Cool Upcycling Projects
200+ Upcycling Ideas That Will Blow Your Mind
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If you're the type of person who hates to throw anything away, then turn your unwanted items into gorgeous DIY projects. After all, one person's rubbish is another's treasure, right? Get inspired by these DIY ideas for ordinary household objects.
— Additional reporting by Emily Co
1 Plastic Spoon Chrysanthemum Mirror
Break up plastic spoons and stick them on a cardboard wreath form you can get from a crafts store. Paint them with a colour you like, and stick a mirror in the centre. Find more detailed instructions here.
2 Mason Jar Chandelier
With a bit of work, you can make chandeliers out of mason jars. For an easier DIY route, use candles instead of electrical lighting.
Buy this mason jar chandelier on Etsy.
3 Coffee Grounds Candle
Use old coffee grounds and the ends of old candles to create this awesome coffee candle.
4 Spray-Painted Plastic Containers
Instead of tossing it in the recycling, give a plastic container a quick refresh and upcycle it into smart kitchen storage.
5 Denim Baskets
Create baskets out of old denim for both decorative and practical purposes — store items in the baskets for a more organised home. They look so much better than plastic baskets and will look like part of your home's decor.
Buy these denim baskets ($18 for two) on Etsy.
6 Cork Planters
Hollow out corks to make cute planters. Get the DIY for these succulent wine corks here — they're even magnets!
7 Book Ereader Covers
Use the cover of an old book to create a cover for your ereader. It's perfect for the nostalgic bookworm who made the transition from paper to digital.
Buy this Nancy Drew tablet cover ($30) on Etsy.
8 Wine Bottle Pendant Light
Transform a wine bottle into a pendant light with this simple DIY.
Buy this wine bottle pendant light ($43) on Etsy.
9 Rope-Covered Can
Save your cans from the recycling bin and upcycle them into rope-covered cans that look awesome holding all your pencils and pens. Get the DIY here.
10 Hidden Piggy Bank Books
Hollow out one of your old books to hide your cash and other valuables. No one will ever guess your secret hiding place! Get the DIY here.
11 Denim Bookmarks
We seriously heart these bookmarks made from old denim.
12 Paper Beads
Roll up your calendar, newspaper, or magazine pages to create fun paper beads that you can string up to make necklaces and bracelets. Instructions here.
Buy this newspaper bead necklace ($30) on Etsy.
13 Denim Coasters
14 Mason Jar Cup
Instead of a cup, drink from a mason jar. They're really cool to serve your homemade mixed drinks in when guests come over.
Buy this mason jar tumbler ($9) on Etsy.
15 Paper Bag Wreath
All you need are a few paper bags and a foam round for making this pretty Fall wreath that will look great on your front door.
16 T-Shirt Pom-Poms
Make little pom-poms out of t-shirts . You can attach them to necklaces or scarves to dress them up or glue them to floral wire to mimic flowers.
Buy this fabric pom-pom ($9) on Etsy.
17 DIY Mint-Tin Candle
Travel with this compact candle to fill your hotel room with beautiful scents.
18 Glitter Clothespin Magnets
Stick cute notes on your fridge with these glitter clothespin magnets.
19 Denim Rugs
Turn old jeans into throw rugs and watch guests exclaim over how unique your floor mat looks. Buy this denim rug ($60) on Etsy.
20 Bamboo Skewer Scent Diffuser
Take bamboo skewers and put them in a bottle filled with essential oil, rubbing alcohol, and more for a neat scent diffuser.
21 Plastic Knit Bags
Turn plastic bags into yarn, or plarn, and then knit it into a bag that you can use for all purposes.
Buy this purse made from recycled plastic bags ($24) on Etsy.
22 Map Origami Star
Cut up the map into strips and fold them into origami stars. You can fill up a glass jar and give it as a gift to a friend or use them as confetti.
Buy these map origami stars ($8 for 24) on Etsy.
23 Book Page Tags
Turn old book pages into gift tags that you can attach to presents to better personalize them.
Buy these book page tags ($6) on Etsy.
24 Favour Boxes
Would you guess that these wedding-favour boxes used to be toilet paper tubes? Add this to your list of budget-friendly wedding ideas.
25 Plastic Bag Earrings
Take snippets of plastic bags, lacquer them, and turn them into dangly earrings.
Buy these plastic bag earrings ($27) on Etsy.
26 Wine Bottle Nightlight
It's not the nightlight from your childhood, that's for sure, but these additions would make the perfect accents for an outdoor party. Hand-paint a wine bottle and fill it with stringed bulbs so that the light reflects the colour of the design; you'll also have to drill a hole in the back to connect the light to an outlet.
Buy this wine bottle light ($12) on Etsy.
27 Coffee-Filter Roses
Smell the roses with these DIY coffee-filter roses.
28 Denim Pillows
Denim is such a comfortable material that it makes for a great pillow cover.
Buy this denim pillow ($25) on Etsy.
29 Soup Can Container
Turn a soup can into a cute container by sticking buttons on it and adding a coat of spray paint.
30 Jewellery Earring Frame Organiser
Frame some burlap for a unique jewellery organiser.
31 Button Bracelet
When your collection of old buttons starts to take over, you should repurpose them into adorable baubles that make unique gifts for all the girls in your life. Get the DIY here.
32 Denim Coffee Cup Cozies
Cut up your old jeans into cozies and give them as gifts for friends. Buy this denim coffee cup cosy ($6) on Etsy.
33 T-Shirt Floor Rug
Cut your t-shirt up into yarn, and then braid strips together. Once you have a long braid, coil it up, and sew it together so that it stays in that position.
Buy this braided rug ($40) on Etsy.
34 Book Page Notebook Covers
Whether you're dressing up a notebook, diary, or scrapbook, book pages will make the covers come alive. Take your favourite pages from old books and experiment by sticking them on the covers.
Buy this composition notebook ($8) on Etsy.
35 Map Gift Tag or Bookmark
Shape gift tags and bookmarks out of old maps and laminate them for a longer shelf life. Consider punching a hole on top and tying a string — or perhaps a piece of rope — to dress it up.
Buy these map tags ($8 for 25) on Etsy.
36 Book Furniture
Create furniture pieces like lamps, side tables, or coffee tables by piling up old books. Be sure to glue the books together so you won't have to stack them up again if the pieces ever topple over.
Buy this book lamp ($150) on Etsy.
37 Book Page Wreaths
Wreaths are an interesting use of book pages and would be perfect for any vintage wedding or fun party. Get the DIY here.
38 Single-Use Travel Packets
Going on a trip, but can't lug your big bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and more along? Create these single-use travel packets from straws as a smart solution!
39 Map Confetti
Buy a puncher that punches pretty shapes out of paper. Use them on maps to make cool confetti.
Buy this pack of map confetti ($5 for 1,000) on Etsy.
40 Magazine Garland
If you've got a stack of magazines and newspapers cluttering a corner of your home, a paper garland is the perfect project for transforming them into something really sweet.
41 Paint Chip Confetti
Punch little shapes out of paint chips to make lovely confetti for a party or wedding.
42 Plastic Bag Doormat
Knit or braid the plarn into a floor mat for the perfect surface for wiping the dirt off of your shoes.
Buy this plastic bag doormat ($38) on Etsy.
43 Cork Stamps
Corks make the perfect material for stamps. You can carve them, and they will be able to absorb ink well enough for stamping.
Buy these cork stamps ($20) on Etsy.
44 Office-Supplies Gift Wrap
Use office supplies for a unique gift wrap that will wow recipients.
45 Map Jewellery
Create a map pendant with a cutout of your favourite spot on the map. You can paint the piece with lacquer or glue a glass gem on top to make it more durable.
Buy this map necklace ($12) on Etsy.
46 Pill Bottle Quarter Holder
Turn your old pill bottle into a quarter holder which you can store in your car for convenience.
47 Rice Candle Holders
Dye and scent rice to use in pretty candle holders.
48 Plastic Bag Pot Scrubbers
Crochet plastic bags into little shapes. You can use these to scrub dishes, pots, and other cookware.
Buy these pot scrubbers ($7 for 2) on Etsy.
49 Old Teacup Candles
There's nothing sadder than when one of your favourite teacups or coffee mugs ends up with a crack or chip. But instead of tossing out your beloved drinking cup, transform it into a sweet candle.
50 Wine Bottle Centrepiece
Such an easy DIY project, and yet, so pretty! Spruce up a wine bottle with a doily to turn it into an interesting centrepiece.
51 Zipper Bag
Sew zippers together to create a bag. Buy this zipper bag ($20) on Etsy.
52 Paint Chip Calendar
Use paint chips and a photo frame to create this awesome calendar that will help you stay organised.
53 Lemon-Rind Soaps
They might look like lemon candy, but they're actually supercute lemon soaps! Instead of throwing away lemon rinds, make these homemade soaps for brighter, softer hands.
54 Cork Coaster
Piece corks together for a coaster that's perfect for any wine-lover. Slice the corks in half vertically before mounting them on the base of the coaster.
Buy these wine cork coasters ($13 for 4) on Etsy.
55 Bug-Repellant Orange Candles
56 Bottle Cap Candles
Don't toss your bottle caps! Turn them into mini candles.
57 Paint Chip Garland
Create beautiful garlands from paint chips, like this egg garland that's perfect for Easter.
58 Cork Pot Holder
Let a steaming pot cool down on a cool legless trivet made from corks fused together.
Buy these cork pot holders ($8) on Etsy.
59 Denim Laptop Sleeves
House your laptop comfortably in your old pair of upcycled jeans. Buy this denim laptop sleeve ($28) on Etsy.
60 Paint Chip Bookmarks
Another creative way to make paint chip bookmarks. The possibilities are endless!
61 Wine Bottle Wind Chime
Liven up your garden or patio with a wind chime made from the tops of recycled wine bottles. For the doable DIY, all you have to do is string them together.
Buy this wine bottle wind chime ($30) on Etsy.
62 Spoon Racks
Flatten and bend spoons, and then nail them onto wooden planks to make a really cool-looking spoon rack.
Buy these personalized spoon racks ($90 for 2) on Etsy.
63 Gilded Honey Bears
Look at this adorable family of honey bears — doesn't it remind you of the story of the three bears? Upcycle your empty honey bear bottles and turn them into your new favourite multifunctional decor pieces.
64 Plastic Pom-Poms
Your guests won't know that these party pom-poms are made from plastic bags!
65 T-Shirt Yarn
Turn your t-shirts into yarn to use for other cool DIY projects. There's a special way of cutting up your t-shirt so it becomes a continuous roll of yarn, so be sure to learn how to do it here.
Buy this t-shirt yarn ($7 for 60 yards) on Etsy.
66 Gold Glass Jar Organisers
Instead of throwing glass jars into the recycling bin, upcycle those pasta and condiment containers into chic organisers. Here's how.
67 Map Mini Envelope
Make mini envelopes out of maps to store things like favours or after-dinner mints at a wedding. You can also use them to wrap a trinket as a gift to a friend or to place under a pillow when you're playing tooth fairy.
Buy these map envelopes ($6 for 10) on Etsy.
68 Plastic Bag Basket
Braid plastic bags together to make a basket. Get more instructions here.
Buy this crocheted basket ($49) on Etsy.
69 Book Page Rings
You can also make book page rings to match your necklaces.
Buy this Great Gatsby book page ring ($15) on Etsy.
70 Newspaper Bouquet
Along with being a fun way to upcycle your favourite daily read, this DIY only costs a few dollars to make.
71 T-Shirt Headbands
Tear your old t-shirt into strips and braid it into a cool headband that will look like it's store-bought. Get more instructions here.
Buy one ($7) here.
72 Book Page Cards
Tear out old book pages to make greeting cards. The background is suitable for all types of occasions — birthdays, graduations, and more.
Buy these homemade Christmas cards ($10 for 5) on Etsy.
73 Towel Travel Kit
Turn an old towel into a travel kit for your toiletries that you can also use to wash your face with!
74 Mesh Bag Pot Scrubbers
Take the plastic produce mesh bags and turn them into efficient pot scrubbers.
75 T-Shirt Scarf
Take an old t-shirt, snip it up, and turn it into a fashionable scarf. There are so many different styles to choose from — fringing, braiding, and more. Here is a list of instructions on how to make 10 different types of t-shirt scarves.
Buy this recycled t-shirt scarf ($22) on Etsy.
76 Denim Wreaths
Turn your old pair of jeans into a wreath to decorate your home with.
Buy this denim wreath ($59) on Etsy.
77 Denim Bracelets
Make denim bracelets by wrapping scraps of your old jeans around slim bangles. Buy this denim bangle ($3) on Etsy.
78 Mason Jar Planters
If you're looking for a planter, opt for a mason jar instead of opaque pots. It's cool to actually see the soil, and it'll give your home an earthy vibe.
Buy this mason jar planter ($29) on Etsy.
79 Bottle Charging Station
Keep your phone and wires in place with this charging station made from a plastic bottle.
80 Denim Earrings
Add bits of denim to your earrings for a touch of edge. Buy these denim earrings ($14) on Etsy.
81 Cheese Grater Earring Stand
Paint a cheese grater and hang your earrings on it for a fun and unusual earring stand.
82 Mason Jar Terrarium
Terrariums are cheap to make, and they're a nice way to add some greenery to the home or even the office. Using a mason jar to store the plant arrangement is a nice twist on the traditional terrarium holders. Here's a guide on how to make a terrarium.
But this mason jar terrarium ($59) on Etsy.
83 Paint Chip Matching Game
Have a little fun with your kids with this paint chip matching game. They'll be challenged by the ombré shades.
84 Mason Jar Shakers
Don't toss that big cardboard container of salt or sugar if you're almost finished with it. Repurpose the top into a cute mason-jar seasoning shaker. This DIY project costs less than a few dollars to make and is a great way to spruce up your kitchen without investing in expensive containers.
85 Scented Sweater Satchel
Instead of donating those old sweaters, upcycle them into adorable hand-sewn scented heart satchels. Along with being seriously cute, these little hearts can be filled with fragrant potpourri.
86 Plastic Bottle Wallet
Use the ends of soda bottles to create this nifty wallet.
87 Denim Ottoman
Rest your feet on a chic denim ottoman. Use recycled jeans to sew a simple pouf.
Buy this denim ottoman ($91) on Etsy.
88 Butterfly Mason Jar Lamp
Upcycle a mason jar into this cool butterfly moss lamp.
89 Sweater Wine Cosy
These sweater wine cozies make the perfect gifts, party favours, or hostess presents for the holiday season. Get the DIY here.
90 Map Garland
Cut out cool shapes from maps and string them up to make a garland. Hang it up at a wedding or as party decor or even in your home. For those looking to make fancier garlands, you can check out these instructions on how to make origami balloon garlands.
Buy this map garland ($9) on Etsy.
91 Tie Phone Case
92 Denim Wallets
A denim wallet will keep your money and important cards safe. Buy this denim wallet ($24) on Etsy.
93 Mason Jar Pen Holders
Spray-paint a mason jar, and it'll be a colourful addition to your desk as a pen holder. Get the DIY here.
94 Wooden Spoon Garden Markers
Paint the ends of wooden spoons and use them as garden markers.
95 Milk Container Watering Pot
Poke holes on the lid of a milk jug to turn it into a handy watering can. Just fill it up with water and pour away!
96 Map Lamp
Buy a really cheap lamp and glue a map around the shade. Or you can even cut the map into strips and glue it onto the shade for a shaggy effect. The thinner the map, the better the light shines through, so you might want to use the nonglossy kind for this project.
Buy this map lamp ($43) on Etsy.
97 Bottle Cap Planters
Start saving your bottle caps for making these sweet planters, which also double as wedding favours! Here's how to make them.
98 Paper Bag Baskets
Weave strips of paper bags together to make these cute baskets.
99 Mason Jar Flower Vase
Nowhere to put your beautiful blooms? Use mason jars! You can choose to spray-paint them or cover the jar with lace or some other material, but personally, I think it's the most beautiful as a vase when it's in its original translucent form.
Buy this mason jar flower vase ($8) on Etsy.
100 T-Shirt Pet Toys
Old tees are the perfect material for pet toys. The t-shirt material is soft, so it'll be something they can sleep with.
Buy these recycled t-shirt pet toys ($10) on Etsy.
101 Book Charging Stations
Create a charging dock for your iPhone, tablet, or other gadgets with an old book. Here are instructions on how you can make your own book charging station.
Buy this book charging station ($10) on Etsy.
102 Rose-Petal Bath Salts
If you had a particularly rough week, you'll want nothing more than a steaming, relaxing bath. But why use expensive store-bought bath products when you can make your own? Try this bath salt DIY using withered flowers from Mother's Day or any special occasion.
103 Map Frame
Transform an old picture frame into something really special with the help of Mod Podge and an old atlas. Get the DIY for this cute map frame here.
104 Coffee-Filter Bowl
Used coffee filters have never looked this good. Set them aside to make this awesome catchall bowl.
105 Cinnamon Candle
This cinnamon-stick candle is not just for the holidays — seems like it'll be perfect all year round.
106 Greeting Card Magnets
Use pictures and greeting cards to make magnets for your fridge. Here's a tutorial on how to make picture magnets.
You can even use the numbers and create magnets with them to make your own magnetic calendar.
107 Denim Wine Carrier
Given the nature of the material, denim is a good insulator, which makes it perfect as a wine bottle carrier.
Buy this denim wine bag ($21) on Etsy.
108 Wine Bottle Tiki Torch
You'll need some hardware (and oil and the proper flame) to pull this one off, but a tiki torch made from wine bottles is a fun way to light up your outdoor space. If all else fails, placing the right-size candle in the bottle neck will get the job done, too.
Buy the hardware ($60 for 4 kits) on Etsy.
109 Map Journal
Cover a notebook with a map or create your own using paper for the pages, cardboard or cork for the covers, and a string to tie the covers together for the stem.
Buy this map journal ($67) on Etsy.
110 Book Page Terrarium Necklace
Use small bits of book pages as decorative items and insert them into things like vial necklaces or even terrariums.
Buy this book page terrarium pendant ($30) on Etsy.
111 Denim Bibs
Upcycle your jeans into bibs that are durable and machine-washable.
Buy this denim bib ($12) on Etsy.
112 Spoon Candle Holder
Plastic spoons left over from a party? DIY this candleholder to make good use of them.
113 Denim Bunting Banners
Create a bunting (here's how) with different shades of denim for a cool-looking banner.
Buy this denim bunting ($32) on Etsy.
114 Floating Candle Jars
Now that it's getting warmer, it's the perfect time to sit back on your patio and enjoy the breeze. Worried about bugs? We've got you covered. Make these floating candle jars to keep the bugs away, and enjoy the beautiful scent while you're at it.
115 Scarf Camera Strap
It's Summer, which means lots of travelling! Keep your camera secure and fabulous by making this chic camera strap using a scarf.
116 T-Shirt and Towel Produce Bags
Create awesome produce bags with an old t-shirt or towel.
117 Map Tile Coasters
Give new life to an old atlas with these upcycled map tile coasters.
118 Cork Ornaments
For pieces unique to you, dress your Christmas tree up in homemade cork ornaments.
Buy these cork ornaments ($7) on Etsy.
119 Wine Bottle Candle Topper
Making your own candle topper is simpler than you might think: all it takes is cutting off the bottom of a used wine bottle and securing it over a tea light candle and base.
Buy this wine bottle candle topper ($10) on Etsy.
120 Wine Bottle Hanging Vases
Hanging vases would make a great gift or addition to any room in the house. To get the look, save a few wine bottles and search for mounting brackets that fit around the bottleneck.
Buy these wine bottle wall vases ($92 for 4) on Etsy.
121 Cookie-Cutter Candles
These cookie cutters will perfectly shape your candles.
122 Glass Jar Night Light
Stick glass beads on a glass jar and insert a battery votive to create a cute nightlight. Here's how.
123 Flower Push Pins
Take artificial flowers and turn them into the most adorable push pins.
124 Sweater Pillow
Cut up an old sweater and turn it into a pillow — perfect for those ugly Christmas sweaters that you never wear!
125 Paint Chip Star Mobile
Punch out star shapes from paint chips to create this awesome mobile.
126 Plastic Bag Wreath
Have a big collection of plastic bags hiding under your kitchen sink? Upcycle them into a seriously beautiful and unique holiday wreath that only costs just a few dollars to make. Along with creating something to celebrate the season, you're repurposing something that you'd normally trash — and you can't beat that!
127 Safety Pin Bracelet
You'd be surprised at how sophisticated a safety pin bracelet can look. Not only is it beautiful, but it also makes a very eco-friendly fashion statement.
The beauty of the safety pin bracelet is that anyone can make it. All it takes is some common craft materials and a lot of time. Here are the instructions.
128 Wineglass Dioramas
Turn ordinary wineglasses into extraordinary dioramas.
129 Cuff Spoon Bracelet
Have a cool-looking vintage spoon? Bend and flatten it until it turns into the perfect cuff bracelet. Buy this spoon cuff ($25) on Etsy.
130 Cork Jewellery Holder
Get a frame and squeeze some corks into it for a creative and shabby-chic jewellery holder. If the frame is bigger, then you can even turn it into a bulletin board.
Buy this wine cork jewellery holder ($25) on Etsy.
131 Book Page Cake Toppers
When you're making cake or cupcake toppers, use book pages to give them a unique look.
Buy these book page cake toppers ($5 for 10) on Etsy.
132 Denim Statement Necklaces
Make statement necklaces with denim for a chic and casual piece of jewellery.
Buy this denim necklace ($38) on Etsy.
133 Mason Jar Lunch Box
Use a mason jar instead of a regular lunch box, and it'll keep your lunch fresh! It's perfect for soup, salad, pasta, and more. Here are a few mason jar salads to get you started.
134 Plastic Bottle Planter
Here's another great upcycling idea for plastic bottles: hanging planters!
135 Book Page Earrings
Roll book pages tightly and cut them into beads, which you can use to create lovely earrings.
Buy these book page paper bead earrings ($12) on Etsy.
136 Calendar Envelopes
Create cute envelopes from calendar or magazine pages to stuff with greeting cards, documents, or money.
Buy these calendar envelopes ($10 for 10) on Etsy.
137 Coffee-Filter Flowers
All you need are coffee filters and food colouring to create this beautiful flower decor. The pastel pink colour is perfect for any wedding, a bridal shower, or even your bedroom.
138 Paint Chip Notebooks
Paint chips make adorable covers for mini notebooks. Buy these paint chip notebooks ($8) on Etsy.
139 Wipes Bottle Bag Container
Reuse the disinfectant wipes container to store your plastic bags so you can pull them out with ease for every use.
140 Cork Pot Holder
Let a steaming pot cool down on a cool legless trivet made from corks fused together.
Buy this wine cork trivet ($10) on Etsy.
141 Cork Napkin Holder
Grab four corks, cut them in half, and glue them around rings to turn them into napkin holders.
Buy these wine cork napkin rings ($15 for 4) on Etsy.
142 Pop-Up Cleaning Wipes
Put those old shirts to good use and DIY your own pop-up cleaning wipes.
