Recycled and Reclaimed Shelves: Decorative and Useful

My husband and I are spring cleaning our home and garage. In doing so we have realized storage units would come in very handy for organizing our stuff. Below is a list of unique storage ideas I came across in my search for making shelves out of recycled material.

1. Abstract Dresser

via 3rings

I would love to have this unique dresser in my bedroom. Rob Southcott designed it with locally produced reclaimed wood. Up against a newly painted (with earth-friendly paints) wall this dresser would serve as a dresser as well as décor. It is visually appealing and useful. I’ve always loved furniture with a lot of compartments.

2. Apple Crates Bookshelf

via baileys

I find this shelving unit to be interesting. The idea is so simple and yet very few of us would ever pass up a bunch of crates like these and imagine them as a shelving unit. I suppose you could also turn these into planters.

3. Sink Wall

via superuse

The sink wall is very unique. It is made out of 18 twelve-inch deep double tub stainless steels sinks. The shelf is both a wall as well as a storage unit. It is designed to be a wall between to rooms and it is designed to rotate. I would use this storage unit to go right between my dining room and living room. Since it can rotate I would still have easy access to both rooms.

4. Round Cardboard Bookshelf

via thedesignblog

These round bookshelves designed by Eric Guiomar are made out of cardboard. I think they would look great in any room. I would probably put one in every room. In the kitchen I would shelve spices and cookbooks. In my office I would use it to shelve all my resource books and some family pictures. In the kids rooms I would decorate one with a few stuffed toys and of course children’s books.

5. All Around Bookshelf

via Inhabitat

I’m not sure how this shelving unit designed by Daan Roosegaarde’s would fit in my home. It appears to take up a lot of space, which I don’t have. Still the design is fun, unique and planet friendly. It could fit well in a larger home in a child’s room with a lot of space perhaps or in a library in the children’s section. 

have any ideas of your own? Share them below.