Eco-Chic on a Budget

Here are some great eco-chic ways to jazz up your living space on the cheap by recycling items from around your home to make beautiful, functional home décor pieces.

1. Rustic Candles
Make eco-chic rustic candles by covering the drainage hole in the bottom of an old flowerpot with a coin, insert a stiff cotton wick, combine and slowly melt down the chunky dregs of old candles in a pot, then pour the liquid wax into the flowerpot. Allow it to set overnight.

2. Tiered Serving Tray
Mismatched dinnerware sets can be given a new lease on life by converting them into a tiered serving tray for serving hors d'oeuvres or cakes. Using three plates and two cups, arrange them in tiers, and glue them together with a strong epoxy applied to the rim of the cups.

3. Cork Trivets
So what if people may balk at home much wine you have been drinking! Recycle the corks from your wine bottles into trivets to protect your benches and tables from heat and spills. Arrange approximately 40 upright corks into a tight circle, surround them with an 8 to 10 inch metal hose clamp (from the hardware store), tighten clamp to bind the corks together, and then trim the excess with metal clippers.

4. Carpet Coasters
Around 1.75 million tons of carpet per year is replaced in the United States alone, with most of it going into landfills. Carpet coasters are a great way to use leftover bits of carpet. Simply cut to desired shape and trim fringes neatly.

5. Scarf Blankets
Create gorgeous one-of-a-kind throw rugs out of those unused winter scarves you have been hoarding. Blend colors and textures of approximately seven scarves, cut them to equal length and sew them together.

6. T-Shirt Cushions
Only so many holes are acceptable on a t-shirt, even if it is a vintage tee. For those that are drawing towards “past-it” condition, perhaps it’s time to give them a redesign into a throw cushion for your sofa. Cut out two identical squares of fabric (one from the front, one from the back) and sew them together along three edges with the exterior sides facing in. Turn the "pillowcase" inside out, stuff it with pillow filling, then sew the final edge of the square closed.