In a previous post, How To Choose Green Used Home Goods, we looked at what to avoid when shopping for household goods at a thrift store, antique shop, or other used goods place.

Here are some ideas about making used products work for your home:

Basic rules…

1. Think useful over decoration, or you’ll end up collecting a bunch of junk you don’t need.
2. Think about how the object might look with minor adjustments – i.e new fabric on a stool, new paint on a frame, or an old tweed blazer made into pillow cases.
3. Think outside the box. Re-purpose an item. Almost everything has more than one use.

Old jewelry can be used to spiffy up a picture frame.

Cool recycled wooden crates can be made into shelving or even a small table.

Reclaimed house items, like doorknobs, non-rusty fixtures, and drawer pulls can be used as coat or towel hangers on your wall.

Clear and colored glass vases or bottles can be used as a window cover – i.e. line them up (like in the picture above). You get privacy, but without a curtain. Plus the light shining through is cool.

Old buckets, bathtubs, sinks, boots, carts, and more can be used for interesting container gardens.

You can make wind chimes from old silverware, jewels, and small tin toys.

Old dishes can be broken up and used for a new mosaic table top.

Books that can help you make the most of used goods:

Abode a la Mode: 44 Projects for Hip Home Decor

Decorating with Great Finds(82 ways to use finds from antique stores, garage sales, & attics)

Garage Sale Decorator’s Bible: How to Find Treasures, Fix Them & Furnish Your Home

Junk Beautiful: Room by Room Makeovers with Junkmarket Style

What have you re-purposed for your home?

Buying used, from a thrift store, antique shop, or flea market is one great way to keep it green. You’re giving old products a new life, avoiding production of new products, and getting some cool unique finds to boot. That said, you do need to be smart about which used products you choose for your home. Buying the wrong used item isn’t green, it’s a waste of time and money.

Used products to avoid:

Avoid impulse buys: Like any purchase, you need to ask some fundamental green purchasing questions before you buy. Make sure you’re getting something you’ll actually use.

Avoid broken stuff: Some broken items are ok. If you’re sure you can fix it (really sure)  go ahead and buy. If something is going to take massive repairs to get it halfway presentable or working, don’t bother.

Avoid multiple projects: A project is not so broken you can’t fix it, say a shelf that needs refinished, but having too many projects on hand pretty much ensures that none of them will get done. One project at a time is smart.

Avoid non-green kitchen supplies and dishes: If it’s not energy efficient or a smart green tableware choice avoid it.

Avoid safety hazards: Old furnishings may have lead based paints – fine if you’ll refinish it, but not ok as is. Same for thrift toys and especially baby furniture. Make sure everything works and won’t harm anyone.

Avoid large textiles: In most cases used textiles aren’t a great green deal. Most won’t be made of eco-friendly materials, most are super hard to properly clean, and with something like an old pillow, it’s almost impossible to sanitize.

Later we’ll look at some good used home product decisions.