It’s amazing how some styles and designs seem to repeat themselves over the years, isn’t it? Something that was at the height of popularity at one time becomes passed over time, and then, years later, its beauty is rediscovered and it becomes the latest trend again.
In recent years, with everyone’s increased focus on reducing waste by reusing and recycling, we are seeing a growing trend towards using unique, repurposed interior design ideas and themes. It seems to be especially popular to mix some older pieces of history with newer furniture and fixtures. Here are a few ideas to achieve that look.
Incorporate Nature Inside of Your Home
There are some great ways to bring some of that outdoor beauty inside. Here are some things to think about.
- Tree limbs and branches can be dried, sealed, and painted and used for everything from coat racks, wall decorations, or even room dividers. Not only can they create an interesting, unique look, but they cost nothing.
- If you cut down an old tree, you can keep a memento and turn it into a piece of furniture. A slab can be cut from the trunk, sanded and treated, and turned into an ornate side table.
- Pine cones are also great for decorating in baskets or on shelves. They can either be painted or remain in their natural splendor.
What’s Buried in Your Garage?
You might be surprised at what some of those old, rusty relics can actually be turned into. Old bikes can be transformed into vanities or shelving. Those old toolboxes are very trendy, adding a bit of an industrial look to a room. It’s all about looking at something from a different point of view and thinking a bit outside of the box.
Old Glassware
All of those old glasses that you have collected over the years can actually be put to good use. If they’re decorative on their own, they can be used to adorn shelves or counters. Or, you can turn them into flower pots and vases. How about organizers in the bathroom? They can add some nostalgia to any room.
Ladders
Old wooden ladders aren’t ideal for climbing anymore, but they are great for so many other things.
- Lean one up against the wall and use the rungs to hang quilts.
- In the bathroom, you can do the same thing and use it for towels and other linen.
- The same idea is great for organizing throw blankets in your bedroom.
- With a little ingenuity, you can even turn an old ladder into a bookshelf.
Antique Suitcases
They definitely don’t make suitcases like they used to. And, some of those older styles are truly works of art, especially the ones that have ornate straps, intricate leather variations, or vibrant colors. Here are just a few of the things that you can do with old suitcases.
- Stack them to make a table or tall shelf. Not only will they look be truly unique to your individual style, but you can also use them for hidden storage at the same time.
- You can hang suitcases and use them for shelving.
- It’s fairly easy to attach legs to an old suitcase, turning it into a small side table.
- They also make adorable, little, cozy beds for your furry friends. Just leave them open and add a cushy padding.
Old Doors and Windows
The variety of creative uses that you can find for antique doors and windows could actually make up an entire article. There are just that many different ways to use them. If you like the rustic look of old, wavy-glass windows and wood doors, here are a few ways to incorporate them into your home design.
- Old windows make great picture frames, whether they’re painted or left as-is with all of the old chips and colors showing.
- Doors can be easily turned into tables, adding some history to any room.
- Windows can be suspended creatively from the ceiling, creating room dividers.
- You can hang a variety of different antique hooks on an old door, lean it against the wall, and use it for keys, sweaters, or whatever.
Focal Points
As you are designing each room in your home, think about the overall look and what you want the focal point of the room to be. If your tastes lean towards the older, repurposed items, you might want to have a significant signature piece in a room representing that style. Or, if you are using the antiques for accent items, you could make the focal point in the room something new and trendy. Here are a some ideas for different rooms.
- Living Room: If you want your living room design to lean more towards a newer, cleaner style, you could think about making your television area the focal point in the room. Kevin Sykes says in the article “Modern TV Stand Guide: 12 Consoles You’ll Covet!” that a TV stand is a focal point of most living rooms, so having one that looks good is important. Your TV is where you are focused most of the time when you’re in the room, right? Think about how beautiful and functional an affordable, high-quality TV stand would look accented with some of your smaller repurposed items.
- Bedroom: Are you wanting your bedroom to look a little more rustic? Think about your bed. Most of today’s newer mattress sets don’t even require a bed frame. So, you could find one of those gorgeously ornate bed frames from yesteryear and make it the focal point of your bedroom, surrounded by more modern conveniences.
- Kitchen: Even though your kitchen needs to be functional, you can achieve either look that you are looking for. Old chairs, tables, or even light fixtures can create stunning nostalgic focal points in kitchens. Or, you can go sleek and modern with your kitchen design and accentuate it with older pieces here and there.
Isn’t it nice to see things being reused instead of being tossed aside, or worse, added to our ever-growing landfills? It’s especially fortunate to be able to reduce your carbon footprint on the environment while tastefully decorating your home at the same time. And, your possibilities are almost endless for decorating ideas. Have fun with it and make it your own. You never know. You may even start your very own design trend.