If you’re not quite ready to grow up and embrace all that is adult in decorating your home, there is a way you can bring part of your childhood into your home with great, if not quirky, ideas. If you still have many of your old toys or have children that have grown tired of theirs, instead of tossing them away create something unique. Here are ten ways to upcycle old toys for your home that will make you feel like a kid again…or help decorate a child’s room.
- Sculpture
A jumble of plastic figures, cars, and various game pieces can be transformed with paint and glue into a unique and fun sculpture. What a conversation piece this would be!
If you or your child is somewhat rough on toys, perhaps you have a few extra limbs or doll heads lying around. Turn those mismatched doll parts into art.
2. Wall Art
Create instant art for your child’s bedroom or playroom with small painted canvases and old toys. Paint the toys and canvases in fun colors and create a unique and cheerful wall display.
Model airplanes make a fun wall display.
3. Lampshade
The combination of toy cars and army men come together for a unique lampshade. Use an old lampshade frame as your base and build from there.
4. Bowl
Create bowls made from toy figures for fun party server ware or for keeping fruit in the kitchen. Kids will love this and may even eat more fruit!
5. Jar Lids
Organize craft supplies with color coordinated lids topped with toy figures. This is a fun way to store supplies in a playroom or classroom.
6. Organizer
Create organizational pieces with old toys and use them in the kitchen for holding utensils.
7. Frame
Paint toy figures with gold paint and mount them to a frame to make a special piece to surround your favorite artwork from a child or family photos.
8. Wall Hooks
Cut plastic animals in half to make a charming rack for hanging household items.
9. Planter
Paint toy figures and turn them into planters.
10. Furniture
What’s more fun than jumping into a pile of stuffed animals? Go a few steps further by attaching stuffed animals to a chair base for a fun and quirky furniture piece.
There is no limit to the imaginative creations you can make with old toys. Whether you are nostalgic, are searching for creative ways to decorate a child’s room, or you simply want to make use of old toys, dig through those toy chests to find tomorrow’s great piece of art or functional household tool.
