Velcro Strips
Stop seat cushions from sliding off kitchen chairs by placing strips of Velcro on the chair and on the cushion.
Mark Lund, by Amanda Armstrong and Sarah Newell
Kitchen Stool
Convert a kitchen stool into an enchanting nightstand. Wrap a tutu around the edge of the seat and secure it with double-sided
tape. It’s an encore performance for an outgrown costume!
Kana Okada, by Ashley Tate
Jewelry
Dress up your refrigerator with brooches. Instead of tossing out seldom worn or broken brooches, remove the pins with a wire
cutter, glue a magnet to the back of each, and then use them to mount postcards, children’s artwork, or this week’s grocery
list.
Felt Circles
Hush a banging cabinet door by sticking a circle on a corner on the inside of the door.
Antonis Achilleos, by Pilar Guzman
Dish Towels
Use dish towels as placemats. Let a colorful dish towel span the center of your table, and you’ll get two placemats for the
price of an easy wash-and-dry staple.
Beatriz da Costa, by Melinda Page and Ashley Tate
Suitcases
Store table linens in old suitcases. Pack seasonal dishcloths, napkins, and tablecloths together for easy-access table settings.
You’ll free up space in your linen closet -- and get rid of extra baggage.
Binder Clips
Restoring order in the linen closet. Store sets of napkins clipped together and they'll always be ready to set the scene at
dinnertime.
James Baigrie, by Melinda Page and Ashley Tate
Used Calendars
Turn old calendar pages into gift wrap. Personalize a birthday present by taking a page from that month and circling the special
day.
Mismatched Silverware
Make hooks out of old silverware. Leave spoon-bending tricks to psychics and magicians. For a more amazing feat, breathe new
life into mismatched and old flatware by turning it into -- ta-da! -- useful hooks.
Mayonnaise
Use as an adhesive remover that banishes old stickers from mirrors, glass, and bumpers. Apply a generous helping to persistent
adhesives and coax off with a flexible putty knife.
Picture Frame
Serve drinks on a picture frame. Serving cocktails? Place a double of your favorite photo (so as not to ruin the original
in case of condensation) under the glass and set out the drinks for a picture-perfect evening.
Yunhee Kim, by Melinda Page and Ashley Tate
Galvanized Bucket
Use a bucket as an outdoor side table. Top a bucket with a tray for an instant side table for your lawn chairs.
Ladder
Instead of installing a typical metal rack to hold your towels, enlist a ladder made of bamboo (or some other wood that can
withstand humidity) to do the job. No tools required.
Formula Z/S, by Melinda Page and Elizabeth Wells
Wine Glasses
Use wine glasses as candleholders. To cast romantic shadows at the dinner table, place a votive candle in a thick-walled glass,
anchored in a bed of sand or small pebbles (it makes wax cleanup a snap).
Kate Sears, by Lisa Smith, Sharon Tanenbaum, and Ashley Tate
Coat Rack
Display photos and art on a coat rack over the mantel or in a hallway. Use ribbons or strings of different lengths to hang
the arrangement from the pegs for an easy and creative change of scenery.
Birdbath
Serving as an attractive, low-maintenance pot for succulents. Plant shallow-rooted varieties in the container with soil. The
lack of drainage will keep the soil moist, so you'll need to water even less frequently than usual.
Twister Mat
A Twister game mat makes a spot-on tablecloth for a child's birthday party: Sticky spills and icing wash right off.
Cardboard Coasters
Pick up interesting cardboard coasters at restaurants and bars you visit along your travels. Punch a hole near the edge, thread
some ribbon through, and voilà: homemade gift tag.
Towel Rack
Who says a towel rack has to be the dedicated realm of, well, towels? Mounted over the kitchen sink, it can also hold a collection
of cleansers.
Laurey W. Glenn, Robbie Caponetto
A Sheet
Make a headboard: Wrap a sheet over a piece of plywood, staple in back, and prop up as a headboard for a quick decor update.
