25 Absurd Ways To Put Old Stuff To Creative Use As New Treasures

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When it comes to re-purposing old stuff, there endless ideas to reinvent an item and give it a new purpose. Call it up-cycling or recycling, it’s all the same – we’re taking something old and giving it a new purpose in our life.

In compiling some of my favorite re-purposed items (like I had done in my past article “25 Creative Ways To Turn Old Junk Into New Junk“), it was difficult to stop because there are so many creative ways in which something can be transformed. So my focus in this article is to take really old stuff (yes, even stuff that’s junk) and turn it into a new treasure. Even then, it was hard to stop at just twenty-five, oh my!

1. Old Books

Old books can become really cool vintage bookmarks

old-books-into-bookmarks

(via justimagine-ddoc.com)

Old books can be turned as a storage box for old love letters, jewelry, you name it.

old-books-into-storage-box

(via justimagine-ddoc.com)

Old books can be made into a bird feeder (and turn your outdoor birds into book worms!)

old-books-into-bird-feeder

(via craftionary.net)

Old books can be used as wall shelves that display your cool nic-knacks ( or more old books).

old-books-into-shelves

(via justimagine-ddoc.com)

2. Old Upright Bass

An old upright base (or guitar) instrument can be gutted out into hip bookshelf display.

bass-guitar-to-shelves

(via boredpanda.com)

3. Old LP Records

Old LP records can be warped into a wall magazine holder

record-lps-to-mag-holder

(via dishfunctionaldesigns.blogspot.com)

4. Old File Cabinet

An old file cabinet can be used as a garage utility storage

filecabinet-to-garage-utility-storage

(via vitamin-ha.com)

5. Old File Cabinet Drawers

Turn old wood file drawers into a coffee table that has storage

file-drawers-to-table

(via vitamin-ha.com)

Spiff up an old wood file drawer into a dog feeding station

file-drawer-to-dog-feeder

(via etsy)

6. Old Window Shutters

Old window shutters can be converted into a table

shutters-to-table

(via vitamin-ha.com)

7. Old Chairs

Display part of your old chairs as a wall bathroom wall rack

chair-to-bath-rack2

(via etsy)

chair-to-bath-rack

Turn an old chair into a comfy dog bed

chair-to-dog-bed

(via upsocl.com)

8. Old Table

Old coffee table treasures can be turned into a wall shelf

table-to-shelf

(via inspirationsandwich.wordpress.com)

9. Old Ladder

An old ladder can be used as a decorative piece to frame your framed photos

ladder-to-wall-frame

(via dishfunctionaldesigns.blogspot.com)

10. Old Rake

An old rake can easily be converted into a kitchen utility holder

rake-to-utility-holder

(via loveinamasonjar.wordpress.com)

Old rakes can also be used as a wine glass holder

rake-to-glass-holder

11. Old Drawers

Old drawers can serve a new purpose as a wall memo board

drawer-to-wall-memo-board

(via brit.co)

Old drawers can also be used as a wall shelf for books or things

drawers-to-wall-shelf

( via HomeTalk)

You can also turn an old drawer into a bookshelf

drawer-to-wall-shelf

(via loveinamasonjar.wordpress.com)

12. Old Pillowcase

An old pillowcase can be utilized as a laundry hamper

pillowcase-to-laundry-hamper

(via brit.co)

13. Old Ironing Board

Take an old ironing board and make it into a thread spool holder for the craft room

ironingboard-to-craft-storage

(via recyclart.org)

14. Old Dishes

Stack up some of your old dishes into a jewelry or makeup holder

dishes-to-jewelry-holder

(via HomeTalk)

15. Old Kitchen Graters

Old kitchen graters have been found to have another use – as ceiling light

graters-to-ceiling-lights

(via vitamin-ha.com)

16. Old Cutting Board

An old cutting board is transformed into wall art which also functions to hold kitchen items

cutting-board-display

(via HomeTalk.com)

17. Old Luggage

An old luggage case could be turned into a bathroom mirror cabinet

luggage-to-mirror-cabinet

( via dukesandduchesses.com)

18. Old Spring Frame

Old baby crib spring frame is turned into a ceiling hanger

baby-crib-springs-to-ceiling-hanger

(via itsy-bits-and-pieces.blogspot.com)

19. Old Jeans

Stuff old jeans with dirt and use as a planter

jeans-to-planter

(via littlepieceofme.com)

20. Old Tires

Take old tires and paint them with color as new garden planters

tires-to-planters

(via mom.me)

21. Old Tire Rim

Use an old tire rim as a garden hose holder

tire-rim-to-hose-holder

(via viladoartesao.com.br)

22. Old Car Side-View Mirror

An old car side-view mirror can serve another purpose as a wall display shelf

car-side-mirror-to-wall-shelf

(via etsy)

23. Old Game Boards

Old game boards can be turned into wall shelves

game-boards-to-wall-shelf

(via ThriftCore.com)

24. Old Crates

Old crates could be used as an outdoor bar

crates-to-outdoor-bar

(via thegardenglove.com)

25. Old Globe Stand

An old globe frame can make a great paper towel holder

globe-stand-to-ptowel-holder

(via lovelyetc.com)

As I said, it was difficult to stop looking at all the vast creative ways people have transformed old stuff into useful, functional new treasures. So, if you’ve been storing inherited heirlooms in your garage (or storage place) or having trouble letting go of certain things you no longer have a use for, try giving them a new purpose in life that will give it new value to you.

 

 

 

 

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23 Comments

  1. Barbara Comeaux

    So many great ideas using recycled pieces.

  2. Patricia Bjeijeh

    Thank you. But some of your pictures were very difficult to see. Because it exceeded my frame of my phone. For instance I could not see your results of the iron board. Not at all.

  3. Taanjia

    I am inspired and impressed with the ideas of some of the things, I am going to have to try them.

  4. Diana

    Fantastic ideas. Going to try the tyre rim. Thank you.

  5. Elinor Vear

    Hi I love your ideas but just wondering for your out door things like the metal tire rim what kind of paint do you use for something like that? I would think regular acrylic paint would start to peel maybe or do you varnish it with something.

    Thanks for any advice you can give me.:-)

  6. Prudence Choi

    Can I purchase musical water fountain?

  7. Claire Armstrong

    Great round up ! But none of the images where clickable, it would have been nice to be able to click a link to see the original posts.

  8. AMS

    Just rotate your phone sideways. If your phone’s settings are set correctly, the photo will rotate and you’ll be able to see the full photo.

  9. AMS

    I would begin with a coat of white “Rustoleum” spray paint after removing any rust, grime, etc. Then acrylic paints would be fine, followed by 1-2 coats of clear polyacrylic or polyurethane for protection.

  10. Susan

    I want the ironing board thread holder and drawer shelves if I am ever blessed with an actual sewing/craft room instead of a wall off the kitchen. So cool!

  11. The Organizing Lady

    The source of image is at bottom of image but is not a link.

  12. Nancy

    Love the hose holder. So pretty!

  13. Stephanie L. Robertson

    I think my dad-in-law has a few of those old tire rims lying around outside of his shop. I’m going to see if he will let me make it all pretty to use as a water hose hanger. Right now, ours is lying out on the ground.

  14. Jason miller

    I had the same issue, but I tapped on the picture twice, and it went to that picture only and it sized it to the size I could see on my phone. Then there was an arrow at top of screen to go back to list

  15. Bonnie

    How do you attach the rim to the wall? Rims can be very heavy

  16. The Organizing Lady

    These photo idea samples were taken from various sources on the Internet (see Image Source at bottom of photo). I don’t necessarily know how some of these were put together.

  17. The Organizing Lady

    Not sure how to fix that for you. Very sorry.

  18. Barbara

    Any ideas for empty tubes from adding machine paper or receipt printers? Our office generates a lot. I recycle fervently but hope there’s a use for them.

  19. Jonnie Kinney

    Wonderful ideas, can’t wait to create/up source some for myself!

  20. Terry C.

    I have a vice 30inches tall. Made of timber as big as railway ties. Antic family heir loom. Suggestions to repurpose? Would enjoy using it in the house.
    Thank you.

  21. Alyssa

    I love the ladder with the pictures!

  22. Lourinda Chaddick

    Love all these ideas and will try a few. Love to repurpose things. They have character that you cant buy at a store.

  23. Maegan Alarcon

    How do you do the pillow on the door idea? What is the rim thingy around the outside that is used to hang it?
    How do I make that happen? Number fifteen, do you have directions for this one?
    Thank you!!

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