30 Creative and Useful Trash to Treasure Projects
These 30 trash to treasure projects are packed with super creative ideas for giving new life to old pieces headed for the trash.
Upcycling old junk is one of my absolute favorite things to do. There is just something magical about giving things that are old and unwanted a fresh new purpose.
And when you can turn old junk into something that’s both beautiful and useful, it’s a real homerun.
Some of these trash to treasure makeovers started out as literal trash, some were rescued from donation piles, and some were found at yard sales and thrift stores for super cheap.
No matter where they were found, they were all cast off and unwanted.
But not anymore!
From furniture to storage to lighting and more, there are trash to treasure ideas here for every room in the house. I’ve included some of my own best projects along with some of my favorites from other bloggers so get ready for some major inspiration!
30 Amazing Trash to Treasure Projects
These thirty trash to treasure projects will have you looking at your donate and trash piles in a whole new way. Filled with creative, smart ideas for upcycling old castoffs into all kinds of beautiful things for your home that are actually useful, this collection is sure to get your creativity flowing. Just click the links below to see the mind-blowing befores along with the whole transformation process.
See how this vintage radio was turned into a cat house as part of a laundry room makeover. You have to see the before of this makeover to appreciate just how amazing it is!
Yarn wall hangings are extremely popular and can be seen at just about every home store. See how this blogger made her own using an unexpected thrift store find!
You won't believe what I used to make this beautiful firewood holder. It's one of my favorite trash to treasure projects!
See how a $2 empty gelato cup was transformed into this stylish fluted wood planter.
Make a really cool DIY magnetic knife rack from a vintage ruler. This is such a creative and inexpensive idea for your kitchen.
Who would have thought an empty globe stand would become the perfect paper towel holder!
Turn old ceiling fan blades into a popular farmhouse style DIY windmill wall decor. These windmills can be very pricey to buy, but you can make your own for a fraction of the cost with this tutorial!
This farmhouse style wire basket started out as something completely different!
You only need a few inexpensive supplies to turn an old red wagon into a super creative DIY wagon shelf. This is so fun for a kids room!
This cute little desk is actually a mash-up of a broken sewing machine table and a worn out wood bench. Now they've been given new life as a beautiful, functional desk.
This gorgeous accent table was made for just $12! Doesn't it look like something you would find at a high end home store?
See how to turn an old stool into a handy DIY thread storage stool for cheap!
I love collecting vintage cameras and decided it was time to turn one into something useful! Learn how to easily turn a vintage camera into a one-of-a-kind lamp or nightlight.
You know those old wire spice racks you can find for cheap? Turn one into a beautiful flower basket with this easy DIY tutorial!
Make a useful and pretty DIY pedestal table from an unexpected (and very cheap) find!
This creative DIY shutter headboard was made from garage sale shutters. Now it's a beautiful focal point for a bedroom and It even has built-in lamps!
This DIY bench was upcycled from an old wooden butcher block table. What an incredible trash to treasure makeover!
Old boxy entertainment centers are everywhere and don't have much of a purpose these days. This one got new life as a fun play kitchen for little ones, complete with lots of of fun details.
Turn an old retro TV cabinet into a fun bar cabinet with a French wine graphic. Even better, you can download the graphic for free.
The creativity of this DIY table lamp is incredible! Can you believe it is made from recycled ribbon spool?
This dresser had definitely seen better days before I gave it a makeover and a whole new purpose as a bathroom vanity.
Take an old dresser and turn it a fabulous matching dresser chair and ottoman. This is such a stunning piece of furniture!!
You've got to see the before of this upcycled light fixture to believe it. What started out as a cheap but ugly light from the Habitat Restore is now beautiful and modern with just a few dollars of supplies and less than an hour of work.
See how an old leather skirt was turned into gorgeous woven leather napkin rings. Such a unique idea!
An old lamp purchased for one dollar was turned into a beautiful DIY Garden Light Post. This is such a great upcycle and will look great on a porch or patio.
This beautiful farmhouse wreath all started with an old plaid shirt that no longer fit!
This repurposed pie pan display is such a great way to display favorite family recipes and photos.
This family command center was easy and inexpensive to make using an old window and some vintage letter stencils. Now it's the perfect way to keep our family organized.
An old garage sale metal card file is completely transformed with legs and a pretty buffalo check design!
You can find old chairs for cheap and sometimes even free. This pair of chairs now has a totally new life as a backyard bench.
Now I have a major itch to hit the thrift stores…but I think I should probably just start with my own basement stash! I’m pretty sure I have plenty of things down there just waiting for their own trash-to-treasure transformation!
Want even more upcycling inspiration? Be sure to check out this collection of my 20 personal best trash-to-treasure makeovers.
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Such fun Upcycled ideas. I really like your light transformation with the thrifted shade. Thanks for including our wagon shelf project.
Thank you! I love that wagon!