It seems everyone is scrambling to jump on the eco-friendly bandwagon these days. And you know what? That isn’t a bad thing. The more aware we are about our impact on the world, the better.

We spend so much time in our homes that it makes the perfect outlet for practicing our “green” thumb. When it comes time to spruce up your abode, consider ways that will help you follow the old adage: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Here are some ideas to get you started.

For Your Walls
Of course, the first step of decorating our homes usually begins with what we hang on the walls. One way to reduce and reuse is to scour your local second hand shop for amazing, one-of-a-kind frames. Fill them up with images from old calendars or, better yet, print out your favorite stock photos. You’ll be able to choose just what you like and, if you get tired and want a change, they’re easy to swap out.

Most of us listen to music digitally these days, which means we have stacks of CDs sitting around the house gathering dust. Luckily, their jewel cases make lovely modern frames that can be hung in interesting patterns. Here are some simple instructions to follow.

Curtains are an easy way to brighten up any room’s décor. Look around for large scraps of fabric—think old bed throws or spreads. Making curtains can be as easy as folding over the unfinished edges of the fabric and sewing a seam, but here’s a handy video if you need more instruction.

For Your Furnishings
When your favorite clothing wears out, don’t throw it out. Instead, you can use it to make unique throw pillows for around the house. Since pillows are essentially just two squares sewn together and stuffed, they are quite to master. Here is a how-to article to get you started.

If you have coffee tables or end tables that do the job just fine, but seem a little blah, consider decoupaging them for an insta-facelift. Decoupage utilizes bits of paper, fabric, dried flowers, etc. to create a piece of art. Old stock photography (see idea #1), magazine cuttings, memorabilia, and scraps of wallpaper all will work really well.

If you live near a beach or you have fallen branches around your property (or in a local park) you can easily make a coat rack or pots and pans hanger for you kitchen just by adding a bit of hardware found easily at your local hardware store.

To repurpose an old hard-bodied suitcase collecting dust in your closet, and you have a cat, you can make a simple, yet modern, cat bed for the fur ball. Simply remove the hinges and take one half. Buy some table legs (or recycle some from furniture you’re no longer using), drill holes in each corner to install them, throw in a blanket, and you’re done.

Really, the sky is the limit when it comes to home furnishings. Old doors can double as desks or be hung behind your bed as a headboard. Wicker picnic baskets can be painted and used as end tables—especially handy if you add some roller feet as mobile end tables. Old wooden stepladders can be re-stained and then set in the corner of a room as rustic shelving. If you have a lot of small tables, you could even paint them all one color and attach them to the wall as quirky shelving. The point is – be creative!

For Your Floors
It’s easy to make your own bathmats if you have some spare towels lying about. Any mismatched or unmatched towel will do. Simply buy some no-skid rug matting, cut your toweling into strips, and tie the strips through the holes in the mat. Here are instructions if you need them.

Another fun project for your floors is making a braided coil rug. Not only are they attractive, but they are a great way to reuse old clothing and fabric scraps you might have around the house. Here’s a simple how-to article to get your started.

With a little bit of imagination, and little elbow grease, you can turn your home into a snazzy oasis you can be proud of both for its décor and its eco-friendliness.

Photo Credits: CD frames, drift wood coat rack, suitcase cat bed, dress wall art