4 Creative ways to repurpose old windows

4 Creative ways to repurpose old windows

We recently looked at how sustainable glass is as a building material. One of the main conclusions we drew was that the sustainability of any material can be decided by what happens to it, once it reaches the end of its lifespan.

While glass can be recycled, this isn’t always the easiest way to dispose of it. But there are other ways to squeeze extra life from your windows when they’re no longer providing the insulation or performance that you need. 

Here are a few creative suggestions of ways you can reuse your windows to get even more use out of them, rather than relegating them to the recycling plant.

 

Creative ways to reuse or repurpose your windows

Traditional-style windows with beautiful glazing bars can be the hardest windows to say goodbye to. Often expensive, these windows can take on a new rustic charm as they age and actually increase their appeal. With a new lick of paint, or even more deliberate distressing, they can become a beautiful centrepiece in your home. 

A photo frame

Printed photos are becoming something of a dying art, and a sideboard scattered with small photo frames can look like clutter in a minimalist modern home.

A window with glazing bars comes with its own inbuilt dividers to help you house several related photos. Whether you have a selection of captured family memories or a more artistic collection of prints, a window frame can help tie them together as one cohesive wall decoration that frees up your surface space and has its own design identity.

If you’re repurposing a rustic-looking timber frame, then sepia or desaturated photos will carry on the aesthetic, while a more contrast-heavy black and white set fits perfectly with thinner aluminium frames.

Mirror

If the glass in your window is the problem, not the frame, pop it out (then recycle) and replace the panes with mirror panels instead. This works just as well for plain window frames, as it does for ones with decorative mullions, transoms or glazing bars.

It can work with any sized frame too. As large mirrors with sturdy frames can be quite expensive, reusing your window frame as a mirror frame can actually be very cost-effective as well as an attractive design addition.

Best of all, a strategically placed mirror can completely change the look and feel of a room. You can maximise the sense of space, increase the natural light and make your living space a happier place to be. All out of a functional item that is no longer fit for its original purpose.

Headboard

Another wall decoration idea for reusing old windows is to mount them behind your bed as a headboard.

This is great if you have a very large window or a couple of smaller ones that can be used together. Make sure they are securely mounted to the way with heavy-duty hangers, and remove the glass for maximum safety but this can be a beautiful and unusual addition to your bedroom, especially as the wall above a bed is often left plain.

Again, the frame can be matched to the look of your bedroom too. Timber frames can be stripped back and refinished to match the look of your bedroom furniture whether that’s painted or stained. Aluminium frames can also be repainted with a little care, and the clean lines and finish will still add a stylish twist to a more minimalist home.

Build A Greenhouse

If you’re looking for a more functional use for your old windows, using them to build a greenhouse will really make the most of their remaining practical features.

While an old double-glazed window may not still have the insulating power you need to keep your heating bills down and home warm, they will do a far better job than most cheap greenhouses or polytunnels.

The amount of windows you have access to will dictate the size of greenhouse you can achieve, but even if you only have one or two you can use them as a roof for a small growing box that will let sunshine flood in and protect fragile plants from frosts.

Keep your home sustainable by recycling your windows

A well-insulated home is a more sustainable home, and this means having double-glazing units that are performing at their peak, as well as finding a new use for the old ones once they’ve started to fail.

If you’re looking to update your glazing, speak to us today to secure high-quality replacements that will pay for themselves.

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