Parenting Hacks: 16 Upcycling Ideas Your Child Will Love

There’s no doubt about it – being a parent is a costly business. But there are definitely ways to save some money, without making sacrifices.

You’ve just got to be a bit resourceful and prepared to spend a bit of time rummaging around at scrapyards and car boot sales. Or you may already have some items unused tucked away in your garage and ready to be given a new lease of life.

From upcycling your baby’s old cot into a craft table to making a swing out of a skateboard, get inspired to unleash your creative side with these brilliant projects…  

Cot Wagon
How adorable is this? And a fantastic use of your baby’s cot once she’s finished with it. Learn how to make it here.

Tyre Sandpit
Old tyres are always lying around at scrapyards and (if you can get them home) they’re ideal for filling with sand and letting your child play in all summer long.

Play Workbench
Grab an old bedside table, paint it and add a backboard for your tot to hang his play tools on.

Tyre Storage Bin
Another great use for some tyres – if you’ve got some lying around!

Skateboard Swing
If you’ve got a sturdy tree in your garden, this easy-to-make swing is a great twist on the wooden-seat version and will be lots of fun for your child. Learn how to make it here.

Stepladder Easel
The perfect height for a preschooler, this is a great canvas for your toddler to draw on time and time again. And think of all that paper you’ll save!

Toy Table
No DIY skills are required in the making of this table – just some strong glue to stick the drawers to the giant-plastic-lid-table-top with.

Pallet Playhouse Bed
There are a thousand things you can make out of a wood pallet – and this is one of them. Just make sure you sand off any splinters and sharp edges before letting your child loose in it.

Mini Wardrobe
Transform an old side cupboard into a mini wardrobe for your toddler with some wallpaper and a lick of paint.

Cot Desk
Another fantastic use for your baby’s now unused cot. Saw off the side, paint it up and your child’s got himself a brilliant craft table. Learn how to make it here.

Pallet Bed
If the pallet playhouse bed is a little ambitious for you, try making this rolling bed instead.

Desk Bed
This has to be the savviest – and cheapest – bed ever. It’s literally a desk turned upside down with a mattress slotted in. Genius.

Suitcase Dollhouse
Transportable and cheap to make (you can find these vintage cases at most car boot sales), this is a dollhouse with a twist.

Play Kitchen
Granted, you need to be pretty DIY-savvy to upcycle this cupboard into a play kitchen but the expression on your child’s face will be priceless when you present her with this.

Pallet Teepee
Waterproof (well, vaguely) and spacious, this teepee is so much better than your average playhouse.

Vespa Rocking Horse
OK, so you’d need to have an unused Vespa casually lying around to make this, but you have to agree it’s an AMAZING rocking horse. And you probably can't make it at home but it would be an impressive DIY project to try...

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