Items
around the house, though typically designated for specific purposes, can often
be repurposed for a variety of different uses.
Thinking through your options and putting some to new uses can make the
tools you have that much more useful.
Let’s
start with an easy one. An abaca media
basket is shaped and sold to hold DVDs in an organized, attractive form. But take the same narrow, rectangular basket
and let it hold a loaf of bread, snack items, boxed meals, or canned goods in
the pantry. On a bathroom counter, one
can store rolled hand towels, wrapped decorative soaps, cosmetic products, or
extra toilet paper rolls in the cabinet.
In a child’s room, media baskets can line up books on a shelf, diapers
and wipes on a changing table, or small toys or puzzles in a cubby system.
A
kitchen serving tray or cocktail tray can serve a meal away from the table or
glasses of punch at a party. But place
one on a coffee table and corral your remotes and coasters in one orderly
spot. Make a tray on your foyer table
the first stop for mail, car keys, and sunglasses when you walk through the
door. Use a tray in the home office for
stacks of paper to restock the printer, magazines and catalogs for perusing, or
a pretty collection of stationery, envelopes, stamps, and pens. Stacked trays of the same size in the
cabinets of a buffet or entertainment center can keep sets of placemats and
napkins separated and neat. A tray on a
guest bed nightstand is a resting place for reading material, tissues, and an
alarm clock.
And
the list doesn’t stop there. Picture
frames can double as trays, small bowls or tea cups can hold earrings and
bracelets, cake stands can be risers for table centerpiece components, and flat
sheets or tablecloths can double as drapery panels. Decorative drawer pulls can be mounted as
wall hooks, magazine files can also be an office filing system or craft paper
sorters, and a metal beverage tub can turn into toy or sports equipment
storage.
Repurpose
everyday items to put what you have to good use. Decorations and household goods can often
have a storage component to them.
Playing double duty can bring form and function into the stylish
mix.
DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star April 14th.
