Nothing new: letting our stuff grow with us

If we look at the things we own, many of the most meaningful ones we have are neither the shiniest nor the newest. They’re often the ones that hold memories, stories, and even parts of who we are. Worn by time, they can be your child’s swaddling blankets and crib beddings, your late dad’s armchair that now takes up space in your apartment, your grandmother’s vintage dress you’ve always loved, or a few old toys you grew up with. Some of them may seem like they’re past their prime, but when it’s something you hold dear or sparks joy (thanks, Marie Kondo), they can always be reimagined so they can continue to change and grow with you.

Reworking beloved possessions, whether through upcycling, repair, handiwork, and more, can help extend their life. Here are a few ideas to transform some of our old stuff and rediscover how we can still make use of them.

Clothes

Thanks to fast fashion, one hundred billion clothes are produced every year. And according to earth.org, 92 million tons of it end up in landfills. While it’s obvious that something has to change in the apparel industry, as consumers, many of us also want to do our part in whatever way we can because it’s good for the planet and for us. Aside from keeping an eye out for donation calls for clothing, there are many ways to upcycle those well-worn pairs of jeans or once beloved top.

We can find inspo from artist and maker Jodinand Aguillon, who reworks old clothes into something surprising and fabulous, or find ideas from our social media (like turning scrap fabrics into sashiko patches)  and YT episodes (on mending or reworking vintage, perhaps?). If you like the print of a piece of old clothing you don’t use anymore, you can remove the stitches and use parts of it as fabric gift wrapper, while smaller scraps can be turned into brooches (like these lovely ones from Maria).

Beddings

From bed sheets to duvet covers, we all have beddings stuffed in our cabinets that we don’t use anymore. If you can’t find a way to donate them and you also can’t bear to throw them out, consider the amount of fabric you can repurpose from them.

One of the easiest and fun ways to use almost the entire sheet is to turn them into an indoor teepee or your designated bedsheet fort for the kids. The teepee might require more elbow grease, a few tools (glue gun and drill) and materials like wood panels and twine before you can set it up as a playful space in a room. Old bedding fabric can also be used as material for something fun for our four-legged babies. If you cut some of the sheets into strips and braid them together, it can be a cheap chew toy for dogs.

Toys

We only have to look at Popjunklove and how it started to know that old toys can be transformed into something new—from quirky accessories to cute trinkets. PJL and Common Room founders Maan Agsalud and Roma Agsunod admit they didn’t have any background on design but what they had to do—putting beads together, using old brick toys to decorate belts, gluing together items—those all felt manageable for their skills.

So don’t think you must have pro-level crafting skills to transform old toys into something reusable and playful. Even old toys that hold great sentimental value but may be broken or missing a piece can still get a creative spin—that doll or action figure can be used as bookends on the shelf with some sandpaper and epoxy glue; parts of puzzles with missing pieces can be turned into fridge or desk magnets with self-adhesive magnetic strips or those small magnetic discs glued directly to the back. 

Plates & bowls

When a family heirloom dinnerware or a ceramic mug you made gets a crack, it’s not always easy to part with it. Beyond keeping it inside the cabinet or using it simply as a catchall for your keys or pens, you can craft and extend its life so you can continue to appreciate its beauty.

Kintsugi, the Japanese art of putting broken ceramic or pottery pieces together with lacquer and precious metals like gold, is one way to elevate a broken object into a work of art. If you’ll take the DIY route, you can mix gold powder with jewelry adhesive (or glass & bead glue) together to reattach the broken pieces. If you have several broken plates or bowls, you can break them completely and use the pieces for a colorful mosaic art on a tabletop or around a picture frame.

Furniture and other home pieces

When it comes to big home items like old furniture that may have earned more than its share of scratches, tears, breaks, or even odors, there are many ways to make them over: repaint, refiinish, or reupholster. If it’s just for cosmetic purposes, you can stain old wooden furniture,  have new fabric and stuffing installed in a sagging and stained sofa, or update knobs and handles in old dressers. If, however, one requires more than just a refresh in appearance, a complete overhaul of its function is a clever and creative way to repurpose furniture.

Plantitas and plantitos who are always finding another plant to add to their living space or garden, can look to old furniture as planters. BHG has this entire list that makes you rethink what can be considered as planters. Old floor lamp stands can hold hanging plants while desk drawers repainted in a bright shade you like can go with the style of what you want for your garden.

Knowing that you can rework almost anything is a great way to keep many of what you already have usable instead of chasing something new. When we’re willing to reimagine and still see purpose and beauty in an old object, we give it a chance to grow with us, proving that what we already own can continue to hold value and possibilities for years to come.