Need a new shelf, table or a lamp? Furniture hacks might just pave the way to a greener Singapore!
Before you go shopping, think of what our garang guni man would do.
Like the resourceful man that honks the familiar sound around the neighbourhood, we are capable of making something unique that’s not even available for sale.
Find out what “upcycling” materials can do to breathe new life to old things – there are no rules when expressing your creativity!
1) Furniture hacks with hats
Note: It works better if you’re Slash.
2) Shelves using old chairs
When you’re worried that the chair may collapse when the next overweight guest comes along, and you can’t bear to throw it away…
3) Books become the platform
Retire your old books gracefully by letting them put their hard cover to good use.
4) Give spanners a spin
Repurpose old spanners by turning them into sturdy hangers.
5) Pendant lamp using bottles
Don’t throw away the empty whiskey bottles just yet!
6) Bottle chandelier
If you have less bottles, you make pendant lamps. But if you just hosted a Chinese New Year gathering, you may have enough to upgrade the pendant lamp into this…
7) Bottle cap tealights
You won’t discard the bottle caps after making the chandelier, so here’s what you can do. Melt wax into the caps, then put a wick inside before the wax hardens.
8) Oil lamps made from bulbs
Dead light bulbs can still give off light… as an unusual oil lamp.
9) No more humdrum lighting
Best part of this? The multi-size lamp shades you get from one abandoned drum kit.
10) Skateboard table
That last stunt may have taken the wheels off your skateboard, but don’t write it off without giving it a chance to bring joy to the little ones!
Etsy.com]
11) Piano bookshelf
You may have decided to stop keeping it in tune, but it can still keep your books well protected.
12) Bicycle sink
Just the right height to wash your hands, and the basket keeps your towels neat and tidy.
13) Sink into your sofa
After a long day, you can’t decide if you want to dip in the tub or if you want to collapse on the couch.
14) Suitcase chair
Possibly your pet’s favourite perch from now on.
15) Room divider from plastic clothes hangers
One solitary clothes hanger lying around may do nothing more than cause mild irritation to your mum. Stacking up enough of these, however, and you have a formidable wall of privacy.
16) Reframing the fish tank
Old TVs bring back such happy times of childhood. It will be a shame to simply throw yours away. But use the TV frame to hold a plain-looking fish tank, and you got the perfect balance between the new and the old!
17) Mirror with tennis racket frame
When you are upgrading your racket, but realize that the old one is not totally useless yet.
18) Bicycle wheel clock
This will fit right in Tiong Bahru cafes as part of their decor. But your home may just do with one!
19) CD spindles from backing up your data
Now backs you up with breakfast too.
20) Broom made from soft drinks bottle
Looks more convincing than a Hawaiian grass skirt.
21) Hand-made bear from mittens
Since the last winter wonderland trip, you don’t know when’s the next time you’ll bring the kids again. Might as well turn their mitten into something they’ll love.
22) Toilet roll organizers
Your storage space in drawers are not maximized until you have compartments for your stuff.
23) Credit card guitar picks
Your cancelled credit cards can be repurposed to guitar picks. Add the sound of money to your strokes!
24) Cassette coin pouch
Even if the tape has gone moldy, what’s stopping you from prying open the casing and using it to personalize your coin pouch?
25) Marbles can shine like gems
When the sun sets through the fence, you’re going to fascinate people with the glowing gems embedded within the boards.
26) PC casing letterbox
Has the old letterbox gone rusty? The replacement can come in the form of your CPU that your PC left behind when the hard disk crashed.
27) Sewing machine sink
The old sewing machine from grandma’s generation may just add a touch of industrial element to your bathroom sink.
28) Guitar book shelf
When you accidentally broke your guitar, but realize that the quality of wood is still useful as a book shelf for your books…
29) Palette room divider
A worthy option without resorting to cement, providing a natural woody texture to the room.
30) Welded metal chair
When the Terminator did not become a reality, the metal parts are put to better use.
31) Cupboard door desk
Took a while to figure out what’s this? That’s probably because in its previous life, the surface of this desk were standing upright, as the doors of a cupboard.
