DIY projects can be fun, but they also can be a lot of work. Luckily, DIY doesn’t always have to be difficult. In fact, some projects basically require no effort at all.
This slideshow will show you 50+ ways you can take everyday objects you have around your home and transform them into something completely different. The only real requirement is that you are willing to use your imagination and get a little creative.
It’s easy to accumulate dozens of keys over time and accidentally confuse them with one another. Use old bread tags to label keys and keep them organized. You’ll likely need a fine-tipped permanent marker to write on them.
2. Holding towels in place
It turns out hair clips have a lot of different potential uses. In addition to clipping onto hair, they are also great for holding towels in place when you get out of the shower or bath.
Empty wet wipes containers are great for storing plastic bags. Instead of having a haphazard collection of bags laying around, fold them up and place them into the container. This will keep them organized while still allowing for easy access when you need one.
Teacups make for great little plant holders. Not only do they typically have beautiful designs on the outside of them, but most of them also come with matching saucers. The saucers will catch any water and dirt that spills off.
Wine corks can also function as bag closers. Just make an incision about halfway through the cork. Then slip them on whatever bag you need to close.
Colanders make for pretty awesome flower pots. They already have holes in the bottom for excess water to drain out and the handles on the sides make them easy to hang up.
There is nothing cooler than having your own Oreo topping dispenser. Split the Oreo in half and eat the cream filling first. Then pack the cookie halves into a pepper grinder. Grind the Oreos onto whatever dish you would like. We recommend vanilla ice cream.
8. Magazine holder freezer shelves
Magazine holders can also double as freezer shelves. Place them into your freezer however they fit best, either horizontal or vertical. They are perfect for helping to keep freezers organized.
Need a new organizer for your desk? Consider using a picture frame to get the job done. Tuck a few pieces of cloth into the edges of the frame and suddenly you have your own custom made pockets for storing papers, pens, or whatever really.
10. Wine bottle protector
Protect wine bottles using children’s floaties. The floaties while originally designed to slip onto kids’ arms and keep them afloat while swimming also provide a lot of cushion for glass bottles. This hack is especially useful if you need to transport bottles of wine in your luggage.
Perfume bottles work beautifully as vases. Instead of throwing away your fancy perfume bottles after they are empty, simply fill them up with water and plop a few flowers inside. Match the color of the bottle with the type of flower you choose for added effect.
A lot of people have dessert stands laying around, but how frequently do you actually need to display desserts? For most of us, the answer is not very often. When not in use, dessert stands also work great for holding jewelry, makeup, or even your perfume collection.
13. Mason jar centerpieces
Mason jars work great for making your own table centerpieces. One of the coolest (and easiest) things you can do is put pictures inside them. Take a few of your favorite photos and carefully fit them into the jar.
Repurpose an old mailbox and turn it into a backyard garden tool holder. Not only do they close up easily to keep your little shovels and gloves dry, but they also look awesome too. Even if the mailbox is a little rusted, it’s no problem at all. Rust goes really well with fall colors.
15. Baby food jar spice rack
Instead of throwing out your baby food jars, consider saving them instead. The little jars are the perfect size for storing spices. They also have great seals on the lids and will keep all of your spices nice and fresh for years to come.
16. Egg cartons for holding paint
The little sections in egg cartons work really well for holding paint. Artists will love this hack. Skip the cleanup and simply toss the egg carton in the recycling after use.
Let’s face it, having a bunch of wires running around a room can sometimes look kind of ugly. Wrap the wires in rope to make them look a little more artsy and presentable. The rope wrapping comes across as more natural.
Metal funnels when flipped upside-down work excellent as candlestick holders. They have a very rustic look. Any wax that drips down the side will normally cool down and solidify on the side of the funnel before it reaches the counter.
19. Crib to table conversion
Eventually, your little baby will grow out of their crib. However, that doesn’t mean you have to toss the crib. What if another one comes along in the future? Put a glass top across the crib to temporarily convert it into a table, complete with lots of shelf storage underneath.
Apple containers are perfect for storing Christmas ornaments. No longer will you have to worry about broken ornaments. Using apple containers will save you from all the effort involved in carefully wrapping all of your ornaments up in tissue paper every January.
No need to buy a fancy paintbrush holder. Just use an empty gallon jug. Cut out the side of the jug like in the photo so that you can hold your paint in the bottom. Then the brush can sit in the top part.
22. Socks as Swiffer pads
Anyone who uses a Swiffer for cleaning knows that buying the pads can get expensive after a while. Any old socks you’re thinking about tossing work great as replacements. Not only do socks fit right onto the Swiffer, but they are also washable, meaning they can be reused.
Flip a table upside-down and it immediately becomes a toddler bed. You’ll still have to find a tiny mattress or pillow to complete it though. It could also function as a bed for a pet.
Wine corks make good replacement cabinet knobs. They should be able to just be able to be pushed or screwed onto the screws that are already in place. The corks give the cabinets a folksy appearance.
25. Hang a basket to make a shelf
If you hang a basket on its side, it makes a great shelf. They are fantastic for holding towels in bathrooms. Use a ribbon to hang the basket for a nice decorative touch.
26. Pants hangers to hold papers
Use a pants hanger to display papers. This hack really comes in handy when cooking. Pants hangers are perfect for holding your recipe up so you can read it hands-free while you are preparing your dish.
Cereal boxes are really easy to turn into book or paper organizers. You can also store plastic lids in them. Just cut the cardboard cereal box down the side diagonally.
Most people would never think of doing this, but cast iron pans also function as a creative place to put magnets. If you already have a few pans hanging on the wall, why not add a magnet or two? Bonus points if you have recipe magnets.
29. Candlestick bracelet holder
Old candlestick holders can also double as bracelet holders. You should be able to fit dozens of bracelets on one candlestick. Watches will likely be able to snap around a candlestick as well.
Three ring binders can easily be transformed into highly functional kitchen hooks. Remove the metal portion from the binder and attach it to the wall. If you do it right, the hooks should still be able to snap open and shut too.
Use a mesh laundry bag to run small items through the dishwasher. The bag will keep all the items in place and prevent them from flying around while the machine is running. Since mesh bags like these are usually made out of synthetic material, it will be easy to dry it off afterward.
Save your old prescription pill bottles and use them for storing items like cotton swabs or bobby pins. Because they are waterproof, you can also fill them up with shampoo or other liquids. They are the perfect size for traveling.
Frappucinno bottles are good for storing spices and seasonings. While they are large enough to store a lot of spice, they are not so big that they become cumbersome to fit in a cabinet.
Buying new toys all the time for your cat can get expensive. Luckily, cats are easy to entertain. Attaching a piece of duct tape to a fan will keep your cat busy for hours.
Letter sorters also work amazing for keeping your shoe closet organized. Each slot will typically fit one pair of shoes. Letter sorters can also be used in the kitchen to hold plastic lids and plates.
Cords always have the tendency to become a big tangled mess when trying to store them. This is especially true when you throw them in your purse or backpack. Eyeglass cases work perfectly for carrying around a few small chargers or pairs of headphones with you when out and about.
First, take a toilet paper tube and cover it in peanut butter. Then roll it through a pile of birdseed. That’s it! Your homemade bird feeder is now ready to be hung out on a post or tree branch in the backyard.
Clothes and jackets aren’t the only things that can be hung up on hangers. They are also useful for magazines and newspapers. Just hang up the magazine on the hanger, parted on the page where you stopped reading last to keep track of your place.
Use an empty honey bear container as a sippy cup for your infant. The bear shape is super cute and because it is clear you will be able to see how much juice is left inside. Just fill it up and plop a plastic straw inside.
Another cool use for the honey bear containers is to turn them into decorative vases. Paint the outside whatever color you would like. We recommend metallic paints for an awesome reflective finish.
Air mattresses aren’t just good for taking a nap indoors, but they are also excellent as impromptu outdoor seating. Lay out and get a tan, work on your laptop, or even have a little picnic. The choice is yours. Just make sure there are no sharp objects in the grass.
Ever since pictures became mostly digital there has been a lot of vintage photo album cases floating around. Repurpose old photo albums into sleek looking art kits for storing your colored pencils, drawing pads, and other art materials.
Old drawers from dressers can easily be transformed into cool shelves. They are the perfect size to go next to your bed and if positioned at the right height can be used as nightstands. The handle works great for hanging things like lights off of it.
Cut half gallon milk jugs along the dotted lines as shown in the picture to make little shoe shelves for your closet. You’ll likely need several jugs to make this work, but the best part is that they are stackable.
Spools of string or twine make good scissor holders. You’ll also have the added benefit of having the scissors right there ready for action when you need to cut a length of string off.
Orange juice jugs are super simple to convert into dog food dispensers. In fact, all you really have to do is rinse them out and dry them off. You can use cooking oil to remove the label.
Mug trees aren’t just for mugs. They are also really good at holding scissors, spools of string or ribbons, and even jewelry. Hang your necklaces or bracelets on them.
Convert your empty plastic bottles into homemade bowling pins for the kids. One way to make them even cooler is to paint them. Enlist the kids to help for a fun family activity.
49. Shot glass popsicle molds
Making your own popsicles is easier than ever when you use shot glasses as the molds. Fill the shot glasses with whatever ingredients you would like, put a wooden stick into the mix, and pop them into the freezer. Once frozen, the popsicles will slide right out.
Whenever you burn down candles you’ll notice that there is typically still a lot of wax leftover in the bottom. Remelt the wax from several old candles to make new layered candles. You can buy the wicks for your new candles at any craft store.
51. CD holders become dish racks
CD holders are also very handy when it comes to draining water off of dishes. The dishes will fit right into the CD or record slots. A CD holder is a perfect addition to any kitchen.
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