Ten Fabulous Trash To Treasure Upcycles

Upcycle, makeover, recycle and transform that trash to beautiful home decor treasure.

Check out these ten fabulous ideas for your home.
Well, folks, it's hard to believe, but we've come to the end of another year.

What's even harder for me to believe is that this is my sixth...yes, sixth...Exquisitely Unremarkable wrap up.

And even more unbelievable is that today's installment is the 500th article I've published.

500. Yikes that's a lot of words...

Since 2013, I've shared DIYs, crafts, recipes ~ albeit very simple ones ~ personal stories, some silly, some not, and a few random thoughts popped in for good measure.

And while I write about whatever I'm living that week, when I look back each year does seem to have a general theme.

This year, it was all about upcycling...recycling...makeovers or whatever the latest term is for turning something old into something new.

I have always loved a bargain and crafting, so in 2018 I combined the two and shared my projects.

Of course, there were many changes in my personal life, too, and while those posts received the most comments, and I thank you all for the many wonderful words, the internet at large chose the upcycle posts as their favorites.

So join me won't you, as I peek back at the this year's top ten trash to treasure DIYs?

Ten Fabulous Trash To Treasure Upcycles

There's something so charming about a kitchen sink skirt. Unfortunately, the traditional way to add one with a tension rod or ring clips was not possible without damaging my existing cabinets.

And it certainly wasn't practical in my very busy kitchen.

So I got creative and made my cottage kitchen dreams come true with my own sink skirt mount. It actually turned out much better than I ever could've imagined and apparently, I wasn't the only one who thought so.

Turning an old kitchen sink base into a cottage style charmer was my number one most popular post of the year.



Coming in at a close second, was my faux milk glass DIY. My thrift store glass plates were scratched and cloudy, but just way too pretty to throw away. I'd seen this crafty makeover before, but never tried it myself.

I have to say, it was simple, inexpensive and quick. The three musts for any Exquisitely Unremarkable project. Plus the result was elegant and believable. I wasn't trying to fool anyone, but I dare you to pick the fakes.

Not so easy, huh?


At that same thrift store, I found this rooster plate rack for five bucks.

I had absolutely no wall space, but I couldn't leave it behind. I had a hazy idea that he would look great in my garden, but it took a few months for me to wipe away the crafty fog and decide exactly how I was going to use it outdoors.

I have to say, when it finally came together I was so pleased, I would buy another and do it again and again in my cottage style garden.

It adds so much whimsy...and at number three, I guess the online community agrees.


Upcycle number four was a midnight special.

I had picked up an old glass cutting board at a different thrift shop and knew it would be fun to makeover for the fall, but just couldn't get motivated.

After all, it involved decoupage and napkins.

Ugh. Turns out, it was easier than I thought and the result was fabulous.

While I would never really put food on a used wooden cutting board, I have used this glass one many times and the pattern couldn't be more fitting in my kitchen.

I've been looking for more of these cutting boards in the thrift store so I could make one for every season. So far, no luck...but I'm always on the hunt.


Ceiling fan blade makeovers are one of my favorite types of DIY crafts. They're so versatile and can be transformed from functional to fabulous in minutes for any season.

While I have traditionally painted them, this spring I decided to embellish one with flowers to welcome guests.

It was a different twist on a basic wooden sign, adding softness and a 3D effect, that was quite popular with regular readers and Pinterest visitors.

It ranks at number five this year, but I have a feeling it's going to be a popular one for a while...easy and sweet.

Would you try this one?

Next up, my little red truck Christmas plate.

This one was a huge hit and honestly, I think that if I had premiered it earlier in the year, it would've been number one. Everybody loved it.

It was my first dip in the red truck trend pool...and I think it turned out very well. Again, it was easy, inexpensive and done in a jiffy.

I used the last of my scratched plates and a few bargain napkins to make my very own red Christmas truck accessory.

And I think Santa was as pleased as I was.


So do you see a secondary theme here, friends?

Looks like I had a thing for dishes this year, huh? Truth be told, I am a bit dish obsessed.

There are so many patterns, shapes and sizes that grab me and I have a hard time saying no to a bargain.

However, not all the plates I find are in pristine condition. In the past, I shied away from the less than perfect ones, but this year, I decided to buy first and clean later. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.

When it came to scratched white dishes, it worked! I found a great way to clean them up and I've been using this method ever since...which is awesome, because this year I also bought new dishes.

White. So far, so good.

Ok, so I used this trick to fatten up my own flat pillows, but if you found a flat treasure at the thrift store, this tactic would be the way to go.

Yes, it does require some sewing, but it's basic and in a few minutes you'll have fluffy, fat pillows that will make your whole couch look brand new.

Well, at least until your husband decides to sit down on them.

So here's a question. Would you consider a home renovation an upcycle?

It wasn't quite trash to treasure since the home had such great bones, so I suppose makeover is the appropriate word here. Either way, people loved the before and after shots of my 1929 beach cottage.

The home only had two previous owners when we purchased it in 2002 and needed a complete renovation. That's ok, we are DIY diehards and loved every minute of it.

We were smitten with the original structure and didn't want to stray too far from the existing design.

I think we stayed true to that goal. What do you think?


The tenth most popular DIY upcycle of the year was this very whimsical thrift store vase makeover.

It wasn't innovative in any way, but if you know me at all, then you know that this particular project epitomized me.

It's pretty plain, just a square glass vase, it was dirt cheap, the process I used was ridiculously simple and the word I chose to decorate it is a play on words.

A silly joke, not particularly clever...but it makes me laugh every time I look at it.

And that's me. Exquisitely Unremarkable.

A simple girl, who loves basic, inexpensive decor and most of all, doesn't take any of it too seriously. After all, it's decor, people. If it doesn't make me smile or laugh, then what's the point?

There's enough other stuff to stress me out in any given day, decor should not be one of them.

Flour anyone?

And there you have it, the top upcycle craft posts of the year. What I like best about them, is that while I may have made a few seasonal projects, all of these crafts can be adapted for use during any time of the year.

Put your own spin on it.

Make your own magic.

But just remember to enjoy the process.

Or at least, I hope you enjoy reading about it!

😉

Want to peek back even further?

You can peek at the archives from 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017.

Happy New Year, Friends!