N EW U S E S FOR O L D T H I N G S
Styrofoam cooler WRAPPED WITH SISAL AS AN OTTOMAN To create a cool spot to put feet up, first reinforce the sides by gluing pieces of cardboard to the interior walls. Fill with paper scraps or lightweight stuffing, then glue the lid closed. Next, glue pieces of burlap around the lid top. (This evens out the surface and disguises any Styrofoam.) Finally, wrap sisal rope around the cooler, gluing in place as you go with a hot glue gun. Tightly coil the rope on the lid until you reach the middle of the coil.
Photograph by
Aaron Dyer
B U L L E T I N B OA R D
Keep reminders front and center with this hack perfect for college dorms. Wrap the cooler’s lid with about half a yard of fabric, securing underneath with glue or staples. Then use pushpins to display notes or photos. P R O P S T Y L I N G BY J O J O L I ; I L L U S T R AT I O N S BY P E T E R O U M A N S K I . A N I M A L TA L E N T C O U R T E S Y O F A L L C R E AT U R E S G R E AT A N D S M A L L O F N .Y. , LT D.
T H E R E A L I ST
We used 150 feet of ½-inch sisal cord to construct this feline-friendly footstool.
T RU N K O RGA N I Z E R
Stow a Styrofoam cooler in the back of the car to contain messy cleats or cushion produce and eggs from bumps in the road.
13 MORE NEW USES
Clever ways to repurpose empty jam jars, extra cupcake liners, and other kitchen items at realsimple.com/kitchenuses.
SEPTEMBER 2016
32
REALSIMPLE.COM
