Our evolution into a better society lies in the ability to conserve our resources from indiscriminate use and restoring them from getting extinguished in near future. One major drawback of our way of living has been undue wastage of resources, abandoning things that we do not require or throwing them away just to replace them with high end products and technologies. However, now we are rising up to the cause of saving our resources and reutilizing them. Recycling, a process whereby used, abandoned, waste, defective or redundant materials or objects are collected and modeled into new exciting options is thus a positive step in this direction. Surely, recycling is one great way in conserving the existing resources in terms of energy, materials, cost incurrence, space utilization and turning them into routine items which not only look chic but are equally green.
Some appealing ideas have thus been worked out in making furniture from recycled items collected from landfills or lying idle in our garage or homes:
1. Coffee table from phone directory
A unique concept developed by Rodrigo Jaiosesk of Brazil was to reuse out dated phone directories and yellow pages to make a coffee table. It is well known that phone directories account for a major junk in our garage and waste bins, but now they form a component of appealing coffee tables in our living rooms or offices. The phone books are taken and their pages are glued together to make a stand on which a glass top is fitted to act as a stable base for coffee mugs, snacks and exciting conversations.
2. Skateboard table
Exclusively crafted, this piece of furniture really bolsters the idea of making best out of waste. The overused skate boards are screwed together to a humble stand either forming a coffee table or if more elaborately designed they make a great green chair one would love to sit on and enjoy sunset by the beach.
3. Dishwasher drum table
Often dishwashers or washing machines either become obsolete or defective, the only idea then remains is to how to dispose them off. A pleasingly crafted table from dishwasher drum will not only enhance the beauty of oneâs living room but is a great piece of art to look at. The metal or plastic drum is fitted with a glass top to serve as the stand while the perforations make for an exorbitant light display.
4. Tour table
An old pair of bicycle lying in the junk yard is remodeled into a tour table by the firm Fontana Arte. The wheels are fitted onto a 12mm thick glass top with the help of brackets and we have an alluring mobile coffee or center table.
5. Recycled Wine barrel table
Radiant Idea, another organization dealing in transforming used materials into delightful piece of furniture that adorn oneâs home or office utilizes wine barrels to design this charming center table. The inordinate old wine barrels are collected and esthetically transformed into coffee tables that spell their origin by retaining the patterns and variegations.
6. Tables from logs of wood
The discarded logs of wood often left to rot in the open, when collected and stuck together make stunning yet earthy tables. Conceptualized by designer Brent Comber, this table can adapt to ones need very easily. Made from the branches of alder tree and fitted with a thick glass top, the piece of furniture retains the original pattern and can be modeled into various shapes, sizes and dimensions. A striking wood feel makes it a wonderful piece of art to embellish ones office or home.
7. Acorn table
Shiner, a US based firm transforming reclaimed materials into enticing pieces of furniture recently developed Acorn tables with great lighting effects. These tables are made from recycled hardwood and birch plywood, a teardrop shaped base fitted with lights from inside and covered with translucent plexi glass provides this table an ethereal look that is highly soothing. The table is eco friendly as it is made completely from recycled materials and boasts of chic looks to compliment either or both ethic or modern living spaces.
The above designs and concepts are just a few examples of how creativity, eco awareness and desire to conserve our resources effectively can create splendid furniture simply by reusing abandoned materials. Many designers and green enthusiasts are coming forward with their innovative styles to efficiently use reclaimed and easily available materials such as wood, plastics, metals, rubber, Styrofoam, paper, cardboard , old CDs and turning them into contemporary, refined and usable forms.
