When people declutter their homes, more often than not they find that they have a lot of items they don’t need and either sell, donate, or trash these items. While selling or donating unused items is a good way to reduce waste, using them for another purpose is also a good idea. This is known as repurposing— where you take an object and use it for something other than its intended purpose.

Repurposing items can bring out someone’s creative side, and it’s also not something that’s difficult to do. Here are six simple items that you may have lying around your house that can be repurposed as beautiful decor pieces.

#1: Wooden Crates

Crates can be repurposed as just about anything. One of the easiest ways to repurpose them is to use them as storage containers, but they can also be used as side tables and small shelves for kids. If you’re pretty handy, you can add legs to the crates to make them into a true side table, and you can even combine multiple crates to create a rustic-style desk with built-in shelves. You can also create an entire entertainment center by securely binding the crates together— just make sure that the crates are sturdy enough before doing this.

#2: Tires

Old tires aren’t just for backyard tire swings— you can also use them as decor on the inside of your home! A cleaned and painted old tire can make for a beautiful door wreath, decorated with flowers. They can also be mounted on the walls and used as shelves in your garage or shed, or covered with fabric and topped with a cushion to create a seat in a playroom. There are many creative ways to repurpose an old tire, although you can still use one to create a tire swing.

#3: Shutters

Shutters are normally used on both the outside and inside of windows, but they can also be of good use in other ways in your home. They can be mounted to the wall and used as shelving units or an organizer. As shelving units, you can mount shelves or wire baskets to the shutters to store items in your kitchen, bathroom, or any other room. As an organizer, you can use them as a mail station, to organize jewelry, or just to keep random things from getting lost.

#4: Ladders

Ladders are probably one of the most repurposed items out there.  They’re often used as shelves in kitchens, bathrooms, and just about any room you can think of. They can also be used in just about any way you can think of, from plant stands to ceiling beams. You can be as creative as you want when it comes to repurposing different types of ladders in your home.

#5: Dishes

If you have old dishes that you don’t use anymore (or maybe some old dishes that you haven’t used at all), there are many things you can do with them instead of letting them collect dust in the cabinet. Teacups can be used for planting small plants, like succulents, while old glasses can be used as a flower vase. Take an old cheese grater and paint it to create a D.I.Y. earring holder. Finally, you can take an older colander and use them as light shades, creating cool patterns every time you use them.

#6: Curtains

If you have any old curtains, there are a variety of things you can use them for besides your windows. You can create a canopy for your bed or create “doors” for doorways using various types of curtain track sets. Curtains also make fabulous decor for your patio, allowing you to draw the open during the day and close up your patio at night. Also try using curtains as a headboard, a room divider, or even in the same way you’d use wallpaper or paint.

These are just a few examples of random items around the house that can easily be repurposed as a decor piece or a furniture piece. Anyone can repurpose something— all you need to be able to do is think outside the box and work with what you have. It’s also not a bad idea to go thrifting to find second-hand items that can be used for interior decor. A lot of everyday household items can be used for more than just one purpose, and you also can create new purposes for them.