Gone are the days of throwing away anything and everything. Thank goodness! That practice was turning into a colossal earth-wide mess. To combat it we’ve successfully established a solid approach to recycling. However, it isn’t always ideal and it’s somewhat inconvenient with furniture items because there’s often a cost associated with removal. If you want to donate, that’s always helpful. Perhaps, though, you’d actually like to continue to get value from something after you’ve tired of its original purpose. Check out these three great ideas for doing so!

• Small bedside or end table: This is ideally accomplished with a rectangular piece that has pretty legs. The style should also match the room it will be in because it will become a specialty piece that will attract admiration so you don’t want it to look out of place. If necessary, begin by stripping the item and painting or refinishing it. Note you will be flipping it over so the top of the table will be face down on the floor(thus, the ‘top’ is the least important surface). Then, sew a padded pillow that will fit within the dimensions of the legs. Tables with support slats on each side under the top work best because they provide structure. Place the padded pillow within the legs and set your cat or dog’s favorite treat on it. You now have a one-of-a-kind four-poster pet bed fit for a furry queen or king!

• Spare drawers:  This is super easy and looks so creative! Shallow drawers will work well for display items that are light and have a thin profile, and deeper drawers work great for larger items. Using a drill and long screws, mount the bottom side of the drawer to the wall. Remove the handle, or orient it at the top, then set things inside for display. An alternative is to stack the drawers on a table as containers. For this to look right, choose three different sizes and place the largest on the bottom. Put it by the front door for keys, gloves, and electronics. Or in the craft room for markers, bottles of glue…you get the idea!

• Air mattress: This is so simple you won’t believe you didn’t think of it. Yet, it will provide hours of comfort and fun. Blow up the air mattress, set it under a tree or in some shade, cover with lightweight blanker or sheet, and watch as the kiddos spend hours playing, reading or resting on it while enjoying the outdoors!