My apartment complex does not offer recycling, and a little piece of me died when I had to throw out things that could easily be reused. I found out my office does offer recycling, so I have fortunately been able to bring most of my goods to work. But, I have also wracked my brain to find ways to reuse these materials at home.

Tin cans take up a lot of room in the trash and have a lot of potential to be useful around the house. They can be used for decorating and storage. All it takes is a little paint to add some flair to an ordinary tin can.

Items you will need, most of which you can get at your local hardware store:

• Tin cans (labels removed and washed)
• Paint brush or sponge
• Painters tape
• Paint

Use painter’s tape to create a division where you would like to paint.

I taped the cans at different heights to just create a little variety.

Apply Paint

I applied the paint with the sponge and set the can upside down to dry. Each can may require more than one coat, depending on the look your trying to achieve. I applied 2-3 coats to mine.

After the cans are dry, you’re all set. I did notice the paint has a tendency to scratch off, so if you’d like to avoid this, I’d suggest using a top coat or sealer. I just used the spray can clear coat and that did the trick for me.

I have used these cans for a variety of things.

Baby shower centerpieces

Kitchen storage

Office storage