19 Clever Ways To Upcycle Old Clothes Into Unique Home Decor

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It feels good to finally declutter your closet and get rid of those clothes that you haven't worn this decade — there are plenty of expert tips for decluttering your closet like a pro to complete the task. Or, maybe you do regular purges and are getting ready to do your latest closet clean-out. Figuring out what to do with those clothes can be overwhelming. Selling clothes could earn you some spending money, but it can be time-consuming without very much profit. Donating them to charity benefits people in your community, but not all clothes are in good enough condition to donate. Sometimes, the answer is to keep the clothes but repurpose them into something else. We're not talking about adding cute patches to jeans and continuing to wear them (although that's a thrifty option, too). Our ideas transform your old shirts, tights, and jeans into home decor to refresh the look of your home for free.

Upcycling clothing helps you increase your sustainability while custom-designing unique home decor that no one else has. Despite those old jeans no longer being in style, they can still make adorable home decor pieces, like framed pockets to hang on the wall or boho feathers to use for custom art. Using old T-shirts, sweaters, and flannel shirts in your home decor projects can even help you preserve the memories they hold. These upcycled clothing ideas are perfect when you're looking for low-budget decor ideas to spruce up your home.

Make DIY drawer sachets out of rice and your favorite scent stuffed into a pouch made of old tights. Cut a small section of the leg, and use fabric tape to close one end. Other clothing fabrics also work — breathable natural fibers are best because they let the scent escape. Stir a few drops of essential oils or dried herbs into uncooked rice, and pour it into the pouch. Potpourri is also an option. Seal the other end with fabric tape, or tie it with a ribbon.

This upcycle is one of many creative ways to turn cherished memories into beautiful, personal decor. It turns your favorite band, school, and pop culture T-shirts into wall art by putting them on canvas. To make it, cut out a large rectangle of the shirt, centering the design, and place it over a wrapped art canvas — this Gotideal canvas set includes multiple sizes. Wrap the fabric tightly around the canvas, and staple it to the back of the canvas. You can hang a single shirt canvas, or attach multiples collage-style using metal brackets.

This sweater upcycle is one of many throw pillows you can make that are perfect for fall and winter. For a simple cover, cut two squares out of the sweater by cutting along the side seams and straight across just under the sleeves. You can iron interfacing onto the backs of the fabric to add structure, if desired. Then, sew three sides together, leaving an opening for filling or a throw pillow form. Sew up that gap, and add any embellishments you want, like fringe or buttons. If you're not handy with a sewing machine, you can also use fabric glue.

Create bleached denim modern wall art for a custom look. Cut a stencil out from cardboard to create your design. Then, position the stencil onto the denim, and spray diluted bleach onto the fabric — 1 part bleach and 4 parts water is a good place to start, but you can increase the amount of bleach to lighten the fabric more. When you're happy with the look, spray it with a solution of 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 4 parts water to stop the fading. Frame the dry denim, and hang it up.

Denim feathers are the perfect accent to a boho vibe. The basic idea is to cut a rough feather shape and create fringe along the edges. A seam down the middle acts like the shaft of a feather — remove the threads running parallel to the seam with a seam ripper. Or, cut any piece of denim into a feather, and cut slits at an angle for chunkier barbs along the edge. Add buttons, gemstones, or other embellishments. Attach twine, and hang the feathers from a stick or piece of driftwood for earthy decor.

With a foam wreath form and strips of old clothing, you have the basics for a DIY wreath that's unique and inexpensive. Cut the clothes into strips — flannel shirts and sweaters work well for winter, or cut up colorfully patterned shirts for other seasons. Wrap the strips around the form, slightly overlapping the previous pass. U-pins work well to hold the fabric in place, or use hot glue. Alternately, use a wire wreath form, and tie 1-inch by 6-inch strips of old clothing fabric around the wires to cover the form completely.

An old sweater makes a cozy bed for your pets with some simple stitches and stuffing. You'll tuck the collar in, and work along the sweater opening to start. A big piece of foam goes inside the body of the sweater to create the base of the bed — sew the bottom edge closed. The sleeves get filled with stuffing (or scraps of other old clothes). Tuck the sleeve ends into one another, sew them together, and then sew the arms down to the body to create cozy sides to the bed. You can also use a pool noodle to create the pet bed edges.

Old T-shirts work well for these woven placemats because of the slight stretch in the fabric. You'll start by making a loom from a rectangle of cardboard by cutting short slits along the long sides. The T-shirt gets cut into long strips about the same with and slipped into the slits on both ends. Then, you'll weave longer strips back and forth the opposite direction. Tying the ends together, similar to a fleece tie blanket, secures the mat. You can customize the mats by changing the size of your loom and the colors of your T-shirt strips. 

No sewing skills are needed for this denim seam coaster project. Simply cut the seam from a pair of jeans, and roll it into a flat spiral with the seam upright. A dab of hot glue at the start holds the center of the ring, and you'll want to add more dabs regularly to hold the spiral together. Keep the roll tight, and make sure you keep it as level as possible to avoid a bumpy coaster. Gemstones or beads glued around the outer edge offer a cute way to embellish the coaster.

Leftover denim is perfect for creating flowers that never die. For a simple option, cut long strips of denim, fold them in half, and hot glue the long cut edges. Then, cut slits along the folded edge, being careful not to cut completely across. Now, you just need to hot glue one end to floral wire, and wrap the strip around multiple times with the folded, cut edge upward, until the flower is big enough for you. You can add stems from more denim or fabric from a green shirt to finish the look.

Fabric-covered flower pots add personality to houseplants. If you already have plain pots, pair them with old clothing with fun patterns. All you need to attach the fabric to the pot is decoupage glue — cut a long piece of fabric, spread the glue on the pot, and smooth the fabric on. You'll need to trim the excess fabric, and applying another layer of glue on top of the fabric helps seal it. If you prefer a patchwork look, cut smaller pieces of old shirts or pants, and decoupage the individual pieces in place.

This upcycling project captures the cozy comfort of perfectly worn T-shirts in a shaggy area rug. A non-stick rug pad, like this Gorilla Grip pad gripper, creates the base — cut it to the length and shape you want for the finished product. Cut several T-shirts into strips 1 inch or less wide. The length depends on how long you want the shag pile. Then, you thread the pieces through the holes in the pad to look them around, and tie them in a knot. Repeat to cover the entire pad.

Looking for creative ways to revamp your light fixtures? Update a plain lamp shade with an old T-shirt — the inspiration uses band T-shirts, but you can use any graphic tee, like your favorite sports team to customize a lamp for your den. Or, choose clothing with a pattern that matches your decor. A straight-sided shade works best — cut the clothing material slightly larger than the shade, and attach it with spray adhesive, fabric glue, or decoupage glue, tucking and gluing the top and bottom edges. Add coordinating trim if desired.

There are many creative ways to repurpose embroidery hoops around your home, including this wall pocket project. Cut around the pocket on a pair of jeans, so the fabric is a little bigger than the embroidery hoop. Secure it inside the hoop, which you can paint if you want, and glue the excess fabric to the back. This same idea works with an old picture frame — remove the glass, and secure the pocket in the frame. You can tuck small items in the framed pocket with it hanging on the wall.

With sewing skills, you can use the fabric of old clothes to make coffee coozies with different designs, from Velcro to a button and a loop to hold it in place. But this super simple, no-sew coozie uses the cuff from a flannel shirt sleeve. Cut just a little above the cuff, and fold the cut edge down behind the cuff, using hot glue to secure it. Then, just wrap it around a cup, and use the cuff buttons to secure it. Sew on extra buttons for smaller cups if needed.

For this boho wall hanging, you'll need several long fabric strips, cut from old clothing. Using a variety of fabric types and colors adds to the eclectic look. You can also use strips of lace or beaded fabric, or braid thinner strips together for some of the pieces. Tie the strips onto a stick or dowel, allowing them to hang freely. For a rounded look, tie the strips around an embroidery hoop. Use it as one of many ways to style the perfect boho entryway or other spaces.

Give your old clothes a new purpose within the closet by cutting them into strips and wrapping them around hangers. Making the strips no more than 1 inch wide is ideal. Start one strip by hot gluing it to the hanger. Then, wrap the strip around the hanger, slightly overlapping it each time. Adding hot glue every so often keeps the fabric from shifting. To add a cute embellishment, tie a ribbon or another strip of fabric into a bow at the base of the hook.

Old flannel clothing is the primary material for a DIY rag garland that you can hang on the wall or mantel. Cut the flannel into long, narrow strips — you'll want them twice as long as you want the finished garland to be, so 12 inches for a 6-inch garland. Then, tie each strip in the center onto a piece of twine. Using different flannel types keeps the garland interesting. You can also use other types of fabrics or strips of lace or ribbon mixed in.