Repurposed Interiors

Do you ever look around your home and think ‘why do I still have that?’ If you are anything like me then your home is filled with numerous nik naks and furniture items that are never used or have definitely seen better days. It’s often tempting to just throw these items away or donate them to charity shops but why not give them a new lease of life by repurposing them into something new!

I adore these fabulous globe lights (left) that will look wonderful in a children’s room, study, office or library area and create a perfect blend of fun and function. Take an old globe and detach the sphere from any stands and casing. For a softer ambient light then keep the orbs as a solid sphere that allows the light to glow through or alternatively create small pin holes around the country that you live in, or all the countries that you have visited to create more visual detail when the orbs are lit. Make a hole at the top of the globe to allow the wires to be passed through and hang in a central position in the room. For added style these globes can be hung in group formations above a bed, desk or seating area.

Are you a wine lover? I certainly am, so this fun and quirky piano wine cabinet (right) would definitely be a perfect choice for my home interior. An old or tired piano can often linger in the corner of a room, unloved and un-played for many years so why not bring it back to life by making it the focal point of your social life. Firstly, strip out any keys, wires and mechanisms from the piano, leaving just the outside shell of the instrument. If you like the old and vintage look of wood then leave the piano in its natural state or you can paint the exterior with matt black, crisp white, soft grey  chalk paints or even a bold red depending on your interior decor. Create holes for your wine bottles, shelves for mixers and hooks for glasses and use the area where the keys used to be as a bench for preparing your favourite drinks.

Old suitcases and luggage chests are an amazingly versatile item that can be repurposed in numerous ways around the home. If you are looking for a quirky and stylish coffee table then a wide and deep vintage luggage chest will create a focal point in both modern and retro home interiors. Smaller suitcases can also be teamed with wooden or metal legs and frames to create an elegant side table, console (left) or bedside, creating style and sophistication in your room. Keep the luggage items in their natural leather state for a more traditional look or paint win deep black, white or soft pastels for a more personalised design. You could also add printed stamps to the outside of the case featuring specific destinations for added visual detail.

When your children have grown out of their cribs, cots or cot beds they can often become an item that is stuffed away in a spare room or attic and forgotten about until then are in their 30s however why not put the frame to good use in a way that will benefit the whole family as well as retaining memories of their childhood moments. Use the slatted side of the cot as a frame and mount some blackboard sheeting to the back of the section, allowing it to show through (make sure you have at least seven spaces between the slats). Using chalkboard pens label each section with the days of the week and then attach a chalk to the frame using some ribbon or twine to keep track of the families daily activities. You can leave the frame as natural wood, or paint in a colour that matches your chosen interior.

These are just a few ideas for repurposing your home, for more inspiration; take a look at our latest Pinterest board - Pinterest - Repurposed