Green Living Tip 25 {ReUse for Home Renovations}

Today’s green living tip: reuse items for home renovations. Why buy new cabinets, doors, or doorknobs when there are plenty of those items around for use? Using old items, in place of new, adds character to a home – even if the home is new or parts of it are. Our mailbox used to be a paper towel dispenser. Turned upside down and with a new handle attached, it makes a clever place for snail-mail to be delivered (it even has a hidden lock!)

Where to find old items? Hunt them down – the fun is in the hunt! Discover architectural salvage stores in your area or find them on your next vacation. Be on the lookout for items that may have been used for something else and now they can be used as something different. This laundry chute in our bathroom used to be an electric box cover until we painted it white. (Our bathroom renovation included a free sink, too!)

Finding old items for new house projects is fun, saves on resources, and saves money. It may not save time – but you’ll have fun looking for your ‘new to you’ items!

Do you like to hunt for items to reuse? Do you have a store you like to snoop around in?

Go Gingham Earth Month:

To celebrate April as “Earth Month,” I’m sharing a tip every day this month. Find all the tips by clicking the image below.

You’ll find simple and easy ideas to implement at your home – and they’ll save money as well!

More related links:

Amy from Frugal Mama has an inspiring story about this very topic. Check it out!