Turn a Quilt Into a Headboard
Prop Up Art to Conceal Cords
Lean frames against a wall to hide wires and outlets. Layer them for extra impact.
Stick a Plant Inside a (Non-Working) Fireplace
Brighten up that black hole with one of your indoor or outdoor plants. Choose a type that doesn’t require a lot of sunlight, like a fern or the Song of India dracaena pictured here.
Repurpose Your Bracelets as Napkin Rings
Colorful plastic bangles are great for a casual table, while metal ones complement a formal setting. You can also pin brooches down the length of a table runner and lean a place card in front of each one.
Dress Up a Dresser With Ribbons
Don’t let all those scraps you’ve been saving from holidays and birthday parties go to waste. Transform a child’s bedroom by tying colorful ribbons around the knobs on a chest of drawers―or the stem of a lamp or the legs of a table.
Paint the Legs of an Old Chair
Finally, a reason to drag out that banged-up can of leftover paint. Give the seen-better-days legs of a wooden chair a fresh coat of paint, then use the chair as a side table to hold books, throw pillows, an extra blanket, or even your knitting.
Cover Boxes With Wrapping Paper
You can do better than those ho-hum bins from the office-supply store. Turn plain boxes (such as shoe or checkbook boxes) into pretty storage containers with excess wrapping paper, then label them with old gift tags. You can use them as gift boxes, too.
Hang Photos and Artwork on One Wall
Your family pictures have more impact when they’re grouped together. A word to the wise: Before you do any hanging, arrange the pieces on the floor to get a sense of how they’ll look on the wall. And never mind if the frames don’t match.
Plant Herbs in Florist’s Vases
You’ve got them―stacked up under the sink, probably―so make use of them. Plant small potted herbs in vessels of various heights (add a layer of pebbles at the bottom of each for drainage). Wrap them in a heavy-stock paper, secure with twine, and label.
Stash Toiletries in Mismatched Tableware
Just because your vanity is a catchall for makeup doesn’t mean it can’t look put-together. Place a platter on top and fill it with seldom-seen china pieces, like a sugar bowl and a creamer, that can hold cotton balls, nail files, and brushes.
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