Search through most homes, and you'll likely find all sorts of forgotten or discarded items, ripe for upcycling.
Those old tea sets stored in dusty boxes, broken mugs rendered useless, ever-growing plastic bag surpluses, and more all possess great possibility.
By harnessing one's creative intuition, digging around the internet for further inspiration, and applying a few key DIY-ing tactics, it can be quite easy to transform most any seemingly useless item into a household treasure.
We've put together a list of 17 awesome upcycling projects, each taking one or multiple long-lost finds and transforming them into inventive, new designs.
Click through to learn more about these adorable creations and to get some great decor ideas for your own home.
1. Wine Cork Earrings
No need to throw away those used wine corks. Simply cut them into rounds, decorate them to your liking, and transform them into an adorable pair of earrings.
2. Fork Wall Hook
Bent just so, silverware can become artfully decorative wall-mounted hooks.
3. Plastic Spoons Light Fixture
If you find yourself with a surplus of unused plastic spoons, try crafting them into this modern-looking light fixture.
4. Tin Can Planter
Used tin cans make for perfect little backyard planters.
5. Plate Cupcake Stand
Simply affix a few vintage plates together, and you've got yourself a spectacular tiered cupcake stand.
6. Cup and Saucer Tea Light
Tea cups are quite versatile upcycling materials. They also easily transform into cute little candles, as well as a few other designs featured later on in this list.
7. Mug Handle Key Holder
Next time you break the handle off your favorite mug, don't sweat! Transform its now freestanding handle into a new wall-mounted key holder.
8. Wine Bottle Jack-O'-Lanterns
With fresh paint and a few little LED lights, used wine bottles can become awesome Jack-O'-Lanterns.
9. Water Bottle Flower Bouquet
Not all flower arrangements are created equal. This one, for example, was created out of used plastic water bottles.
10. Coffee Maker Planter
By exercising a crafty green thumb, a simple coffee maker can become a festive homegrown planter.
11. Coat Hanger Coat Rack
Are you looking for a new entryway coat rack? Make one yourself out of unused coat hangers.
12. Tabasco Bottle Shot Glass
With its top shaved right off, an empty Tabasco bottle makes for a great shot glass.
13. Mason Jar Solar Lights
Outfitted with solar lights, simple mason jars can completely transform your patio's look and feel.
14. Plastic Bottle Wind Spinner
Instead of simply recycling your empty plastic bottles, upcycle them into these fun, colorful wind spinners.
15. Tea Cup Lamp
If you find a number of cute tea cups and saucers, stack them together to create an artsy little lamp base.
16. Tea Cup Light Fixture
Tea cups also make for fantastic hanging light fixture materials.
17. Plastic Bag Basket
Upcycle old plastic bags by weaving them into a cute waste paper basket.
