Don't Throw Out Old Coffee Mugs Without Trying These 20 Creative Ideas

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There are multiple fun and creative ways to display your impressive mug collection. But what do you do with the ones that are chipped, sport broken handles, or have overstayed their welcome? While you can always trash them, why increase the waste sent to landfills? Donating them is another route you could try. You may not even have to go far; your local coffee place (a.k.a. your semi-permanent office) might just take them off your hands to reduce the use of paper cups. However, if you want to get the most out of your coffee mugs, you should try out a few creative ideas.

For instance, you can grow plants in them or place them beneath your planters to catch runoff. They also make for great homemade candles. Although you'll need a significant amount of wax to fill them to the brim, they'll burn for a long time. Just don't leave them unattended, or trade them with LED candles, such as Biyanuo's Battery-Operated Pillar Candles, to use them around your house worry-free. Mugs can also double as a gorgeous holder for your cut flowers — both real and artificial. Ready to give your old coffee mugs a second lease on life? Here are 20 creative ways to repurpose them around your house.

Want to bring the outdoors in with a Pinterest-approved bedroom design trend? Adding plants to various surfaces is the easiest way to nail the biophilic decor scheme. In case you don't want to spend money on dedicated planters, repurpose your old coffee mugs instead. Just drill a drainage hole in their base and you'll be good to go. Remember to use a drill bit that's compatible with ceramics and be gentle. In case your makeshift planters' design or color doesn't match your bedroom's aesthetic, give them a fresh coat of paint.

You might take great pride and joy in displaying your new finds or customized mugs around the house. But why limit yourself to recent purchases when your old ones can work just as well? Showcase them as is to create a vintage look. Otherwise, paint or decoupage them to match your preferences and interiors. Funky vinyl decals are also a good option. However, keep in mind that this idea is limited to coffee mugs that are in great shape (small chips are allowed, but a broken handle is a big no), yet aren't used much.

Candles are an understated decor item. If you love chunky pieces that burn for hours on end, DIY a few at home using your old coffee mugs. For a completely budget-friendly project, hunt around your home for used candles that sport a little wax at the bottom. Remove leftover candle wax from your jars with a simple vinegar trick, collect it all in a pan or microwave-safe dish, and let it melt. Pour it into your mug, pop in a new wick, and let it set.

If you work from home, chances are you require a pen to get through your workday or solve the crossword puzzle in the morning newspaper to survive your fifth Zoom call. However, if you can't seem to find the pen you used the previous day and have resorted to quietly picking one from your child's workstation, bring out an old coffee mug and clean it. Once it's dry, place it on your desk and use it as a pen holder. Pick a funky mug to add a splash of color to your office.

Putting up multiple feeders in your yard is one of the best birdscaping tips to turn your yard and garden into a bird haven. Reluctant to spend money on new ones? Turn your chipped coffee mugs into an adorable feeder. Simply fill it halfway with seeds, tie some twine around its handle, and hang it from a tree in your yard or an old hook. Alternatively, pour a little melted beef fat on top of the bird seeds and let it freeze to create a solid suet bird feeder.

If you're an amateur artist or just want to get creative, use your old coffee mugs as a base for your art. Paint and embellish them with beads, glitter, and decorative stones to craft one-of-a-kind pieces. And if they turn out well, display them around your house or sell them online. This is also a great way to introduce your kids to the world of art and craft. The trick is to give them a paintbrush before they use crayons on your walls to express their thoughts.

A pincushion is indispensable when you're busy embroidering your plain tablecloth or sewing your next masterpiece. But if your old one looks ragged and shares similarities with a dog's chew toy, upgrade it without much work. All you have to do is wrap it in some new fabric and push it into one of your old coffee mugs. This will keep it in place and slow down the wearing process. You can even sew buttons on top of the cushion to give your pins a fancy resting place.

Strewn makeup brushes on your bathroom countertop or vanity will slow you down as you get ready for the day, and those gathering dust could harm your skin and makeup. A simple solution is to use an organizer to keep your brushes accounted for. But if you'd rather not spend money on a holder, rinse out your old coffee mug and let it dry. Then, wash all your brushes and slot them in the mug. If possible, place the mug inside a cabinet to keep your brushes from getting dirty easily.

Your eyeliner, free samples, contour tubes, singular eye shadow palettes, lip balms, and other small cosmetics don't stand a chance against your makeup drawer's clutter. To keep them from getting lost in the melee, put them in an old coffee mug. Just ensure the cup you use is clean, or the hidden dust and cobwebs will turn your makeup products unsanitary. You could even decorate the mugs if you want them to fit with the decor of your vanity.

Having napkins on your dinner table is necessary to clean up messes before they snowball. However, if you have been laying out a few on a small plate or plopping a tissue box in the middle, you might want to jazz things up. Roll your napkins in a fancy twist and lay them inside one of your old coffee mugs. The raised napkins will be easier to access, and you won't have to worry about the other pieces getting dirty. They'll look pretty, too; simply arrange them artfully.

If you have a few mugs that look more suited to decor than being a common kitchen item, use them for your holiday decorations. You don't have to do much. Stuffing them with themed decor is enough. So, if you're decorating for Halloween, add a few pumpkin sticks, dried flowers, skulls, and other similar pieces. If you don't have stunning vintage-looking mugs, your plain old ones work, too. To use them as a part of your festive decor, plop down miniature conifers in each and decorate them with mini decorations and LED lights.

In case you're trying to instill a habit of saving money in your kids, turn your old coffee mugs into handy piggy banks. You can have them save the loose change from your grocery run or other errands. When a mug is full, simply swap it out with another or deposit the money elsewhere and use the same one. The cups also work great as a swear jar. However, keep them out of reach of your curious pets and toddlers, or they may accidentally knock them over.

Cut flowers add a splash of color to your interiors. However, they require a unique vase to be the center of attention in your home. If you want to truly create a masterpiece that draws attention, take off the handles of your old coffee mugs and adhere them to an old pair of flip-flops using a strong adhesive. Then, glue the finished craft to a leftover wooden plank. Paint the board and your vase in a similar shade or opt for contrasting hues to add visual interest.

A handy trick to make your artificial flowers look real is to place them in gorgeous vases. This pulls an onlooker's focus away from your imitation florals and invites them to inspect the holder instead. But if you don't want to incur additional expenses on them, your old coffee mugs can help. Paint them in a shade similar to the flowers you're putting in them for a minimalist look. Otherwise, use contrasting shades for a dramatic effect. You could even paint the cup and the handle in varied hues.

Need a handy place to store your earrings or watch at the end of the day so they don't get lost? Or maybe you want to hide them in an unexpected place in case of a theft. Whatever the case, forgotten coffee mugs can be the perfect holder. Simply nestle your accessory in the cup and place it towards the back of a cabinet or shelf. If the mug is chipped, add some stuffing around your accessory so it doesn't get damaged. Also, don't forget to cover your items with some scrap fabric to keep your accessories dust-free.

Is your coffee machine the heart of your kitchen? Deck it out with cute decor to turn it into a conversation starter. If you want something simple and beautiful, add a few strands of fairy lights to your old coffee mugs and set them near your appliance. You could even place them on your pod holder. Just ensure you go for LED lights, like HOBAYS' 6-Pack Mini Warm White String Lights, to avoid unwarranted accidents. You could even experiment with colorful LED lights if your mugs aren't white or beige.

Imagine rifling through drawers every meal-prep time to find the right wooden spoon. Sounds like your everyday routine? Then, it's time for you to organize your utensils in a dedicated holder so you can easily find the one you need without rooting around your kitchen. You'll need a large coffee cup, or several, depending on the size of your utensil collection. Clean and dry it before putting your utensils inside. Avoid painting it since it might not be food-safe and come into contact with your meals along with your fork or spoon.

Placing saucers underneath your planters to catch runoff is an old concept. Grab eyeballs by replacing them with your old coffee mugs. However, there are a few caveats to this idea. For starters, you need a mug that can comfortably fit your planter's diameter (not engulf, fit). Moreover, this won't work for planters that are too heavy since there's a chance that they might topple over. You also want to keep it away from your pets and kids to keep them from knocking over your plants.

Planning to set up an elaborate coffee station in your kitchen? Housing supplies in bland containers won't be enough. For added oomph, decant your sugar cubes or marshmallows into your old coffee mugs. In case they're plain or neutral-colored, spruce up their appearance with peel-and-stick wallpaper. Just measure and cut the amount needed. Take care to only apply it on the cup's exterior since you don't want adhesives, paint, or other elements to contaminate the cubes. Alternatively, use glass mugs and line the interior with patterned paper.

Mugs are the ideal size for storing small craft components such as buttons, beads, cotton reels, and any other collection of miniature pieces. Display them on shelves to brighten up your craft room, or keep them at hand on your desk. The only downside to this organization method is that it'll be difficult to pick out individual items without turning over the entire mug.