Don't Throw Out Old Pot And Pan Lids: 17 Clever Hacks To Repurpose Them

Pot and pan lids are essential items every kitchen needs. Over the years, you may find yourself with quite a few mixed and matched tops that either don't fit your current cooking selection or are just excessive. You'll find that these can be difficult to store and may want to get rid of some. However, don't throw out old pot and pan lids. Instead, utilize them to DIY garden art, create towel racks, or repurpose them in 17 other clever ways.

Pot and pan lids come in a variety of materials, including glass, metal, and silicone. Many of these coverings have different purposes whether that is steaming or heat management. While the most common shape you'll see is a circle, there are rectangular and square lids as well. If you want to paint your pot lid, you should apply acrylic paints on glass and metal options and stick to oil-based paints on silicone versions. You may also need to work with drills, screws, and adhesive products. In many projects, you will need to remove the knobs from the covering. But don't quickly toss those out, as you can reuse them for other crafting or remodeling projects. Before crafting with any type of pan top, make sure it is rust-free and cleaned. You can also use broken lids, but just ensure there aren't any dangerous or sharp sections from jagged glass or metal.

Pot and pan lids can easily be turned into wind chimes, whether you use it as a base to suspend smaller items or tie multiple smaller cooking tops onto a larger covering to clang against each other as the wind blows. You also can add other decorative elements like paint to bring more personality to the piece. However, this creative hack can easily succumb to moisture and sunlight. So, spray WD-40 on your metal lids to keep your twinkling wind chimes rust-free all year round.

Repurpose old pot and pan lids around your garden by converting them into bird feeders. While there are many ways to do this, one of the easiest ideas is to suspend a covering with some twine or rope from a tree. It will become like a plate, making it easy to hold feed. You could also integrate the pan top as the top of a more intricate bird feeder. Since animals will be feeding off of it, make sure there is no rust. If it does start to form, toss immediately.

Gather together a few pot and pan lids and a wood board. You'll attach the coverings to the board with the knobs facing outwards. Adhere hanging brackets on the back of the piece to help it easily suspend on a wall or even on a fence. This is a great way to create a unique entryway storage solution to easily hold handbags, backpacks, jackets, and keys, too. Don't forget to paint or decorate the lids and stain the wood to match your home's aesthetic.

Fill the lid with water to build an affordable bird bath for your garden. You can keep it simple by sticking the covering in a bush or in the ground and pouring water in. Or, you can set it on a base that holds it upright. The lid could also be used as a decorative roof over the bath. Place outside and watch as the birds come and take a dip to cool off. If your pan has metal, it may eventually rust. Once that happens, you'll need to throw it away.

With enough creativity, anything, including pot and pan lids, can be turned into garden art. Let your personality flow with artistic masterpieces, like fantastical structures and cozy, ornamental bird houses. You'll most likely add other elements and items to finish it off. Once complete, set your work out as a feature or statement piece in your garden or yard. Since it is exposed to the elements, spray it with clear sealant and store it away when the weather is too intense.

Keep your favorite tools and shears ready to grab by hanging your old pot and pan lids on the wall for a simple storage solution. It's quite easy, only needing a nail or even a push pin to suspend it on the wall. Let it hang in a prime zone like in your kitchen, bathroom, garage, or even craft room. Stick to coverings with a handle that is more like a rectangle instead of a knob. You'll also need to be choosy on what items will fit snugly in. Paint and decorate the piece to complement your home's style.

Add some eclectic décor that also offers function to your daily life by transforming your lids into a towel rack. Take a board and attach a couple of the pot coverings, then hang in your kitchen or bathroom to utilize the knobs or handles as hooks. You can aslo ditch the board and just decorate the lid and suspend it on the wall. This is a budget-friendly update that will help you keep your towels organized.

Illuminate your space on a budget with an old pot or pan lid, decorative pieces like beads, and lighting hardware. First remove the knob and then decorate the top of the lid. Dangle strings of beads on the sides. Then thread a lighting cord through the open hole where the knob came from and add a bulb to the lighting hardware. Hang in a reading nook or over a desk.

Create an adorable kitchen décor piece by taking a glass pot or pan lid and making a clock out of it. First, remove the knob and then paint it a solid color or produce whatever design you want. Depending on your clock's appearance and color choice, you can also add or paint on the numbers. Once it dries, screw on clock hands and the clock hardware in the center where the knobs were. Set the time and hang it on the wall so you always know what time it is.

While cooking, a plate does wonders when holding chopped produce, but don't grab one from your cabinet when a lid can be a makeshift plate. This works exceptionally well with tops that have a flat knobbed handle that can stand up on its own. Place it next to your chopping board and conveniently fill it as you chop away. Alternatively, use it for fruit or produce storage to create a functional display in your home at all times. 

Bring even more festivity to your home by using your pot and pan lids as holiday or seasonal décor. For this project, you will paint on the surface of the cooking covering, usually keeping the knob as a nose for a face. However, you can also remove the handle and paint whatever design you want. You also can screw on other pieces if you take off the grip. Popular designs people create are holiday items like fall pumpkins or snowmen. Display it on a shelf or even in a window all season long.

Your extra or old lids can become the perfect large stencil in your crafting arsenal. Keep a collection of different sizes and shapes on hand to have a variety of stencils on hand. It's pretty simple to use — you just need to take out your marking utensil and use it to trace around the pot lid on a piece of paper or anything else. It will leave you with the perfect circle, which is excellent for many crafts. However, ensure you are gentle with glass lids so they don't break.

Grab your old pot or pan covering and transform it into a beautiful decorative storage tray. The best way to do it is to flip the lid over and take off the knob. Attach legs or adhere one large base at the bottom. Let it dry and then place items, like snacks, on top of it. These old covers are great for creating tiers as well, making them optimal pieces for large gatherings. You also can paint and decorate them to match your home's theme.

Take your old pot or pan lid and a cloth and try out TikTok's cleaning hack for upholstered furniture. Boil a pot of water. In a bowl, throw in a laundry pod or other cleaner and let the detergent fully dissolve. Once the water is cool enough, dunk a pot top wrapped with a microfiber cloth around it. Gripping the covered towel, scrub it on the surface of your upholstered furniture. It will help lift stains and dirt without damaging your item. Once done, remove the towel and wash.

With just a few materials and your imagination, you can take your old lids and turn them into table centerpieces. There are many ways to accomplish this look. You can attach it to broken cups or even to other kitchenware or glass. The best way is to flip it over to where it creates a bowl shape. You can paint it or Mod Podge napkins with a pretty design on it. Once done, set it out as a lovely table centerpiece with other decorative elements like bowl fillers, candles, or flowers.

If you have art skills, show them off by painting your old pot and pan lids to turn them into ornate wall art. First, remove the knob, unless you plan on incorporating it as part of the artwork. Then, paint on whatever design or attach whatever pieces you want. Hang it straight on the wall or adhere twine or a metal chain to suspend it wherever you want. You can also keep it simple by hanging designed pot coverings on the wall of your kitchen as eclectic décor.

Welcome guests to your home with a wreath made from old pot and pan lids. Whether you attach a bunch of round covers until they produce a wreath or only set one in the center, there are many ways to create a door wreath. Don't forget to dress it up by painting its surface and adding ribbons and flowers around the edge. If you keep your wreath on a shady front porch door, you can expect it to last for years.