Reuse Unwanted Clothes To Make An Adorable And Comfy Ottoman (And Why You Should Do It)

Many people have extra clothing that they do not wear taking up valuable space in their closets. Whether it's seasonal wear that you need to store, items that are damaged or the wrong size, or clothing that you simply do not like the style of anymore, when it's time to clean out the closet, you need to decide what to do with all of the excess. Some people donate and some people toss it in the garbage, but there is another option: reusing. With a little creativity, you can find ways to store your clothing, and make your closet clean-out result in function rather than waste.

Instagram user oliviafinds_ shares a genius way to reuse unwanted clothes in the home. The video shows how clothing, towels, blankets, and even plush toys can be stuffed inside of an ottoman cover that uses a zipper, resulting in a comfortable and cute solution. Whether you are trying to store items you'll want to easily access later or tuck away completely unwanted ones, this is a great storage solution. From leather to crochet, there's a wide variety of unstuffed covers available, so you can be sure to choose the best material for your ottoman. You can even create your own ottoman cover if you choose. Besides offering extra storage, a DIY solution like this is one of those small but important actions that helps protect the environment.

Landfills receive massive numbers of unwanted clothing and textiles each year. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), that number was 11.3 million tons in 2018, and the recycling rate for textiles was less than 15% that year. Once clothing makes it to a landfill, it can take up to 200 years for an item to decompose, and whether a clothing item is burned for disposal or sent to a landfill, greenhouse gases are emitted. These gases contribute to global warming. Donating unwanted items is a better option, but a portion of donations still ends up in landfills rather than being used. An environmentally-friendly plan to reduce your textile waste could be to separate and donate any high-quality items and find a way to reuse the rest of the clothing or materials in your home.

Another bonus of reusing items is that it is budget-friendly. If you have an ottoman cover and need to fill it, the most popular choice is to buy some polyester stuffing. Polyester stuffing is not terribly expensive, but it helps the planet and your budget to use items from around your home that will be just as comfortable. Also, polyester stuffing is a synthetic material, meaning that it is not biodegradable and that its production and disposal involve significant greenhouse gas emissions. Overall, a DIY can save your money and the planet.

There are many ways to repurpose old clothing in your home and garden. If you still have fabric or other soft items you need to store away, consider stuffing them into a sagging couch cushion to give it new life and purpose. You can even cut up unwanted clothing and use it as stuffing in smaller items like pillows and soft toys. 

Not all clothing upcycling projects require you to hide away old clothing made of high-quality fabrics, though. For example, there are many ways to repurpose old jeans around the home that keep your beautiful denim visible. A sturdy fabric like denim can be used to make your own ottoman cover, baskets, rugs, and more. Overall, any project that reduces waste and the production of new materials can help the environment. Reusing items around your home may feel insignificant, but small steps add up and make a big difference over time for our planet and lives.