. These can be stained, painted, or left natural.
- Furniture: Create small pieces of furniture like stools, benches, or side tables. Handmade furniture adds character and charm to any space.
- Garden Beds: Construct raised garden beds or compost bins. This is a practical use of leftover lumber that benefits your garden.
- Birdhouses and Feeders: Make birdhouses or feeders to attract wildlife to your yard. This is a fun project that can involve the whole family.
Leftover Cement
Cement is a versatile material that can be used in various DIY projects. Here are some easy ideas:
- Stepping Stones: Make personalised stepping stones by pouring cement into moulds and adding decorations like stones, tiles, or imprints (children’s hands and/or feet make for wonderful stepping stone imprints).
- Planters: Mould cement into unique shapes to create sturdy planters for your garden or indoor plants.
- Garden Sculptures: Craft simple garden sculptures or ornaments. These can add a whimsical touch to your outdoor space.
Combined Materials Projects
For a more elaborate project, consider combining different materials:
- Garden Pathways: Use a combination of tiles and cement to create decorative garden pathways.
- Custom Furniture: Combine lumber and tiles to create unique furniture pieces, like a tiled-top side table for the patio.
- Decorative Panels: Use leftover paint, tiles, and lumber to create decorative wall panels or a headboard that will make a statement in any room.
- Outdoor Fire Pit: Build an outdoor fire pit using leftover cement and tiles for a stylish and practical gathering spot.
Repurposing leftover renovation materials not only reduces waste but also allows you and your family to add personalised and unique touches to your home. Whether you’re making practical items or decorative pieces, these projects can help you make the most of what you have and create something beautiful in the process.
Brights Hardware has on-site experts in all stores to provide advice and guidance on tools or supplies you may need for your fun repurposing projects.