Usually, when something is old, we throw it in the trash – no questions asked. After all, there’s always a newer and better version of everything. But apparently, it might be worth it to hang onto our old stuff and give them another chance at life. Here are some incredibly creative people who repurposed their old stuff in the most surprising ways.
“So I had a grand idea.”
We thought we’d seen it all when it comes to repurposing old things, but this person truly takes it to the next level. This is what happens when you refuse to throw away old things and insist on finding a super cool new purpose for them instead.
“I made a necklace hanger out of a rake and I have no regrets.”
Darn, just when we threw away our old rake! Seriously though, this girl is clearly a DIY goddess. This is the perfect way to save money, on that $10 necklace hanger from IKEA. After all, why let a perfectly good garden tool go to waste?
“This table used to be a bowling alley lane.”
We probably wouldn’t have known it unless someone told us, but now that you mention it, this table does look unusually smooth and shiny. You can even see the little arrows and the dots where each pin is supposed to be. It’s pretty cool to know that everything has a purpose, even an old bowling alley that closed down.
“Repurposed some old drawers and chairs. Voila!”
Um, can we add these to our Pinterest boards right now? Unlike most of us who just scroll past these cool ideas, this person actually decided to do it herself, and the result is super customized and cool. P.S. we’re never throwing away old furniture again.
“Used leftover orange peels to make candied orange peels. Yum!”
It’s the 21st century, so we’re all about recycling and not letting things go to waste. However, this person takes it to a new level, and refuses to waste even her fruit peels. While most people would see it as garbage, she saw it as a tasty snack idea.
“Old Swedish church turned into a luxury home.”
Um. Say what? Can we actually go and live in an old, beautiful church? Well, not everyone is lucky enough to stumble upon an old Church property for sale. But this is just proof that any building can be turned into something else entirely.
“Turned my old drum kit into an indoor garden!”
There is honestly something so rock and roll about turning your old band set into a cool indoor garden. We’re sure this person will treasure their new potted plants just as much they loved their old drum kit.
“Turned an old piece of luggage into a medicine cabinet.”
It can be really hard to part with old things, especially old luggage. Some of them are vintage and have sentimental value, having been passed down from our great-grandma. Luckily, this person discovered a practical way to make use of an old vintage suitcase.
“Repurposed my husband’s 15-year-old Martin guitar for Christmas.”
The look on this man’s face says it all. Clearly, his wife is super thoughtful and realized that the best present of all was giving his precious old guitar some new life. Apparently, it wasn’t working anymore as a musical instrument, but it looks great as a cool upcycled light fixture!
“Gave this old dresser a new life as a succulent garden.”
This vintage dresser looked cute even before. But let’s just say it looks way happier being a part of this person’s garden! We would never think to use dresser drawers as plant holders, but you learn something new every day.
“Did something cool over the weekend. My new sideboard!”
When most people find an old dresser out on the street, they simply walk past it without giving it a second thought. However, this person is not like most people, and we totally get why shared his cool creation with the internet. Clearly, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
“Found this baggy shirt in a vintage shop and gave it new life.”
When this girl saw an old, baggy silk shirt in a vintage shop, she instantly saw a DIY opportunity. With a bit of needle and thread, she made the blouse totally her own! It just goes to show that everything has some hidden potential.
“Upcycled a thrift store jewelry box! Not bad for my first time.”
Honestly, the jewelry box was already pretty when this person found it at a thrift shop. However, the second, upcycled version is clearly more unique! This is seriously making us want to hit up our local thrift shop to score some gems like this person did.
“I upcycled a rolling plant wall out of an old box spring.”
No need to hit up that expensive gardening store. Apparently, we have all the planting supplies we need right at home! Yes, this person actually turned the box spring from her bed into a cool rolling succulent plant wall. This is the perfect way to show off your greenery, as well as your DIY skills.
“This spiral staircase railing is made from repurposed railroad rails.”
If we were using this staircase, we probably wouldn’t give a second thought to the banister, and would never discover the cool secret behind it. And what a shame that would be! It takes someone truly creative to turn railroad tracks into a part of the building design.
“A guitar that I helped build from recycled skateboards.”
This guitar might just seem like the coolest, rainbow-colored guitar ever, but it’s more than that, and actually has a really cool story behind it. Yup, this man actually built a guitar out of dozens of old recycled skateboards, which resulted in these amazing colorful stripes.
“Upholstered a chair using my old jeans. What do you think?”
When our jeans start to rip or get too small on us, most of us just throw them away and head to the mall to buy a new pair. However, there is actually a way better solution: just turn them into something new! This woman found the perfect way to give an old chair new life while honoring the memory of her favorite pair of jeans!
“This piano was turned into a shelving unit at a candy store.”
If we walked into this candy shop, we would definitely never forget it, thanks to this store owner’s unusual shelving unit! A piano-turned-shelf is the perfect way to turn an average shopping trip into a truly magical experience. Besides, it would be a shame to throw out such a beautiful old piano.
“Turned the old village phone box into a public library.”
People in this small town really love to read. Luckily, someone turned the local phone booth into a miniature public library! Since nobody really uses public phones these days, that space was just going to waste. Now, it’s this tiny library is a local landmark and a super cozy way to spend the afternoon.
“This bar is a repurposed airplane wing.”
Most times people go out to their local bar for a fun night on the town, they usually expect to enjoy some drinks and good company. However, this person got a cool surprise as well, when they discovered that the bar they were sitting at was actually a repurposed airplane wing.
“I made Van Gogh’s Starry Night out of medicine bottle caps.”
This person’s amazing painting made of vial caps is proof that nothing should be thrown away since literally everything can be turned into a masterpiece. Okay, you also need a lot of creativity and time on your hands, but still. You can always give your old things a new purpose in so many different ways.
“Had some old textbooks, turned them into Christmas decor.”
The minute we finish school, we usually throw all our old notebooks and textbooks away. After all, do we really want to relive those long nights of studying? Luckily, this person found a way to give his old school books a new purpose, and the result is truly getting us in the holiday spirit.
“My neighbors turned an old shipping container into a swimming pool.”
When there’s a will, there’s a way. These people wanted to go swimming and nothing was going to stand in their way. Even the fact that they didn’t have an actual pool. Apparently, a shipping container will do the trick! Just add some water, lounge chairs, and pool floaties and you’re good to go.
“I repurposed a couple of old 20” bicycle wheels into a lamp and chandelier.”
When we need a new lamp, we usually just hit up IKEA or some other furniture store. But this person is not like most people, and decided to DIY it all the way, taking the wheels from his old bike and turning them into his very own homemade lamps. Let’s just say they’re truly one of a kind.
“Thrifted this midi dress and made it more my style!”
Many people enjoy thrift and second-hand shopping because of all the cool treasures you are bound to discover. You never know what you might find in one of these shops. But even though not everything is going to fit perfectly, you can always make some cute changes, as this creative girl did!
“So I made a bird from old CDs.”
If we saw this wind chime in a shop, we would just assume that it was a really pretty home decoration. We would have no idea how much work and creativity went into it! Clearly, nothing is trash, not even our old CDs, since everything can be used to make something new and fascinating.
“Upcycled some old bedsheets and made dresses.”
Don’t throw away your old sheets! This woman offered the internet some serious upcycling inspiration with these retro dresses, made out of her old bedsheets! This is the perfect way to update your wardrobe with some truly unique pieces while saving quite a few bucks along the way.
“I repurposed my old queen-sized bed into a plate rack.”
Normally a bed is something you find in the bedroom, but that did not stop this woman from turning her bed into a practical kitchen decoration! When she needed a place to store all her plates and mugs, she realized that the box spring in her bed could also make a great hanging space. Seriously, who even thinks of these things?
“Found a cool use for some old shoeboxes.”
For some people, it can be really hard to throw things away. Even old shoe boxes – especially if they are from a popular or expensive brand. So we end up hanging onto them for years. Well, here’s a cool way to make room in your closet, while giving your plants a luxurious touch.
“I made a “weather station” from an old traffic light so my kids would know how to dress in the morning.”
This person truly took upcycling to the next level and just had to share his creation with the world. “I took an old traffic light from a salvage store ($15) and got it working again. I cleaned it up, added a Raspberry Pi and a 4-channel relay, and now it flashes, checks the weather, and lets my kids know how to dress for the day.”
“Spotted this repurposed parking meter in a park.”
This parking meter looks a little out of place in the park, since there don’t seem to be any cars there. Well, that’s because it’s not actually working anymore. Someone decided to turn this old meter into a charity donation box, and it’s truly the most wholesome upcycling we’ve seen.
“Turned this old dress into a crop top.”
When this girl spotted the dress on the right at a local thrift shop, she knew it wasn’t the style she wanted, but decided to take it home anyway. Using just a pair of scissors and some knots, she created a whole new top that was way more her style. Clearly, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!
“I made a Game of Thrones phone charger.”
Many people love Game of Thrones. However, some people take their fandom to the next level. This fantasy-themed phone charger is honestly as cool as it gets, and we’re pretty sure people would pay a lot of money for these.
“Repurposed a Bath Body & Beyond storage cart into my own personal bar.”
We had no idea that Bed Bath & Beyond sold storage carts, but now we totally want to get our hands on one, just so that we can copy this person’s cool upcycling idea! Seriously, ho needs storage space for socks and undies when you can store display fancy wine glasses instead?
“About $130 in pennies.”
This is definitely one way to get rid of your spare change! The person was really proud of their DIY penny floor and decided to share their cool project with the world: “About $130 in pennies, 10 bottles of Elmer’s glue, some grout I found in my basement, and some epoxy.”
“As you may or may not know, I like to make dresses. This one is made from dum dum wrappers”
Eating lots of sweets isn’t always the best thing for us. But luckily, this girl managed to take her love of dum dum candies and turn it into a positive thing. Honestly, we would totally buy this dress if we saw it in a shop.
“Stumbled upon the coolest bathroom sink ever.”
There are two kinds of days. Some days are totally boring and average, where we just go about our daily routines and not much changes. Then there are days where something totally cool happens to us, like stumbling into a bathroom that’s made from old car parts/
“Drive it like you stole it! Turned a screwdriver into a car key.”
This guy probably gets quite a few stares from people who pass by and look into his car window. Because this screwdriver key definitely makes it look like he stole this car. But that’s kind of the point! We love his sense of humor and creativity. Hopefully, passersby on the street will get the joke and appreciate it too!
“Turned an old pool ladder into a poolside organizer.”
Instead of throwing her old pool ladder away, this woman decided to turn it into something cool instead. So she created a poolside organizer! Using just a small old table and a ladder, she now has the perfect place to store towels, pool noodles, and lounge chairs. This summery upcycle is truly Pinterest worthy.
“I took an old box tv and turned it into a storage shelf.”
This upcycle proves that everything in life has potential, even things that are old and broken. Most people would have thrown away this vintage TV set. However, this person decided to give it a totally new purpose in life, and the result speaks for itself.
“Revamped this old bicycle into a bathroom vanity.”
Um. Can this be our bathroom, please? This person makes it seem really simple to turn an old bike into a beautiful piece of bathroom decor, but we’re sure it’s not quite as simple as it looks and definitely requires some handiwork. Either way, this totally motivating us to turn our old stuff into cool things.
“Made this tiny planter out of a tuna can from my lunch and some old paint!”
An empty can of tuna seems like literally the last thing we’d keep around the house. We usually throw it out right away to get rid of the fishy smell. However, this person decided to show his lunch some love by giving this used tuna can new life as a planter.
“Made a cool skull out of colored pencils.”
If we found an old pack of colored pencils lying around, we’d probably make a pretty drawing. But this person had a totally different idea and wound up creating this masterpiece instead.
“Pretty sure my son has the coolest bed ever.”
If you’re ever unsure about what to do with your old car, don’t get rid of it! Because clearly, there is a purpose for everything, even if it doesn’t seem obvious at first. These parents gave their son every little boy’s dream bedroom by repurposing an old pickup truck into a bed.
“Turned the space under the stairs into a tiny room for my dog!”
Upcycling is all about taking something that’s not in use and turning it into something amazing. That is exactly what this guy did when he realized that the empty space under the stairs would make the perfect mini house for his dog. Judging by his dog’s reaction, the project was well worth it.
“Weekly advertisements and tape make great sprouting pots.”
Isn’t it annoying when we get all those magazines and coupon catalogs that we never wind up using? Well, it looks like this person just found the perfect solution. These sprouting pots are the perfect way to grow your seeds and are totally Pinterest-worthy to boot.
“The pool table at my office is made out of an old car.”
Clearly, the managers at this person’s office have a really good sense of humor and decided to brighten up their employees’ days with this vintage car turned pool table. Let’s just say that if we worked there, we’d definitely be sneaking in a lot of breaks.
“I made a bottle cap table from a cable spool.”
A cable spool is normally used to carry wires. But clearly, it can be used for many things around the house, such as a cool patio table! This person took their project to the next level by repurposing some cool and colorful bottle caps as decorations.
“I crochet bags out of broken tents.”
Some people are so gifted that they can take almost anything and turn it into something awesome. If we saw this colorful woven bag in a shop, we’d never guess it was made of old tents, and we’d definitely wanna buy it. It just goes to show that fashion can be good for the environment, while also looking amazing.
“I built a square bike out of square tubing.”
We’re not sure exactly why anyone would wake up in the morning one day and decide to build a square bike. However, that’s exactly what this guy did, and the result is truly unique. Let’s just say that no one else on the block has a bike quite like this one, and we’re sure it’s a great conversation starter.
“I repurposed this little bubblegum machine I won at an arcade for q-tips!”
Sometimes, you don’t even need to take something apart to give it a new purpose. When this person won a gumball machine at the local arcade, they decided to keep it as a decoration since it looks super cool. However, they also gave it a purpose in life as a q-tip dispenser, and it’s totally rocking at its new job.
“Couch I made out of 1524 aluminum cans a few summers ago, because I had that kind of time back then.”
Um, wow. This person must have had quite a lot of time on their hands – and a lot of cans! We’re pretty impressed that they managed to save every single one of these soda cans, and even more impressed that they managed to drink them all. This homemade couch is proof that decorating doesn’t need to be expensive.
“My latest thrift store refashion. What do you guys think?”
When browsing in a vintage shop, it can be pretty hard to find exactly the right piece. Each item of clothing is very unique and they aren’t always perfectly our style or our size. However, this girl proves that with a scissor and some stitches, you can turn an old dress into something totally updated and chic.
“Some ‘artwork’ I made with all my old coffee bag wrappers.”
Ok, wow. Why can’t why all be this creative? With literally nothing but a simple frame and a ton of old coffee bag wrappers, this person created a super cool piece of art that would look great in any cafe or living room. This is truly the ultimate hipster upcycle, and we couldn’t be more impressed.
“I made a colorful rag rug out of singleton socks, holey tights, and old t-shirts!”
Okay, this is literally the definition of resourcefulness, and this person should get an award for her amazing recycling powers. Seriously, who would even think of saving up lonely single socks and stained t-shirts? The end result is super cool, and we would never guess that this rug was made of old unwanted clothes.
“Golfball holder repurposed for rock and mineral display.”
Some things were just meant to be in life. And we think that this golfball holder was truly meant to display precious rocks and minerals. Luckily, this person was able to save this unique old piece of furniture while finding a new home for their rock collection. Somehow, there were just enough spaces for all of them!
“Copper penny bathroom sink, priceless!”
This person certainly has something to be proud of. Most people hire a decorator or at least a handyman when they’re redesigning their bathroom. However, this person decided to do it all on their own, and the result is truly unique. Let’s just say guests will have quite a surprise when they go to wash their hands.
“My neighbor took out old doors in the trash and made a fence”
It’s not common to go back to the trash after throwing something out, but this man found these old doors and came up with a brilliant idea. He made one long fence with a variety of old doors. You know what they say: One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
“These Lawn chairs were made from grocery store carts”
Who knew grocery carts could serve another purpose? These carts were creatively turned into lawn chairs, and they can even be rolled around. Genius? We think yes. They may not be the comfiest chairs around, but nothing a cushion can’t fix.
“This sink is a repurposed whiskey barrel.”
We don’t usually find random whiskey barrels on the street, so we’re not sure how this person got one. Maybe they found one outside a distillery, or maybe they just have good connections. Whatever the case is, they decided to give it a whole new life, and this honestly looks like the coolest sink ever.
“I repurposed an old stereo console.”
The before picture shows an old stereo console that sadly had no purpose since it wasn’t working properly. But luckily, it didn’t have to go to the trash, because this person decided to save it and give it a whole new purpose. Now, it’s a pretty Japanese-style dresser, and it looks happier than ever.
“Upcycled chairs my aunt found on the street with paint my best friend gave me – before is on the left.”
Sometimes you’ve just got to use what you’ve got to make something beautiful! Taking some leftover paint from a friend, this person decided to give these old chairs new life and it worked. This before and after pic shows that it’s super easy to bring life and color into your house, and it doesn’t even cost a dime.
“Saw this bike made out of cans posted on Facebook. Pretty sweet looking I’d say.”
This person definitely had a lot of time on their hands. But instead of just kicking back and relaxing like most people would, they decided to get creative and save some old cans at the same time. We doubt this is actually a working bike, but it looks great as a modern art piece.