Credit: Courtesy of Laure Joliet
Recycling your cans is one of the most basic steps toward living a greener lifestyle, but reusing them can do even more to cut your carbon footprint by preventing you from buying new stuff—and saving the energy used at the recycling plant. Apartment Therapy's Re-Nest tracked down ten tin can reuse projects from around the web that give your empty containers new homes throughout your house.
A few of the highlights: cover tin cans with colored paper or fabric and use them as tiny planters for your favorite herbs, cacti, or other small greens; paint larger cans (the example is coffee cans) for storage on shelves or in the kids' playroom; attach a lid from designer Jack Bresnahan to turn cans into vases, soap dispensers, sugar dispensers, and more; give them a uniform look with a coat of white paint and use as vases for bright summer bouquets; or attach them to a board and use to organize pencils, pens, markers, and other art supplies. Working with cans in unusual shapes or sizes? Turn a cat food can into a pincushion; fashion cookie tins into a tiered server; or use tea tins to make your own candles.
If you're all set for storage, try turning those cans into bangle bracelets, eyeglass protectors, flatware, or biscuit cutters—and use the comments to let us know what your favorite tin can reuse project is.
