Easy, Green Home Decorating Projects
“Going green” has gone beyond recycling cans and eating organic food. Americans are embracing the environmental and cost benefits of repurposing old items they might once have thrown away.
Finding new ways to use items found in the closet, under the bed or piled in the garage means you won’t be adding those items to a landfill, and can avoid the guilt of feeling wasteful. Plus, you can add personal, fun touches to your home’s décor. Here are a few ideas for easy, green decorating projects:
- Yes, everyone was proud of your little league MVP award. Earning second place at the seventh-grade science fair was quite the accomplishment, as was receiving the top sales award. However, it is probably time to turn those award plaques into something more decorative. By replacing the current plaque embellishments with updated items, the old plaques become new wall art. First, decide what will be attached to the plaques. A few cherished baby items like a silver rattle or baby spoon can be attached to create a treasured piece. Or, consider gluing on a fork, knife and spoon for quick kitchen art with a throw-back feel. Once the new embellishment is decided upon, remove any current adornment from the wooden plaques. If necessary, sand the plaques and reapply a wood stain or paint. With the plaques clean and the perfect color, simply apply the new decoration with an adhesive. When gluing metal to wood, the best adhesive to use is an epoxy. For quick, small projects, don’t risk wasting a whole large tube (which wouldn’t be very green). Instead, look for a single-use size like Liquid Nails Metal Projects Repair Adhesive. It is conveniently packaged for easy dispensing and little waste.
- Tired of that drab chest of drawers in the corner? A little paint, a tube of adhesive, and a few wood appliques can go a long way. Start by priming and painting the chest. Then, consider adding a fun pattern in a contrasting color to the drawers. For a French country feel, go with a harlequin pattern and fleur de lis appliques. A circular pattern and embellishments in a geometric shape will give a more “mod” feel. Once painted, adorn the chest of drawers with embellishments using a multi-purpose adhesive like Liquid Nails Small Projects Repair Adhesive. A simple project that takes only a few hours can make a world of difference in the feel and look of a room. Now the corner radiates a fresh vibe.
- Stored in the cabinet or under the bed are hundreds of old favorite CDs made obsolete by MP3 players. What to do? Don’t throw them away. The compilation CD of love songs made for past love interests can easily be used to create a myriad of projects — from unique scrapbooks to coasters. A fun way to spice up a cork message board, whether in a kid’s room, funky home office or next to the refrigerator, is by adorning the frame with pieces of cut CDs. Determine the appropriate size, score and snap or cut each CD. Be careful not to splinter the pieces. Once there are enough pieces to cover the frame, begin gluing the pieces around the board. A glue with a flex-spread applicator like Liquid Nails Home Projects Repair Adhesive makes applying the glue easy and efficient. Glue the iridescent side up for a faux mirror look. If the approach is funkier, think about gluing the label side up to display text and color.