Forget the term 'recycle', these days people are turning everyday found objects into pieces of usable art by 'upcycling'. According to the Sustainability Dictionary, upcycling is "the process of converting an industrial nutrient (material) into something of similar or greater value, in its second life. Aluminum and glass, for example, can usually be upcycled into the same quality of aluminum and glass as the original products."
For some great examples of unique home decor made from upcycled items, check out this article from The Daily Green. It features items like a chair made out of those old 'Walk/Don't Walk' lighted street signs, one-of-a-kind baskets that are woven from scraps of insulated copper telephone wire, chairs and a table made from a wine barrel, and a wall clock made from bicycle parts. I'd have to say the most 'out there' piece featured is the oil lamp made from an old surplus military grenade - a surefire conversation piece for your coffee table.
For more great upcycled home decor ideas, see the article One-of-a-Kind Recycled Home Decor, which features items that utilize easier to find mediums to repurpose. (Because I'm sure it's easier to come upon reclaimed wood and old storage boxes than it is to find old grenades.)
