Ever seen one of the things in the top left photo here and wondered what they were? Well, they're actually cable spools and they make for a great upcycling project that doesn't take much effort. All you really need is a little paint and some cylindrical pieces of wood if you want to add a bookshelf. Most home supply stores sell these pieces of wood already turned, which you can then take and cut down to the size you need.
After that's done it's just a case of painting the spool and screwing in the pieces of wood. Afterward, you'll have a combination bookshelf and coffee table with a shabby chic look.