5 Ways to Recycle Everyday Materials

Cans, egg cartons, jars, maps, rusted kitchenware, corks, light bulbs, broken dishes, old drawers—you can recycle all these into useful or decorative items for your home or garden.

1. Tall refresher

Pour lemonade or sangria into these jars for containers guests don't have to worry about breaking.

2. Make your own bookends

Stand books in style with creative bookends that play off your decor. Keep the project wallet-friendly by repurposing items or hitting up a crafts store for inexpensive supplies.

For this display, fill glass vases with colored floral decor sand to match your color scheme or layer with aquarium gravel or beach glass. Weight vases with enough material so they won't tip. Finish with preserved greens.

3. Reuse an old chair

A coat of paint turns an old chair into a colorful perch for a flower container.

4. Cork board

Put old wine corks to use in a clever message board. Choose a frame deep enough to house whole corks, or cut the corks lengthwise using an extra-fine razor saw (available at hobby stores). Attach the corks to the frame backing with wood glue.

5. Sunny display

Floating a single blossom in a jar with a little water makes a charming display. A bow of raffia tops it with flourish.