Updating and improving the look of your home doesn’t have to put a strain on your budget. By using recycled or reused materials, along with a little imagination and creativity, you can make a big difference in your home for a very small investment. Here are seven simple DIY projects to get you started.

Where to Find Items to Reuse and Renew

There are a number of sources for used and discarded items, such as:

• Thrift stores
• Secondhand consignment shops
• Goodwill
• Salvage companies
• Habit for Humanity ReStores
• Online at The Freecycle Network
• Yard and garage sales
• Classified ads online and in newspapers
• Remodeling site dumpsters

How to Refinish a Ceiling Fan

Instead of throwing an outdated ceiling fan in the trash, consider refinishing it to make it look like new. Here’s how to go about it:

• Disassemble the fan components you plan to paint.
• Clean all the parts with denatured alcohol to remove any dust or grease.
• Rub metal surfaces with fine steel wool to remove the gloss.
• Lay all of the pieces out and spray with several light coats of spray paint for metal.
• Reassemble the fan components except the blades.
• Reattach the fan to the ceiling.
• Attach the blades and balance if needed.

How to Refurbish Old Furniture

Kendra Bennett is a homeowner who has a knack for taking old objects and transforming them into something new. She found an old credenza for $20 at a yard sale. After stripping off the black finish and refinishing it, the piece was converted into this unique conversation piece for her home.

The two cabinet doors in the center of the piece were removed and replaced by wine racks. As an accent, two wooden window frames were backed by mirrors then mounted on the wall above it. The whole project only cost $150 dollars and a little imagination.

How to Make a Fireplace Screen

To hide a fireplace from view during the summer, create a simple fireplace screen by hinging together discarded shutters found at a salvage store. Here’s how to go about it:

• Clean, sand, and make any repairs to the shutters.
• Apply two coats of interior paint and allow to dry.
• Link the shutters together with brass cabinet hinges.
• For screens of more than three shutters, install each pair of hinges on alternating sides so the screen can be folded up like an accordion when not in use.

The project was completed in less than a day for under $10.

How to Personalize a Child’s Chair

Lisa Brodie also enjoys giving new life to old pieces of furniture. Some of her favorite items are small chairs made for children. Here’s how to go about it:

• Clean the chair to make sure all of the dust and loose finish is removed.
• Apply a coat of primer and allow to dry.
• Apply two coats of paint.
• Decorate the chair as desired with contrasting colors and patterns.
• Personalize the piece with the child’s name.
• For a more durable finish, apply a final coat of clear finish (brushed or sprayed) to the painted surface.

How to Refinish a Wicker Chair

To make an old wicker chair new again:

• Use an air compressor to blow off dirt and dust out of cracks.
• Clean surface with a scrub brush and denatured alcohol.
• Use a hot glue gun to reattach broken or loose caning.
• Apply several light coats of spray paint, letting it dry for the recommended time between coats.
• Allow the paint to dry completely for several before using. A fan can help speed up the process.
• Store any leftover paint to use for touch up later.

How to Build a Headboard

To turn a discarded column and some leftover lumber into a headboard:

• Mark the cuts around the column with painter’s tape.
• Cut the column to length using a reciprocating saw.
• Construct a cubbyhole shadow box for the headboard from 1×6 lumber.
• Use 2×12 lumber for the feet and caps.
• Assemble the columns to the headboard.
• Paint the headboard and allow to dry.
• Use screws to attach the headboard to the wall studs.

Since all of the material used in the headboard was discarded or scrap, the project cost next to nothing.

How to Pour Concrete Stepping Stones

To make personalized concrete stepping stones for your yard:

• Cut down a 5-gallon bucket with a jigsaw to use as a mold.
• Spray lubricating oil around the inside of the mold to prevent the concrete from adhering.
• Mix up concrete and fill the mold with it.
• Smooth off the top of the concrete using a board as a screed.
• Customize the concrete while wet with handprints, decorations, or masonry dye.
• Allow concrete to dry before removing stepping stone from the mold.

Other Tips from This Episode

There are a number of different materials used to create a garden path including stone, brick, concrete, and gravel. The type of material you choose will determine how it is installed.

One approach is to place a plastic weed barrier or landscape fabric down first followed by a layer of gravel. In addition to blocking weeds, the barrier will keep the gravel from working into the soil. When using brick or concrete pavers, put down a layer of sand first, then lay out your desired pattern, and plant a ground cover between each of the pavers. Watch this video to find out more.

Related posts:

• Recycling Old Carpet In the Garden
• October Lawn & Garden To-Do List
• May Lawn & Garden To-Do List

How do I add square topper stones to a curved retaining wall? And how do I attach the topper stones so that they don’t get knocked off? -Paul

Those wedge-shaped stackable stones are great for building curved retaining walls, but once complete it leaves you with unsightly gaps. For a finished look, you can add topper stones, but it poses some challenges since:

• Topper stones are usually square, not wedge-shaped, so if you want a smooth top you’ll need to cut them to fit the curve. If your curve is very gradual, you might be able to get away with spreading out the small gaps so they aren’t noticeable.
• Topper stones are also a bit wider and lighter than the wall blocks, so it’s easy to kick them out of place or bump them with a lawn mower. I have topper stones on my wall, and I’m always knocking them loose and having to put them back.

Instead of my kick-and-replace method, there are better ways of finishing off your retaining wall! Try these tips.

Use a Masonry Saw

Retaining wall blocks can be cut using a masonry chisel and mallet, but for the topper stones you may want to spring for a diamond blade masonry saw such as the Edco Hardscape Saw. Similar to a wet tile saw, masonry saws make very clean, straight cuts that will give a nice finishing touch to your wall. Masonry saws can be rented at your local rental center – all you’ll need is an extension cord and a garden hose to provide lubricating water.

The bottom stones will be cut along the lines, and the top one will be left square.

How to Measure the Cut

If you enjoy geometry, you can cut each stone at an angle to curve along your wall. For a faster job that looks just as neat, try this approach:

• Step 1: At the beginning of your wall, place stones #1 and #3 in their places. You’re going to be cutting both of these.
• Step 2: Lay stone #2 on top of them, with the front corners lined up. You’re NOT going to be cutting this stone, you’re just using it as a cutting pattern.
• Step 3: Draw lines on stones #1 and #3 where the top stone overlaps them.
• Step 4: Cut stones #1 and #3 along your lines.
• Step 5: Replace the stones on the wall, and now stone #2 should fit neatly between them.
• Step 6: Now put stone #4 on top of stones #3 and #5, and repeat. The odd-numbered stones will be cut on both edges, and the even-numbered stones will be left uncut.

The back view shows the overlap of the stones and the cutting line being marked.

Adhere the Stones

Once your topper stones are cut and fit, you can keep them in place using masonry adhesive. Masonry adhesive usually comes in a tube for use with a caulk gun and should be available at your home improvement store. Examples include:

• Titebond Landscape Retaining Wall Adhesive
• Quikrete Polyurethane Construction Adhesive
• SRW Retaining Wall & Paver Adhesive

For a very solid wall, you can also use the adhesive to attach the stackable blocks themselves.

Further Information

• How to Build a Stackable Block Retaining Wall

Related posts:

• How to Build a Stackable Block Retaining Wall
• White Efflorescence Stains on Retaining Walls
• How to Install Wall Anchors in Drywall

There are two types of weed barriers that you can install in your garden to prevent any unwanted plant growth: plastic and fabric.

• Plastic weed barriers: Since they’re resistant to water, plastic barriers need to have holes cut in them to allow water to permeate.
• Fabric weed barriers: Will allow water through while blocking the sun from promoting weeds from sprouting up.

To find out more, read our article on How to Install Landscape Fabric and Plastic.

Related posts:

• How to Kill Weeds in a Gravel Driveway
• How to Install Landscape Fabric and Plastic
• Creating a Path in Your Lawn or Garden

Proper lighting can improve the safety and security of your yard. Pay particular attention to the outside lighting for your:

• Garage and driveway.
• All entrances to your home.
• Steps and walkways.
• Windows that are hidden by trees or shrubs.

To increase security, install motion detectors on flood lights. Lighting for steps and walks includes carriage lights and low voltage landscape lighting.

Related posts:

• How to Make Your Home Secure from Burglary and Break-In
• How to Save Energy with Dimmer Switches and Motion Sensors
• Landscaping Tips for a Bird-Friendly Yard

Before digging in your yard, call 811 to have utility companies come out and mark any underground utility lines, and do not dig within 2’ of marked lines. Lines are marked with the following color coded paint:

• Red: Electric lines
• Yellow: Gas lines
• Orange: Cable TV lines
• Blue: Water lines
• Green: Sewage lines

Sod is great for an instant lawn, but it can cost 10 times as much as grass seed and require more labor to install. Watch this video for some helpful tips on how to go about planting grass seed or laying sod in your yard.

Related posts:

• What Is the Proper Mowing Height for Grass in Your Yard?
• Plants in Your Garden that Produce Seed for Birds
• How to Grow Grass in Shade

To remove wooden posts from the ground:

• Screw a block of wood to the side of the post.
• Stack concrete blocks next to it to form a fulcrum.
• Position a 2×4 under the block of wood and over the fulcrum.
• Using the 2×4 as a lever, pull down on it to pull the post out of the ground.

Related posts:

• How to Build a Compost Bin

The end of the holiday season doesn’t have to be the end of your holiday decorations. Christmas trees, wreaths, and garland may be a bit dried out, but they can still serve a purpose in the garden. Rather than throwing your holiday decorations in the trash, consider recycling them in the garden and allowing them to return to the earth in a natural way.

Community Tree Recycling

Many communities offer a tree recycling service, picking up discarded trees and grinding them into mulch to be used in public parks and landscapes. Trees are usually dropped off at designated pick-up sites, though some cities may also collect them from the curb. To find out if your community has a program, contact your local agricultural extension agent or community lawn waste collection service.

In addition to mulch, you might be surprised at some of the innovative ways to recycle Christmas trees. Did you know:

• The needles of many varieties of Christmas trees contain shikimic acid, an important ingredient in the manufacturing of the antiviral drug Tamiflu.
• “Tree fences” made from discarded Christmas trees play a vital role in the protection of beaches and wetlands from erosion and hurricane damage.



• Ground-up Christmas trees can actually be used as boiler fuel in manufacturing.
• Some communities deposit trees into wildlife reserves, to provide habitat and nesting structures for birds and small animals. These habitats help attract and protect endangered species.
• Dropped into lakes and ponds, old Christmas trees make a great habitat for fish, particularly in man-made lakes that may not have natural underwater structures.

Do-It-Yourself Tree Recycling

If your community doesn’t offer recycling, or if you prefer to do your own thing, check out these ideas for recycling Christmas trees and greenery:

• Place trees and greenery around your yard to provide shelter for birds and small animals.
• Take your wildlife sanctuary a step further by “decorating” your tree with festive outdoor goodies. Sprays of bird seed, strings of popcorn or cranberries, chunks of suet, small water containers, and even birdhouses will be appreciated by the creatures that live in your yard.
• Cut the branches into small pieces, then add to your compost pile for use in the spring.

• Once the greenery has dried, brush off the needles and use them to make potpourri. Mix with cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, nutmeg, dried flowers, and dried fruit for an aromatic and colorful winter treat.
• Use the wood from the branches and trunks. Long branches make great support stakes, and now is a good time to make sure plants are staked to protect them from winter storms. Larger branches and trunks can be used to make rustic fences, arbors, or garden crafts.
• Evergreens can make great kindling and fuel for bonfires, and many revelers enjoy this on new Year’s Eve. Keep in mind that evergreens should never be burned in an indoor fireplace due to their extreme flammability and high sap content which can cause a buildup of dangerous creosote in chimneys. Decorated, artificial, or flocked trees and greenery should not be burned.

Deck the Garden with Boughs

Even if you don’t have a wood chipper, you can use your Christmas greenery as winter mulch in the garden, by simply laying the boughs over tender plants. The evergreen boughs will help protect the plants from drying winds and sun, while allowing for water drainage. Boughs also help to hold the soil in place on slopes. While most plants will do fine with a standard layer of 3”- 4” of organic mulch in the fall, a few plants might benefit from an extra winter application of mulch, such as:

• Tender small shrubs.
• Evergreen perennials.
• Bulbs and tender perennials that have begun to sprout prematurely due to a warm spell.
• Newly planted seedlings or plants that may not have time to establish roots before freezing weather.
• Plants that are only marginally hardy in your zone.

Since the best time to apply extra mulch is after the ground freezes, holiday greenery is a timely solution. The late mulch application keeps plants dormant and helps to prevent frost heaving and damage due to late winter thaws.

Keep in mind some of the challenges of evergreen bough mulch:

• Woodland creatures love to burrow into evergreen branches, and they may also decide to feast on your plants. If you have a rodent problem in your garden, this method may not be best for you.
• The boughs create a pocket of insulated air around the plant. Once the weather warms, this pocket can breed mold and fungus – be sure to remove the mulch as soon as freezing weather is over in the spring.
• Be kind to wildlife by removing all tinsel and wire ornament hangers before putting trees outdoors.

Further Information

• Used Christmas Trees Provide Key Tamiflu Ingredient (Desert News)
• Treecycling Zip Code Finder (earth911.com)
• Recycle Christmas Trees (National Christmas Tree Association)

Related posts:

• Christmas Tree FAQ
• How to Select and Care for a Live Christmas Tree
• How to Recycle Leaves in Your Yard

I’d like to turn part of my yard into a Japanese garden. Can I use old carpeting or rugs as underlayment beneath my pea gravel? -Ken

Old carpet and rugs are popular choices for underlayment when building ponds and water features, so it stands to reason that it could also function as a weed barrier and padding underneath pea gravel. However, I’m a little prejudiced on this one.

Not only am I believer in organic gardening, but I’ve also rehabbed several yards that were landscaped with buried carpet, plastic sheeting, and numerous other unexplainable pieces of debris. Years later, bits of slimy material continue to work their way to the surface, usually to be hit by my lawn mower or yanked using thick gloves. It’s been the source of some of my most creative grossed-out grumbling!

Nonetheless, here’s what you need to know about recycling old carpet in your yard:

On The Plus Side:

• The price is right: Old carpet is cheap, and you can even find roadside freebies.
• Ease of use: It’s thick, sturdy, and easy to handle (if a bit heavy).
• It works: It will suppress weeds growing up through your gravel while still allowing water to drain.
• Recycling is good: Synthetic carpeting can take thousands of years to fully decompose in a landfill – recycling is the very least we can do!

On the Other Hand:

• The “Ew” Factor: If you’ve ever pulled old carpet out of a house, you know that it’s a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. After a couple of years of rain and soil, “Zen” is not exactly the term that comes to mind!
• Soil Contamination: Synthetic carpet is made of petroleum products that have been treated with chemicals and cleaners – do you really want this leaching out into your soil?
• Nothing Lasts Forever: Even though synthetic carpet is veeeeerrry slow to decompose, it will fall apart (especially if the binding is organic) and will be hard to remove. And if weeds do grow on top of your carpet, their roots will twine through the fibers, making them nearly impossible to pull.
• Is It Necessary: If you’ve properly prepared your gravel bed, with a tamped-down base material and thick layers of gravel, you don’t really need any underlayment at all.

Choose natural fibers.

Earth-Friendly Recycling:

If you want to use underlayment, here are some ideas that are more environmentally friendly:

• Carpet or blankets made of 100% natural fibers such as wool, cotton, or jute
• Pieces of cardboard
• Thick layers of newspapers

You may need to replace these in a few years, but your soil will be much less contaminated. If you have old synthetic carpeting to dispose of, check around – recycling programs are spring up all over the place to turn old carpet into building and paving materials, insulation, new carpet, and all sorts of useful things!

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• Eco-Friendly Stain Resistant Carpet
• Puresque Carpet Absorbs Odors in Your Home
• How to Kill Weeds in a Gravel Driveway