With landfills overflowing, it's best to recycle and reuse whatever you can instead of throwing things away. You might not think a broken electrical fixture has anywhere else to go except into the garbage bin, but you can find some remarkable ideas out there to repurpose bits and pieces.
While an unfinished natural-fiber ceiling fan blade might be biodegradable, plastic, metal and finished wood blades just add to the piles of waste. So why not turn those fan parts into something useful or decorative? From a coat rack and a new wall sconce to unique artwork, you have the power to help the environment in a fun, creative way.
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Make a decorative sign with a ceiling fan blade
A handmade, personalized sign is ideal for dorm rooms or beach houses, especially if you use a natural-fiber fan blade, such as one made from composite palm leaf. The material's thinness allows you to embroider directly on the blade, but if you have a thicker material such as plastic, use paint. For ideas on embellishments, watch the tutorial here.
A handmade, personalized sign is ideal for dorm rooms or beach houses, especially if you use a natural-fiber fan blade, such as one made from composite palm leaf. The material's thinness allows you to embroider directly on the blade, but if you have a thicker material such as plastic, use paint. For ideas on embellishments, watch the tutorial here.
Make a votive centerpiece with ceiling fan shades
Consider repurposing ceiling fan shades with this easy DIY that takes less than half an hour to complete. Votive centerpieces bring romance and soft candle light to any room, especially the dining area or living room. Use one, two or three shades to customize the length. If you don't want a natural-wood look, paint the wood any desired color. Get the tutorial here.
Consider repurposing ceiling fan shades with this easy DIY that takes less than half an hour to complete. Votive centerpieces bring romance and soft candle light to any room, especially the dining area or living room. Use one, two or three shades to customize the length. If you don't want a natural-wood look, paint the wood any desired color. Get the tutorial here.
Make a dragonfly with ceiling fan blades
Create an amazing piece of modern art with a couple of fan blades, a wood spindle and a Styrofoam ball. The beauty of this project is the color options. Dragonflies come in so many hues that it's impossible not to find one that matches your decor and personality. To make the dragonfly body, watch the tutorial here.
Create an amazing piece of modern art with a couple of fan blades, a wood spindle and a Styrofoam ball. The beauty of this project is the color options. Dragonflies come in so many hues that it's impossible not to find one that matches your decor and personality. To make the dragonfly body, watch the tutorial here.
Make a wall sconce with a ceiling fan parts
Is it time to replace the ceiling fan? Maybe so, but you love the fan shade and would like to keep it as part of your decor. Look no farther! This project turns a single fan shade into an elegant wall sconce. A repurposed fan blade is the sconce mount, and you can customize the color with stain or paint. Get the tutorial here.
Is it time to replace the ceiling fan? Maybe so, but you love the fan shade and would like to keep it as part of your decor. Look no farther! This project turns a single fan shade into an elegant wall sconce. A repurposed fan blade is the sconce mount, and you can customize the color with stain or paint. Get the tutorial here.
Make a candelabra planter centerpiece with ceiling fan shades
Turn ceiling fan shades into a beautiful floral centerpiece. A spray-painted metal candelabra forms the base, and you can customize it with any spray paint color desired. The fan shades act as small vases for cascading flowers and greenery. Get expert instruction on how to arrange the flowers in the tutorial here.
Turn ceiling fan shades into a beautiful floral centerpiece. A spray-painted metal candelabra forms the base, and you can customize it with any spray paint color desired. The fan shades act as small vases for cascading flowers and greenery. Get expert instruction on how to arrange the flowers in the tutorial here.
Turn a ceiling fan shade into a wind chime
If your ceiling fan is adorned with dangling crystal pendants, you're all set to get started on this project. The pendants will catch the light outside or near a window, reflecting flashes of light on the wall. A fan blade acts as the wind chime's hanger. Get the tutorial here.
If your ceiling fan is adorned with dangling crystal pendants, you're all set to get started on this project. The pendants will catch the light outside or near a window, reflecting flashes of light on the wall. A fan blade acts as the wind chime's hanger. Get the tutorial here.
Make a coat rack with a ceiling fan blade
Create functional yet stylish decor with a fan blade and a few coat hooks. Paint the blade a color that contrasts or complements the decor of the room where you'll mount the rack. For a more eye-popping look, use silver- or gold-colored hooks. Get the tutorial here.
Create functional yet stylish decor with a fan blade and a few coat hooks. Paint the blade a color that contrasts or complements the decor of the room where you'll mount the rack. For a more eye-popping look, use silver- or gold-colored hooks. Get the tutorial here.
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