I try not to let decorative accessories — candles, plants, and books — sit unchanged for too long here at Casa Petersik. Since I work where I live, I crave a bit more variety than most, and part of the fun is reimagining what I already own. It isn’t a weekly ritual, or even monthly, but occasionally I can’t resist a small switcheroo that refreshes the space without spending much.
Recently I pulled a round woven storage basket from the bathroom — a $2 find from Ikea — and slipped it over a simple white Ikea planter. Instantly it became a textured woven planter that feels custom and layered. Next I grabbed a green seeded glass hurricane I had stashed from TJ Maxx (an inexpensive clearance score) and dropped in a pillar candle. It looked fine, but I wanted more visual interest. That’s when I tried a surprising, budget-friendly trick: brown rice as vase filler.
The color and grain of the rice echo the woven planter’s tones, tying the vignette together and adding warm texture. It’s an easy, low-cost way to layer materials and change the feel of accessories you already own. Using pantry staples as vase fillers is not only creative, it’s economical — and it keeps me from running out to buy new decor every time I want a fresh look.
Repurposing items on hand is fun and sustainable. Brown rice, dried beans, sand, or pebbles all make great vase fillers that instantly change the mood of a candle holder or glass vase. These inexpensive swaps are perfect for seasonal updates, styling for photos, or simply refreshing a corner of a room without clutter or expense.
On the plant front, we recently picked up a small succulent for $3 at Lowe’s. It looks perfectly chic in a one-dollar white Ikea planter we already had. Small, affordable plants are an easy way to bring life to shelves, consoles, and tables, and they pair beautifully with layered textures like woven baskets and hardcover books.
One of our favorite styling tricks is to stack hardcover books and use them as plant pedestals. Books add height, visual interest, and personality to a display. If you want a cleaner, more cohesive look, remove the glossy dust jackets — the cloth or linen bindings underneath usually read simpler and more elegant. So peel those jackets off and start layering books, planters, and small objects to create a curated tabletop vignette.
Little swaps like these — using household items as vase filler, covering planters with woven baskets, or elevating plants on stacked books — are small, low-effort ways to refresh your décor. They’re budget-friendly, reduce waste, and let you experiment with texture and scale without buying much new stuff.
What about you? Do you repurpose pantry items or everyday objects for decorating? Share your favorite unexpected uses for objects in your home — whether it’s beans and rice as vase filler or books doubled as plant pedestals, creative reuse adds personality and keeps decorating fun.