20 Beautiful Ways To Repurpose Weathered Wood Shingles In Your Home & Garden

The distinctive look of wood shingles can add plenty of texture, visual interest, and rustic-inspired flair to your home, but, despite their style, they aren't the most popular option for building material for a couple of reasons. Wood shingles are great for warding off bugs, especially if you opt for cedar, but they weather and deteriorate more quickly than many of the other more common choices, especially if you're not willing to put in the work to properly maintain the material. If you are committed to maintenance and don't regularly face more extreme weather conditions, wood shingles can last for several decades, but this isn't always the case. 

Luckily, however, if you find yourself in a situation where you need to repair or replace your existing shingles, there are plenty of different ways to repurpose the old pieces that would otherwise go into the trash. Weathered wood might not be the most structurally sound, but its exposure to the elements can bring out interesting textures, encourage variations in color, and even slightly alter the shape of the shingle. Because of this, it can make a great base for a wide variety of different DIY projects, from items that are strictly decorative to pieces that are functional and useful in your home.

Most of the time, vining plants need some kind of base to climb up and wrap themselves around. Traditional-style trellises can certainly do the job, but if you're on the hunt for something that better aligns with your style, consider using a repurposed shingle instead. Bury the shingle a few inches into your plant's soil so it's stable, then let your plant do the rest of the work. Over time, it should start to cling to and wrap around the shingle, giving it the support it needs to thrive without detracting from the look of the greenery and your home's décor.

If you like the idea of turning an old shingle into a piece of wall art, but you're looking for something a bit less involved than a full-blown painting, consider creating a more simplistic sign using some vinyl cutouts or stencils. If you're planning to make a sign that's fairly common, like a simple welcome sign, for example, you can likely find pre-made wall decals that will do the job. For more custom pieces, however, like last names or specific quotes, you might have to create your own stencil or order a custom vinyl cutout from a store online.

Birdhouses can be made from just about any old material you have lying around, but shingles are particularly well-suited for this purpose, especially when you're looking for something to use to build the roof. If your shingles are still in fairly good shape and not too warped or cracked, they can also be used to construct the walls of the house. They might be slightly thinner and cut a bit smaller than the wood you would normally use for a project like this, but, beyond that, you can treat your repurposed shingles like you would any other kind of scrap or reclaimed wood.

If you only have a couple of wood shingles at your disposal, consider trying your hand at a smaller project like a set of coasters. The weathered textures and colors of the wood can make for an interesting and one-of-a-kind piece, and the fact that it's already been exposed to the elements means you likely won't be as worried about leaving behind stains or rings. To make coasters, all you need to do is cut your shingles down to size and decorate or treat them as desired. If you want to ensure they last, you could also give them a coat of resin to fully seal them.

Garden markers are a necessity, especially if you like to cultivate a wide variety of plants. While they're usually fairly cheap to buy, however, there's no reason to spend your money on something so simple. If you have some old wood shingles and a couple markers or paint pens, you can easily create your own custom plant markers that add some handmade charm to your garden setup. Cut them down into smaller pieces with a point on the end if you want to make the most of a smaller amount of material, or stick the whole shingle into the ground if you want something more visible.

Decorating with mirrors can help make a room look bigger and bring some functionality to your space, but a lot of the affordable options on the market are either small or flimsy and low-quality. With a bit of a DIY transformation, however, you can easily upgrade a piece into something that you're happy to display. For this project, take a small round mirror and begin adding some shingles around the edges to create a sunburst pattern. You can trim down the shingles into unique shapes or leave them as-is — either way, you'll be left with a rustic-style mirror that's sure to impress.

If you're looking to incorporate a bit of whimsy into your outdoor space, there's no better option than building a fairy garden. These miniature-themed areas combine nature and folklore to create a space that resembles a small neighborhood, complete with tiny houses. Scrap wood, like some weathered wood shingles, can act as the perfect base for this project. Carve them into the shape you want, cut out doors, add on windows, and get creative with the paint job. After incorporating a couple of these miniature buildings, you'll have turned an otherwise nondescript corner of your garden into something magical.

They might not be the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of a DIY project, but clocks are incredibly simple to make out of just about anything if you have the proper supplies to do so. An old shingle can make for a particularly interesting and rustic-looking base, and can easily be customized with the numbers or markings you feel best fit your style. Once you've created your face, all you need to do from there is install a clock kit, which includes hardware, a few different hands, and a small motor to move them at the correct speed.

The way you store your jewelry all comes down to the specifics of your collection and your personal preferences, but this idea can work for plenty of different people, especially those who wear more bracelets and necklaces than anything else. Take an old shingle, then attach a few things that can be used to hang jewelry to the surface. This can be anything from old spools to cabinet knobs — whatever you have on hand. After you hang it on the wall, you can drape your accessories over these pegs to allow you to see your full collection and easily grab pieces as needed.

Making a simple planter out of a couple of pieces of wood is nothing new, but using old shingles to create the structure instead of investing in new material can give your project a more budget- and eco-friendly twist. Combine a few shingles to create your basic box shape, then make sure to properly line the planter with waterproof material to ensure the wood doesn't start to rot after being constantly exposed to water. For an added layer of protection, you could also use your shingle planter as a way to cover an existing plastic planter and make it look a bit more presentable in your garden.