Everyone has those old items that we can't bear to part with, but have no real use for. Attics, basements, garages & closets around the world are filled with these memories, but we just aren't sure what to do with them. Well here's an idea. Repurpose them! An old table can be turned into a work station for crafts or a homework area for kids. Antique kitchen appliances make great display pieces. Use them to decorate above your cabinets, or choose a few favorites (maybe grandmas old mixers) and bookend your cookbooks on your counter. Was Uncle John a great photographer? Display his old camera on a shelf next to some photos he took. Have an old sewing machine that doesn't work anymore? Use it in an entryway for a statement piece. Drape a handmade throw over it & hang a picture of Great Grandma above it, so you always have a piece of her nearby.
Stack old books and use them to create depth on a mantle or shelf. This is also a fun idea for kids rooms. Use your old favorite childhood books on a shelf in your son or daughters room. Have childrens books that have seen better days? Remove the images and frame them for an inexpensive and fun theme in a playroom or nursery. If you like this, but don't have old books, check garage sales & thrift stores or ask friends and family if they have some they are willing to part with. Books have so many great uses and are full of history and character, so dust them off and get creative. I have an old typewriter that was my grandfathers, and I have always loved it, but obviously with computers now, I have no use for a typewriter. Instead of sticking it in a closet, I used it as a bookend. I have a photo of him on the shelf next to it and each time I see it, I think of him and smile. 
A vintage telephone or record player would make a great display piece as well. Old records can be hung on a wall and make a fun border for a teenagers room or a bar area. Use the records themselves or the covers or both. Have old baking sheets laying around? Paint them & hang them for magnet boards in a kitchen or kids room. Old ladders make great shelves, magazine racks, quilt holders and more. Old toys and games make great display pieces in kids rooms. Old clothes can be turned into new clothes, blankets or fabric scraps for craft projects. Have some old purses just taking up space in your closet? Why not hang them and use them for storage? Have a daughter that's really into fashion? Old shoes, purses, scarves, belts, jewelry and more can be used to decorate her room. Turn old dresses into throw pillows. Use scarves and belts as curtain tiebacks. Purses, hats and shoes can be displayed on shelves next to vintage fashion magazines. Or pin vintage clothes to the walls in funky dress up styles, for a great statement piece. An old dress form would be perfect for this, too!
I think you get the idea. Anything can be made new again if you just give it a chance. Take a trip around your local craft store every so often and get inspired by the fabrics and colors. Before you go buy new lamps, maybe try changing the existing ones. A little paint and creativity can go a long way. Make covers for your throw pillows instead of buying new ones. Did you get new kitchen utensils? Save the old ones and give them to the kids to use when they play kitchen. We are too quick to throw away and replace things, so before you take out the trash tomorrow, take a second and make sure you aren't tossing out any treasures.
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