2 Amazing Ways to Decorate With Recycled Packaging

Decorating is fun, but there’s something even more satisfying about it when it’s with decorations you’ve made yourself. It’s also a great way to recycle old packaging and do your bit for the environment – and your wallet! We’ve got two wall art ideas that will bring a unique look to any room, and you’ll get such a sense of pride when you display your finished homemade wall art. Ready to get started? Read on for two amazing DIY wall art ideas. 

laterns | wall art

Tealight lanterns DIY wall art

If you’re looking for interesting wall art ideas, then what about one that will bring light as well as decoration to your home? That’s exactly what you’ll get with this recycled wall art idea. Decorate your home with a string of pretty lanterns made from empty Cushelle toilet rolls.

Takes about 1.5 hours

1. First cover the toilet roll tubes in different pretty papers and stick in place with a glue stick.
2. Next, cut the tubes open lengthways, and flatten. Then fold in half lengthways.
3. Now make 0.5 cm-wide cuts along the bottom, folded edge to about 1 cm from the top.
4. Open out, and then wrap the bottom band around the tealight. If you don’t have an LED tea light you could use a regular tealight or a round object of the same size and shape (just don’t light it!). Stick in place with double-sided tape, and stick the top band together with a small piece of tape.
5. Finally, cut and stick loops of string to the tops of the lanterns and thread onto a longer piece of string.

Jungle wreath wall art

Add a touch of the jungle to your interiors with this beautiful recycled cardboard homemade wall art idea.

Takes about 2 hours

1. Carefully cut open and flatten the empty Lotus tissue boxes. Use the templates to draw and cut out flower and leaf shapes from four of the flattened boxes.
2. Use the side plate and saucer to draw and cut out a ring with the remaining flattened tissue box. This will be the base for the wreath.
3. Paint the flowers and leaves in different bright colours, and leave to dry.
4. Colour some tissues with yellow and orange pens and cut into 2 cm-wide strips.

   While you’re waiting for the paint to dry, give the kids a piece of kitchen towel each so they can wipe away any smudges or paint spills from the table (before they dry too!). Choose kitchen towel that’s strong enough when wet for wiping and scrubbing.

5. Now start assembling the wreath. Stick the leaves to the ring with glue – the kids will love this part.
6. Glue the flowers in place, and fold the petals to give them a 3D appearance.
7. Finally, scrunch and stick the yellow and orange fringing to the middles of each flower. 

These homemade wall art ideas will brighten up your home and give you something to do with all of those empty tissue boxes and toilet roll tubes that you’ve got lying around. Enjoy your recycled wall art crafting!