The very best upcycling ideas take an object's normal form and realise that it's got the potential to work perfectly in a totally different way. This ingenious idea of flipping a chair upside down ticks all those boxes; the back supports become a towel rack and the seat forms a perfect bathroom shelf. It's so obvious when you see it!

Give your greenery an enviable position with a suspended growing frame made out of an upcycled ladder. This brilliant idea from Instagrammer Abi uses glam gold chains fixed to the ceiling to hold pots of trailing plants over a tub, creating a tropical feel.

These hooks are mounted onto a vintage-style wooden surfboard, but you could definitely try this with an old skateboard, too. Here, a hand-cut shark bite adds a playful finish to the stylish design – perfect for a bathroom with coastal-style decor.

An old bike can double as a washstand, towel rack and vase. Vintage bicycles are easy to pick up either online or in an antique shop, but you may need to de-rust and respray your bike before it looks as charming as this one.

This wonderful idea is as simple as it is stylish. Upcycling genius Geneva turned two IKEA baskets into a cluster of rattan pendant lights to create a feature over her bathroom vanity. You can see the full tutorial on how to make your own on her wonderful blog.

Fed up with a boring plain white shower curtain? Give it a new lease of life with a home dye job. You can either try an ombre effect or experiment with different techniques to produce an infinite number of shapes and shades. You can also buy one ready-made on Etsy.

Spray painting your bathroom accessories gold is the easiest, cheapest way to make your space look luxurious and opulent. The finish looks great on anything from mirrors to toothbrush holders – so go wild.

Why not use old jam jars or Mason jars as dispensers and tumblers? Simply paint them in your favourite matt shades, then lightly age the finish with sandpaper. It couldn’t be easier – and it’s super budget-friendly, too.

Lots of us are familiar with the trick of using wooden food crates as an easy storage solution – but for a new twist, add castor wheels for shelving that can be moved around easily. Use it to store towels, toilet rolls and toiletries to minimise clutter.

If you have an oval-shaped mirror, you can easily turn it into a whale silhouette – perfect for an ocean-themed bathroom. Simply cut out a whale’s tail shape from wood offcuts, fix it to your mirror and paint it all the same colour. Kids will love this decorating idea, so make it a weekend project and get them to help out with the painting stage.

Reclaimed wood is an essential part of any DIY enthusiast’s kit, and it can be put to great use in the bathroom. Try making panelling for your bathtub using planks in different shades for a rustic look.

Sometimes an idea is so brilliant in its simplicity that you wonder why you didn’t think of it yourself. Such is the case with these brilliant wash basins made from upcycled oil drums. You’ll just need to cut a hole for the sink and another to fix the faucet on to. Then it’s just a case of spray painting it in your favourite colour. Genius!

Bathroom shelves looking a little dull? Time to give them a luxe makeover – try spray painting them in a metallic shade to add glamour, and adding artwork in rich colours, scented candles and chic accessories. Even jazzing up just one shelf can give your entire bathroom a budget-friendly lift.

Ready for a bathroom makeover? You might want to start with the floor. Old tiles can often look dull – but did you know that you can paint them? Tile paint is available at many DIY stores and is easy to use. Try painting each tile in your floor pattern a different shade for a bold look.

Fancy trying your hand at a spot of furniture upcycling? For a weatherbeaten, seaside-cottage look, paint furniture in a light wash and sand it down. You could even replace knobs and handles with pieces of rope, as shown here.

If you’d like to add a splash of colour to your bathroom but think painting a whole wall might be overdoing it, why not paint your bath panel in your chosen shade? The pink and gold shown here really make this newly renovated bathroom by Instagrammer Lissi pop.

Looking for a quick style fix? An antique ladder can be put to use in many ways but there's none easier than leaning it against the wall and using it as a towel rack. Add a couple of cute vintage-style hooks above it and a basket to hold any bits and pieces out of sight.