Grouped together on a tray and filled with leaves and flowers, weathered bottles and jars make an easy table dressing. "In quantity, simple vessels can look so dramatic," says Seo. 1. Collect your own bottles of various shapes and sizes over time (mustard jars, perfume bottles, and jelly jars all work well) or salvage some for just pennies at thrift stores. 2. Randomly fill some of the containers with leaves and flowers and place them on a serving tray or platter, packing the jars tightly together. Cost: $0

Cozy up a set of chairs by reupholstering them with pieces from outgrown or thrift-store sweaters. 1. Cut a sweater apart, working up the side seams and across the shoulders. Trim off the neck hole and sleeves, leaving two squares of fabric slightly larger than the seat of the chair. 2. Unscrew the seat cushions from the chairs. (The screws are usually on the cushion's underside.) 3. Cover the cushions with the sweater fabric, and secure the cloth edges to the underside using a staple gun or small tacks. 4. Trim any excess and reattach the cushion to the chair. Cost: $0

Tossing salad is a cinch with this sleek, curvy serving set by Bambu. It's made of fast-growing bamboo, a more sustainable material than wood. branchhome.com. Cost: $12 for a set of two

You recycle bottles, so why not enjoy the fruits of your labor? The rustic charm of these green tinted bowls comes from used glass containers. sundancecatalog.com. Cost: $25 for four

Melt down the dregs of burned-out candles to make new ones in old flowerpots. You'll give both items a new lease on life. 1. Scrub the inside of the pot only, leaving the outside aged. 2. Use a coin to cover the drainage hole in the bottom. 3. Insert a ready-made stiff cotton wick (sold at craft stores) or make your own wick out of cotton twine. To hold the wick upright, tie one end loosely to a pencil laid across the top of the pot. 4. Melt chunks of old candles in a pot set over a low flame or in a double boiler. Pour the liquid wax into the flowerpots. 5. Let set overnight and then trim the wick. Cost: about $2

Find new purpose for mismatched dinnerware sets in the form of a tiered serving tray for hors d'oeuvres or desserts, or use as a catch-all for jewelry, keys, and other small knickknacks. 1. Gather three plates and two cups. 2. Alternating between plates of descending size, using teacups as spacers between the tiers, glue the dishes together with a strong epoxy. To avoid using excess glue, apply only to the rim and bottom of the cup, rather than the plate. 3. Allow the glue to dry overnight, then hand wash before using. Cost: about $2

When heated, plastic containers can break down and leach chemicals into food. Reusable, durable lidded glass ones, like Ikea's 365+ line, are safer for your family and the planet. Use them to store leftovers or dry goods like pasta and beans. ikea.com. Cost: $5.99 to $6.99 each

For everyday cleaning, paper towels are expensive, create unnecessary waste, and tear easily. Instead, stock up on Method's microfiber cleaning cloths. They're washable, reusable, and better at trapping dirt and spills. methodhome.com. Cost: $5 each

We're often told to buy cleaners in bulk to save on packaging, but it's not always practical and doable to keep a gallon-size jug of dish soap by the sink. A clear plastic condiment bottle left over from the last BBQ easily dispenses with the problem. 1. Soak an old squeezable bottle in hot water to clean off the label and remove any food residue, then let air dry. 2. Add soap; refill as needed. Cost: $0

They don't just keep your wine from spilling and spoiling; corks can also protect your tables and countertops from hot pots and pans. 1. For a medium-sized trivet, collect at least 50 uniformly sized corks. 2. Stand them upright and arrange them into a tight circle. 3. Surround corks with an 8- to 10-inch metal hose clamp (sold in the plumbing section of the hardware store). 4. Tighten the clamp to bind the corks together and then trim the excess clamp with metal clippers. Cost: about $3

At some point, a cotton button-down wears out its welcome on a hanger. Turn it into cloth napkins or dishcloths, reducing your need for paper products. "The softer and more worn, the better," says Seo. "Faded plaids and check patterns look especially great." How to: 1. Wash the shirts well and cut the fabric into uniformly sized pieces, about 12 inches square. 2. Either leave edges frayed or sew a hem for a cleaner look. Cost: $0

Usually used once and tossed, plastic baggies can actually hold up to washing, drying, and reuse. 1. Insert chopsticks or wooden dowels into the holes of an unused toothbrush holder. 2. Hand-wash bags with warm, soapy water. 3. Hang bags upside-down on the chopstick prongs to let water run out and air flow in. Cost: about $7

Why use virgin wood when old newspapers work just as well? Made from 100 percent recycled rolled newsprint, these pencils are green to the core. treesmart.com. Cost: $18 for a pack of 48

When you finish off that last Altoid, save the container. It's the right size for holding office supplies like paper clips and stamps. 1. Trace the top of the tin onto leftover contact paper or cork sheets (found at craft stores) and cut out the pattern. 2. Use glue to affix the cover to the tin. 3. Label the top to indicate what's inside. Cost: less than $10

Don't toss paper that's only been printed on one side into the recycling bin. Bind the sheets together for a quick, handy notebook. 1. Cut the paper into uniformly sized rectangles. 2. Stack the pieces blank-side up and punch two to three holes along one edge. 3. Grab an old shoe box and cut two pieces of cardboard the same size as the paper. 4. Punch holes along one edge, keeping them aligned with the paper holes. 5. Sandwich paper between the covers and "bind" the book using key rings. 6. Cover the cardboard with old carpet samples or colorful contact paper. Cost: about $3

Clear glass Mason or spaghetti-sauce jars serve as convenient receptacles for cotton swabs, bandages, soap bars, and other bathroom necessities. "When you're in a rush to get ready," says Seo, "it helps to be able to see what's inside." Cost: $0

Onions and oranges often come bagged in a plastic mesh. Instead of tossing the bag, use it to cover a bio-degradable cellulose sponge for extra scouring power-and to make the sponge last longer. Just wrap the mesh around the sponge and secure with tightly wound leftover twist-ties at each end. Cost: $0

Caught a cold? Try hanging a bundle of eucalyptus (sold at craft stores and flower shops) from your shower curtain rod. "The heat and steam help to activate the herb's essential oils, which can ease congestion," Seo explains. Hang a bundle with natural garden twine (more moisture-resistant than cotton twine) on the shower rod, away from the spray of the water. Enjoy the scent for a few weeks as you take a hot shower. Cost: less than $10

Renewable bamboo isn't just a substitute for wood. Fabric woven from its fibers is absorbent and naturally antibacterial, making it ideal for washcloths. vivaterra.com or jcp.com. Cost: $8 to $12

Keep toilet paper, makeup, and other small items from cluttering your counter space by tucking them into baskets woven from sustainable water hyacinth and rattan fibers. crateandbarrel.com. Cost: $12.95 to $19.95 each

Perk up your couch or love seat with throw pillows fashioned out of vintage Ts. "If you don't sew --and I don't -- you can take the cut pieces to a dry cleaner or tailor and have them make the basic stitches for you," suggests Seo. 1. Cut two identical squares of fabric from old T-shirts (one from the front and one from the back). 2. Lay the squares on top of one another, exterior sides facing in. Sew the pieces together along three edges, leaving one edge unsewn. 3. Turn the newly created "pillowcase" inside out and stuff with pillow filling (available at fabric stores, or from an old pillow you don't use). 4. Sew the fourth edge of the square shut. Cost: about $3

Replacing carpet creates an enormous amount of waste -- about 1.75 million tons a year in the United States. If you have to install new carpet, save leftover bits from both the old and new rugs to turn into fuzzy coasters to protect your furniture from errant drips. (They make great housewarming gifts, too.) 1. Cut out squares of carpet, trimming the fray. 2. If the coasters get stained, wash in the sink like dishes and let them air-dry. Cost: $0

Most shower curtains are made from vinyl, or PVC, a plastic that can release hormone-disrupting phthalates and other harmful pollutants into the air. JCPenney's PVC-free Carlisle shower curtain is made of polyester -- a synthetic material, yes, but long-lasting and phthalate-free. (When it finally does need to be replaced, use it as a drop cloth for your kids' art projects or collecting leaves in the fall.) jcp.com. Cost: $24.99

Pinecones and dried herbs such as rosemary, sage leaves, and cinnamon sticks make fragrant kindling for a winter fire -- and, unlike composite firelogs and lighter fluid, don't rely on chemicals to ignite the flame. 1. Bundle dried herbs and small pinecones in a sheet of newspaper and secure the ends with raffia or cotton twine. 2. As you pile up logs for your fire, nestle the herb bundle underneath, with paper ends sticking out. 3. To start the fire, light the newspaper ends. As the paper burns up, the herbs inside will ignite and incinerate, giving the logs a chance to catch fire. Cost: less than $10

Turn those winter scarves collecting dust in the back of your closet into one-of-a-kind blankets. 1. Pair up six or seven scarves with complementary colors and a variety of textures. 2. Cut them to equal length and sew (or have them sewn) together, edge to edge. For extra warmth, you can sew on a fabric backing in a similar shade. Cost: $0