There are a lot of people who stack up piles of old junk, whether they're waiting to throw it out or waiting for it to be useful again. But, let's be honest, we're not going to be moving that plastic trolley back into the bedroom any time soon. It's time to face up to the broken and the old, and that doesn't necessarily mean taking a trip to the skip.

First of all, it's important to have the right tools. Sand paper, paint and a few nails or hooks are musts for any redo, especially any big job. Don't be afraid to mix and match different items. You might be forgiven for thinking there's not much you could do to rescue an old suitcase, and, sure, by itself- maybe not. But, combine it with some old table legs, a lick of paint and a vase of flowers and you have a cute little night stand. What else could be hiding as junk?

It's not just the vintage and quirky that can be made from old throwaways. With a bit of cleaning, fabrics are super easy to repurpose as just about anything. We love taking the back off an old dresser then adding old fabrics to make a luxurious and completely free(!) headboard for the bed. Thank us later!