Sometimes great designs come from leftover waste—look no further than Pothra planters, shipping pallet chairs and clothes hangers made of bike parts are three examples that prove it. We've got another design that's giving new life to old materials: Rough from Barcelona-based Compeixalaigua Design Studio is a clean update on the forgotten pile of wood strips it once was.

The designers needed a way to light up their workspace and the perceived trash became a bright idea. The packing tape used to keep the sticks together became the inspiration behind the hanging strips that hold the light in place. The light's height can be adjusted using the hanging strips. The space on top of the fixture is perfect for quirky décor (as shown in the photo above).

Upcycled products like this make it seem easy to turn trash into design gold. What's your favorite design that used to be something else?