Second wind: Giving new life to everyday objects

12 March, 2025

In our consumer society, giving objects a second life becomes a real act of resistance. Les Belles Combines share their tips for extending the life of your everyday objects.

The Art of Creative Repair

Here are some inspiring examples of creative repairs:

Ingenious alternative solutions:

  • Broken Blender Lid? Cut a New Piece Out of a Foam Play Mat

  • A broken or cracked toy? PL glue can become your best ally

  • A torn book? Transparent tape works wonders

  • Wobbly chair? Stacked felt washers can stabilize it

Transforming objects that will amuse your children while tinkering

  • An old drawer becomes a decorative wall shelf

  • Tin cans transformed into personalized pencil holders

  • An old frame becomes a bulletin board

  • Used clothes converted into reusable bags

Involve children according to their age

5-7 years

  • How to Fix a Torn Book with Duct Tape

  • Decorate a damaged box to make a treasure box

  • Cleaning and maintaining their toys

8-12 years old

  • Sew on a button

  • Repair a simple toy with glue

  • Customize a stained or damaged garment

  • Maintain their bike (clean, oil the chain)

13 years and older

  • Repairing a small electronic device

  • Restore a piece of furniture

  • Making things from recycled materials

  • Participate in more complex repairs

Simple everyday actions

For clothes

  • Repair small holes as soon as they appear

  • How to turn ripped pants into shorts

  • Use decorative patchwork pieces

  • Dyeing a faded garment

For furniture

  • Tighten the screws regularly

  • Repairing Scratches with a Wax Crayon

  • Reinforce joints with wood glue

  • Refresh the look with new paint

For toys

  • Replace broken parts with creative alternatives

  • Strengthen weak points before they give way

  • Clean regularly to prevent wear and tear

  • Create new combinations with pieces from different games

Conclusion

These small everyday gestures, when they become family habits, have the power to transform our relationship with objects. Beyond the savings made, it is a whole philosophy of life that we pass on to our children.

To go further

Discover other maintenance and repair tips in our book "Four seasons of great tips". The autumn chapter will reveal how to transform maintenance into enriching moments of sharing with your children.

🚀 Find this article and much more in the Octave app : shared calendar, collaborative task list, meal planner, centralization of family information and autonomy monitoring - your number 1 ally for an organized family life! 📱✨