45 of the Ultimate Best New Uses For Old Things

POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Think twice before you throw something away — it could be made into something even cooler. There are plenty of ways you can upcycle something old into something useful and entirely unrecognizable. Here are some of the best new uses for old things.

— Additional reporting by Ashley Paige

01
Pillowcase Garment Bags
Instagram | thrifttown

Pillowcase Garment Bags

Add slits to old pillowcases to turn them into garment bags.

02
Tee Bags
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Tee Bags

With a few cuts, you can upcycle a t-shirt into a casual tote. It's the perfect accessory for grocery shopping or going to the gym.

03
Mason Jar Cup
Instagram | shop.crmade

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.

04
Book Charging Stations
Instagram | vanvantint

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.

05
Towel Travel Kit
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Towel Travel Kit

Turn an old towel into a travel kit for your toiletries that you can also use to wash your face with!

06
Paper-Bag Baskets
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Paper-Bag Baskets

Weave strips of paper bags together to make these cute baskets.

07
Mason Jar Shakers
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

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.

08
Beach Towel Tote Bag
Instagram | kvoss1012

Beach Towel Tote Bag

Cut your beach towel up, and sew it to make a beach towel tote bag.

09
Paint-Chip Confetti
Our Labor of Love via Amy Osaba Event.Floral.Design

Paint-Chip Confetti

Punch little shapes out of paint chips to make lovely confetti for a party or wedding.

10
Suitcase Side Table
Cupcakes and Cashmere

Suitcase Side Table

Make your own beautiful side table by piling up vintage suitcases, and top it off with a rustic mirror.

11
Wine-Bottle Centerpiece
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Wine-Bottle Centerpiece

Such an easy DIY project and yet so pretty! Spruce up a wine bottle with a doily to turn it into an interesting centerpiece.

12
Paint-Chip Calendar
Cheltenham Road

Paint-Chip Calendar

Use paint chips and a photo frame to create this awesome calendar that will help you stay organized.

13
Mason Jar Lunch Box
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

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.

14
Wine-Bottle Jewelry Stand
Instagram | songofstyle

Wine-Bottle Jewelry Stand

Turn everyday bottles into jewelry holders in under a few minutes. How? Just stack bracelets around the neck for an effortless display.

15
Mesh-Bag Pot Scrubbers
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Mesh-Bag Pot Scrubbers

Take the plastic produce mesh bags, and turn them into efficient pot scrubbers.

16
Spoon Garden Markers
Flickr user Trillium Artisans

Spoon Garden Markers

Stick pictures of plants on spoons, and use them as garden markers.

17
Mason Jar Sewing Kit
Instagram | theboutiquejuliana

Mason Jar Sewing Kit

To make this adorable mason jar sewing kit, first create a pin cushion, stick it to the top of the lid, and then place all your sewing tools inside the jar.

18
Single-Use Travel Packets
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Single-Use Travel Packets

Going on a trip, but can't lug your big bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and more? Create these single-use travel packets from straws as a smart solution!

19
Mason Jar Soap Dispensers
Instagram | rust_lace_

Mason Jar Soap Dispensers

Make a soap dispenser out of your mason jar by drilling a hole in the lid and inserting and gluing the pump of an old soap bottle to the hole.

20
T-Shirt and Towel Produce Bags
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

T-Shirt and Towel Produce Bags

Create awesome produce bags with an old t-shirt or towel.

21
Plastic-Bottle Wallet
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Plastic-Bottle Wallet

Use the ends of soda bottles to create this nifty wallet.

22
Magazine Holder Becomes a Kitchen Organizer
Chica and Jo

Magazine Holder Becomes a Kitchen Organizer

Store some of your kitchen supplies in an upright magazine holder to save space.

23
Bread Tags to Distinguish Wires
The Photographer's Life

Bread Tags to Distinguish Wires

Tell your wires apart with labeled bread tags.

24
Jewelry Frame Organizer
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Jewelry Frame Organizer

Frame some wire mesh or burlap for a unique jewelry organizer.

25
Ice-Cube-Tray Organizer
POPSUGAR Photography | Emily Co

Ice-Cube-Tray Organizer

Organize your jewelry with an ordinary ice cube tray.

26
Toilet-Roll Cord Organizer
Our Thrifty Ideas

Toilet-Roll Cord Organizer

Organize your cords with washi-tape-decorated toilet rolls.

27
Charging Station
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Charging Station

Hide unsightly wires with this DIY plastic-bottle charging station.

28
Plastic-Bag Dispenser
Tatertots and Jello

Plastic-Bag Dispenser

Take an empty disinfectant-wipes bottle, and turn it into a plastic-bag dispenser.

29
Shopping-Bag Organizer
Le Zoe Musings

Shopping-Bag Organizer

Pin up the prettiest shopping bags on your wall, and turn them into little organizers.

30
Cleaning Supplies in a Shoe Organizer
Whine & Cheez

Cleaning Supplies in a Shoe Organizer

Keep your cleaning supplies in a shoe organizer that hangs over your door to maximize the space in your home.

31
Shoe Hangers
Instagram | katrinaelainee

Shoe Hangers

Make tiny hangers for your shoes with the leftover hangers you get from the dry cleaner.

32
Cup Speakers
Instagram | wholewhirled

Cup Speakers

Put your phone in a cup when playing music to enhance the sound.

33
Soda-Tab Tier Hangers
Vanessa Devaki Andrew

Soda-Tab Tier Hangers

Hang soda tabs on hangers, so you can stack hangers and take up less space in your closet.

34
Denim Coasters
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Denim Coasters

Turn old jeans into these cool denim coasters.

35
DVD Mosaic Candleholder
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

DVD Mosaic Candleholder

Sad about your scratched-up DVDs? Break them up, and turn them into these cool mosaic candleholders instead — you won't be sad for long!

36
Sweater Pillows
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Sweater Pillows

Lovely old sweaters become even lovelier pillows.

37
Frosted-Bottle Vases
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Frosted-Bottle Vases

Empty bottles lying around? Give them a makeover to turn them into these chic frosted vases.

38
Coffee-Filter Bowl
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Coffee-Filter Bowl

Take used coffee filters and turn them into a cute bowl.

39
Scarf Camera Strap
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Scarf Camera Strap

Turn a lovely old scarf into a camera strap.

40
Lemon-Rinds Soap
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Lemon-Rinds Soap

Make these cute soaps with the help of lemon rinds.

41
Rose-Petal Bath Salts
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Rose-Petal Bath Salts

Give flowers a second wind by drying them and making bath salts.

43
Chapstick Bank
Reddit user roperac

Chapstick Bank

Hide money in an empty ChapStick tube — perfect for when you're traveling or walking in unsafe areas.

44
Use Clips to Organize Your Wires
Imgur user legodarthvader

Use Clips to Organize Your Wires

Place bulldog clips at the back of your desk, then string your cables through them to better organize your wires.

45
Create a Cup Clock
Instagram | sumayakazi

Create a Cup Clock

This one's great for the office kitchen. Instead of wondering how fresh or old a pot of coffee is, make a cup clock, so whoever brews the coffee can mark the time they made it.