Similar to wainscoting, beadboard is a type of decorative wood panelling that’s usually installed on walls. In the past, it was sold stick-by-stick—which makes it a great material for renovation projects. Colourfully painted and salvaged beadboard can transform the ceiling of virtually any room, but works wonders in outdoor areas.
Nothing lights up a room quite as beautifully as logs burning in a fireplace—well, nothing except for these cracked log lamps. Legally blind Tasmanian artist Duncan Meerding uses wood that would otherwise be destined for the fire pit to create these beautiful designs, which are also available as a stool. Weather resistant, they can be used outdoors or indoors.
If you were wowed by Meerding’s designs, but wished the light glowed from the top—rather than from within—making a table lamp is a great DIY project. Any piece of wood with a flat sturdy bottom will do, but as demonstrated in this tutorial, old railroad ties play the part perfectly.
Hanging salvaged window frames on your wall is lovely, but can be a bit overdone. So why not glitz it up a notch with some decorative elements, such as gilding? Making your own modern wall hanging is easy with the help of spray paint or liquid copper. For a full set of instructions, Modern Mountain Life offers an easy-to-follow tutorial.
Repurpose old wooden planks—anything from floor planks, to fencing, to barn boards—to create a dream-worthy bedroom headboard. (Just don't forget to sand it first!)
There are countless ways to turn pallets into garden planters, but we particularly love this Design Sponge tutorial. Pallets make for the perfect vertical planter—a living wall that would brighten up any outdoor or indoor space.
Wall hangings can be as functional as they are decorative, as illustrated by this distressed wooden clock. Using 100-year-old barn wood, Etsy seller The Pink Tool Box makes a range of timepieces.
You don’t need to be a woodworking wizard to incorporate elements of wood into your outdoor space. One of the easiest projects is creating a walkway made of old pallets, which will put stepping stone pathways to shame. Tutorial here.
It may no longer be in the forest, but that doesn’t mean that wood can’t relive its former life as a tree. Coat trees are easy to make and are another project that can be completed with everything from reclaimed barn wood to pallets. Find some antique iron hooks and voila—you’ve got a beautiful new place to hang your hat.
Let’s face it—your pooch doesn’t care where they snooze. But it can’t hurt if it looks cute, right? Use salvaged wood to create the coziest rustic nook for your pet.
Reclaimed wooden tables and benches are increasingly popular with good reason—they’re beautiful and sustainable. In a world where natural resources are diminishing and landfills are growing, furniture made from salvaged wood is a trend that we can get behind.
If you’re looking for more inventive ways to incorporate recycled wood into your home décor, here are 10 options—most of which can be DIYed and won’t break the bank.
