Have you invested in a property with old, cheaply made plantation shutters that you no longer want? Or, do you have self-installed plantation shutters that you need to replace with professional plantation shutters? It’s easy for old and unusable plantation shutters to end up on the pile for the council clean up. These days, DIY style jobs are more popular than ever, so if you have a spare weekend why not try your hand at making some of the reusable ideas below?
Katie from Ivy in the Bay had enough of the ‘pile-all area’ mess in the home.
“I sanded the shutter, removed the dowel handle that ran vertical down the center, and painted it white. With a little white paint , an old window shutter and some hooks – we have a small mail / bill / coupon / key station for ZERO dollars [sic]!”
Not just a great idea for the kitchen, this mail holder can be transformed into a kids picture holder or place to hold important notes. A lick of paint in any colour will help make the shutter holder stand out in a bedroom, living room, study, home office or kitchen. No more messy piles of bills, homework or important notes.
Want to be extra creative? Help get the kids involved and add jewels, stickers or multicolour splashes of paint to really individualise your shutter holder. This is a great way to help get the kids away from their screens for half an hour to indulge their creative side.
Image courtesy of Ivy in the Bay
Samantha from Samantha Elizabeth says “I had been itching for something fun, rustic and that would bring a pop of unique color to our cozy bedroom … My husband Dusty likes to call my findings names like “junk” or “garbage”. I kindly remind him “that one mans trash is another mans treasure”! And a treasure this was indeed.”
If you have multiple old plantation shutters that you are looking to get rid of, then why not try your hand at making your own bead head. This is a great way to make use of plantation shutters that are still in fairly good condition but that aren’t working for your windows anymore. The best part about this whole project is that you can change the colour or your bed head whenever you feel like it. A new lick of paint is all it will take to completely refresh the look of your bedroom. If you’re not ready to commit to making over your bedroom, try jazzing up your spare or guest bedroom. Your new plantation shutter headboard will be a talking point for all your guests who come to stay.
If you’re not in the market for a new headboard why not indulge your four-legged friend with a new bed. Depending on the size of your dog or cat, cut the shutters to size and nail/glue the sides together, add in a plush oversized cushion and you’ll have yourself a brand new bed that your best friend will love!
Image courtesy of Samantha Elizabeth
The slats in shutters open the door to many possibilities in the garden, from housing small succulents to decorating with white garden stones.
This is a fantastic idea for anyone who has a small terrace backyard or even a small balcony (make sure anything on your balcony is secured down) that doesn’t allow for many plants. When you can’t build out, build up! Old plantation shutters are perfect for growing your own vertical garden. A visit to your local garden centre will allow you to single down on small easy to grow plants that will work within the slats of the shutters.
If your thumb isn’t very green, succulents are a great choice because they require very little water and maintenance. With the large variety of succulents available, you will be able to mix and match colours and textures to create a real stand out piece of garden art.
Image 1 courtesy of Lila B. Design
Give your room a beach vibe with a hanging roof shutter lamp.
Plantation shutters aren’t just a great way to jazz up your windows but are great when turned into a custom lamp. Creating a lampshade for a hanging light is perfect for creating ambience while also giving a beachy rustic feel to the room. Paint the shutter any colour that you like to either stand out or blend in nicely with your room. This type of lamp is perfect for a teens room although can be used in any room within your house.
If you want to be really creative, you can use sheer colour pieces of material to change the colour of your room when the light is on. Just make sure this is safe to do and don’t leave the light unattended for long periods of time.
Image 1 courtesy of Lila B. Design
Creative AND functional furniture for your garden or outdoor area.
If you are in the market for new outdoor furniture, make use of your old shutters and transform them into a functional table, drink stand or even a stool. Being outdoors, you can get as creative with this as much as you like. If your area is modern, try a crisp white to add elegance and sophistication or if you want something a bit rustic paint the shutters a colour of your choice and sand back to add a sense of vintage to your piece.
The best part about this kind of project is the added storage space you can make as the shutters act as a privacy screen. Store pillows, cushions or BBQ equipment while you’re not using them to help keep your outdoor area neat and tidy. This also works if you have created the table or stool for your garden, hide small hand shovels and garden tools easily.
Image courtesy of Good Housekeeping
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