When packing, there are plenty of items that can serve as storage for other items. Naturally, hats have space for where your head eventually goes, so you can fill that space up with other bits and pieces. Try stuffing your socks or underwear in there, or whatever else is rattling around your suitcase.

The best thing about this packing hack is that by stuffing your hat, you’ll actually be protecting it. After all, nobody wants a crushed sunhat or a dented fedora.

Here’s another genius packing hack to avoid losing important items of jewelry. We can guarantee that nobody wants to spend their first few days of vacation searching for the back of an earring. Instead of putting your jewelry in a pouch where it can get tangled, or loose in your case, place items in a pillbox.

Pillboxes are just the right size for earrings and rings, and some bracelets and necklaces can be gently placed inside. Brilliant!

When we’re throwing our shoes into a suitcase, we can forget just how dirty they actually are. Whilst we know that we need our favorite sneakers or that well-worn pair of sandals, we can overlook the fact that they’re covered in dirt, grime, and other unknown nasties.

Rather than having your filthy shoes touching your lovely vacation wardrobe, cover them up with a shower cap. Thanks to their flexibility, shower caps make great shoe covers, and they keep shoes together.

When we’re packing a suitcase, most people think of it as a flat rectangle, because that’s how we look at it the most. When we’re tucking things into our case, we tend to forget that it will eventually end up upright. For that reason, it’s best to pack your heaviest items near the suitcase wheels.

Otherwise, once you zip up your case and stand it upright, all of your heavy shoes will crush the delicate items underneath. Nobody wants that.

OK, admittedly this is an unusual packing hack, but it works, and can be a good solution for some packers. If you don’t have the patience to carefully fold all your clothes using the KonMari method, then consider this option instead.

To make a mega bundle, lay all of your clothes out on top of each other, and then fold them together into one big pile. Then, you can place the bundle in your case, and add other items afterward. This also makes unpacking nice and easy!

Invented by the US marines, the Skivvy roll is a way of folding your items into a burrito-like roll, not unlike the mega bundle seen above. In this image, one shirt and a pair of underwear is folded together and then placed inside a pair of socks. Obviously, this saves a huge amount of space.

Make sure to look up a video of the Skivvy roll, because the socks have to be placed in a particular way in order to roll everything inside of them.

One of the biggest risks when traveling with a suitcase (asides from it getting lost) is something spilling inside. Due to air pressure, a careless baggage handler, or poor packing, sometimes bottles or packages burst open and leave shampoo, toothpaste, or suntan lotion all over your vacation swag.

There are various ways to avoid this (more on that later) but one simple method is to pack your clothes inside out. This means there’s less chance of ruining your outfits with a pesky stain.

Of course, when packing for a trip, sometimes you bring something breakable or delicate. When packing these items, it’s best to remember to pack heavy items towards the wheels and more delicate items on top. However, when it comes to glass, you’ll want a little extra protection.

If you’re traveling with a glass bottle – such as a perfume bottle – simply tuck it into a sock. As additional insurance, if the bottle does break, there won’t be glass all over your case.

Japanese organizing consultant Marie Kondo has sold millions of copies of her books, including 2011’s hugely popular The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Kondo’s Netflix series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo brought the KonMari method to even bigger audiences, and folding hasn’t been the same since.

Basically, the KonMari method for folding is to fold the bottom of a shirt up slightly, fold it in half, and then roll to make the first fold. Keep folding until it’s a self-contained package that can stand upright.

Some people eschew flat irons or curling tongs when they go on vacation, but other people simply don’t have the choice. While beachy waves might look great on the sand in Cancun, they aren’t professional enough for a meeting in Chicago. So, how do you pack them?

Some hair electricals come with their own heat protecting mat, but for those that don’t, simply slip them in an oven mitt or pot stand. It protects your possessions and provides a heat protecting surface.

Makeup lovers know that traveling with cosmetics can be a risky business. There’s nothing worse than arriving at your destination and unpacking your toiletries just to see that your Urban Decay Naked palette is now a pile of mixed up powders with a broken mirror. These things cost money, people!

As a solution, place a cotton pad inside your compacts to protect the product underneath. For larger palettes, use several. This packing hack is simple, but it’s effective.

Of course, the same applies when we’re folding jeans. Marie Kondo’s method is to lay the jeans flat in front of you, fold the left leg over the right, and fold in the crotch. Then, fold the bottom of the jeans toward the waist, leaving an inch of space. Finally, fold inward until the jeans stand upright.

While the KonMari method might sound complicated, it’s very achievable once you’ve seen a diagram or video. Importantly, it leads to very neat suitcases.

There’s nothing worse than reaching for a necklace to finish off an outfit just to find it tangled and tied up in knots. Who wants to sit picking at their jewelry right before they have to leave? Not us!

Well, an innovative way to prevent this is to use a drinking straw. Simply thread your necklace through the straw and fix the clasp at the other side. This way, it won’t be able to get tangled and mess up your evening.

We’ve already suggested pill boxes for traveling with jewelry, but this packing hack is specifically for keeping pairs of earrings together. While many people mightn’t bother with buttons anymore, the practical fasteners do provide a great method of transporting earrings.

Simply fasten your earrings through the two holes in the center of a button, and you’ll never lose an earring back again. Plus, most clothing comes with a spare button, so you should have plenty lying around.

If you haven’t heard about packing cubes, you must have been living under a rock. Basically, packing cubes are zip up bags that come in various sizes. The idea is that you organize items into different cubes, thereby having a suitcase that works more like a chest of drawers.

You can put pants or sweaters in large cubes, shirts in the medium cubes, and socks in the smallest cubes. This way, you can grab whatever you need without rifling through everything.

For many people, liquid size restrictions are an irritating and limiting aspect of traveling. How is a person supposed to bring their various lotions and potions when they can’t just throw everything into their bag?

Well, this packing hack solves exactly that. We’ve seen travel-friendly bottles and travel products, all of which can be a solution. However, contact lens cases are the perfect size for bringing liquid beauty products along with you. Just squirt some in, and they’ll stay safe!

Liquid restrictions are a tricky part of traveling, and nobody wants to be caught at the end of a long security line with the wrong quantity of moisturizer – how mortifying! Rather than hauling all of your liquids on board with you, consider keeping everything in one place in your main suitcase.

That way, when it comes to airport security, you just have to slip your shoes off, remove your jewelry, and stride through. Come on, who really needs face wash on a plane?

We’ve talked about packing heavy items near the bottom of a suitcase, but there are other solutions to dealing with bulky belongings. Depending on the length of your flight and your level of comfort, wear your heaviest pieces of clothing on the journey itself.

This works well with large coats or heavy boots or sneakers. Wearing your FILA Disruptors on board is no big deal, and it saves tons of space in your bag. Just be warned that security could take a little longer.

Obviously, when packing for a trip, it’s best to think about what activities you’ll be doing when you get there. One method for packing is to look at your itinerary (or make yourself an itinerary) and bring specific outfits for each individual occasion.

This means you would have pre-prepared outfits and options for hikes, dinners, and days exploring the nearby town. This also means that you won’t bring additional items that don’t fit into your vacation schedule. Easy as pie.

Whenever you buy a particularly nice pair of shoes or a purse, your new purchase comes inside its own cloth bag. Rather than throwing these out, hold onto them for your next vacation. These cloth bags can be used like packing cubes, and are particularly good for storing delicate items like undergarments.

You can also buy bags like these in environmentally friendly fabrics like cotton, muslin, or linen. Lots of people have bags like these lying around their home, so why not make good use of them?

One of the most crucial packing hacks of all is to use a list. There are lots of packing lists available online, and physical list pads that you can buy and tick off as you pack.

However, for some people it can be a good idea to make your own list as it means you’ll really be thinking about what you need to bring with you. Make sure you include sub-lists for electricals, cosmetics, and medications. Happy packing!

So far, we’ve mainly been discussing packing hacks for suitcases. However, many people hit the road with just a backpack, and use that one bag for many different circumstances. Of course, these people need to have streamlined luggage and cleverly packed goods.

Regardless of how you decide to fill your backpack, we recommend investing in a rain cover. It’s absolutely worth purchasing or borrowing one to avoid all of your precious possessions getting soaked after a particularly bad downpour.

Sometimes, in all the excitement of packing for vacation, we forget that we’ll eventually end up with a pile of dirty laundry. Nobody wants their new vacation swag rubbing up against their nasty old swimsuit, so remember to pack a laundry bag.

Opt for a mesh or canvas bag that you can fold flat on the way there to avoid taking up too much space. Once you’ve worn something on your vay-cay, just throw it into the laundry bag.

Lots of people use luggage tags when they travel so they can locate and identify their bag if it gets lost. Another hack is to use the same luggage tags as the people you’re traveling with so you can easily spot everyone’s suitcases at the luggage carousel.

If you’re that way inclined, you could even craft your own by sewing some brightly colored tags and decorating them with embroidery, glitter, or embellishments. A hack and a craft project – sounds fun!

This great packing hack is for people that travel with button-down shirts. Perhaps it’s for a meeting, or maybe it’s a job interview – either way, you need to make sure your outfit is looking smooth and wrinkle-free. One way to achieve this is to square fold your button-down like they do in the store.

When your shirt is folded and flat, place a belt or two into the collar in order to keep it stiff and upright.

Many people use dryer sheets to make their laundry softer, less static, and smelling sweet. But, did you know that there are various uses for dryer sheets, including a packing hack?

Well, by placing a dryer sheet inside your luggage, your clothes will stay smelling fresh for the entirety of their journey. When you eventually open your case, everything will smell like it came straight from the dryer. Apparently, dryer sheets can also be used for cleaning and pest control! Who knew?

Some people like to snack while traveling, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. We all know that airports and airplanes are expensive when it comes to dining, so why not bring your own sandwiches?

A handy way to make sure that your food stays fresh is to pack a frozen sponge in a Ziploc bag. You can either place your snack into the bag with the sponge, or use a small lunchbox. Either way, everything will be fresh as a daisy.

Even if you don’t think you’ll use one, it’s always a good idea to bring a pen with you when you’re traveling. Keep your pen in your carry-on luggage because it’s possible that you’ll have to fill in a visa or customs form while you’re still on board. Nobody wants to be desperately trying to solicit a pen from a fellow passenger or flight attendant when there’s just 10 minutes until touch down.

Plus, if you get bored, you can always take your pen out and doodle.

Even travel-friendly bottles are at risk of leaking, so it’s a good idea to reinforce your bottles before going on any trip. Put a thin sheet of plastic – either a bag, or a piece of Saran wrap –over the top of a bottle and then screw the lid on. Even if there’s increased air pressure, everything should say safely inside the bottle.

For extra safety, you could place your liquids inside a bag of their own, so everything stays dry and in one easily findable location.

Fashion designer Coco Chanel once advised, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” A version of this rule should also be applied when packing for vacation, as most people are prone to bringing far too much.

Once you’ve made a list and laid out everything you want to bring with you, go through it again and reduce it by half. This method means you’ll have plenty of space to bring home souvenirs.

There is a healthy and ongoing debate about the relative merits of compression bags compared to packing cubes. While packing cubes can help organize various items, compression bags help save a ton of space inside your suitcase.

Of course, one downside of using compression bags is that your clothes end up pretty wrinkly by the time you arrive at your destination. However, if you want to bring loads of stuff and have ironing facilities, then compression bags are a great choice.

We’ll admit that this packing hack might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how few people actually use the inbuilt internal straps in their suitcase. For some reason, lots of us tend to overlook suitcase straps, choosing instead to just squeeze everything inside and close the lid.

So, next time you’re packing a suitcase, remember to strap everything in securely once you’re ready to close up. The straps will prevent your precious belongings from moving all over the case.

A lot of these packing hacks have been about conserving space, or making the most of the space you have. But what do most people do when they’re on vacation? They shop! And where will all those gifts for your family go if you’ve filled your suitcase with sneakers and curling irons?

When you’re setting off somewhere, remind yourself to leave some room for future purchases. Plus, the luggage weight limit isn’t a goal!

A wonderful environmentally friendly way of saving suitcase space is switching from a liquid shampoo to a shampoo bar. Lush makes a range of organic shampoo bars which either come completely bare (therefore cutting down on bulky and pollution causing plastics), or in a handy travel tin.

By using a shampoo bar, not only will you be helping the environment, but you also won’t have to worry about airline liquid restrictions or pesky spills. They also come in conditioner options!

We’ve already suggested the inspired packing hack of stuffing your hats with smaller items, and now we’re here to say the same thing about shoes. Because of their shape, shoes have lots of dead space inside them that’s just asking to be filled up.

The most obvious option is to fill your shoes with socks or undies, but you could also keep smaller items safe in there. Pop a shower cap around the whole package and you’ve combined two packing hacks in one.

Packing a suitcase isn’t all clothing and cosmetics – it’s also books, souvenirs and electricals. While most readers will bring a book in their carry on, some will also tuck an extra novel or notebook into their main bag. What they don’t want is a book that’s been thrown around and crushed on its journey.

One way to avoid this is to use rubber bands to keep your book in its correct shape. Place one lengthwise, and one across the width to keep things flat.

There’s a lot of important information that you need to remember when traveling. There’s your flight information, your luggage labels, possible immigration paperwork, and the details of where you’re staying when you arrive.

In the age of handheld technology, we’re lucky that we can carry all of that information in one small device. Take pictures of your documents before flying so you always have those important details on hand. Just make sure you also pack your phone charger, and maybe a phone bank too.

When it comes down to individual items to bring on vacation, everyone’s choices will differ. Traveling outfits depend on the type and location of the trip, and everyone has their own styles and preferences. However, in general it’s a good rule to bring plenty of neutral colored items.

Depending on the climate of where you’re visiting, this might mean black, white, tan, or grey staples. By packing your suitcase this way, you can easily mix and match your vacation wardrobe.

Talking about tangles, nobody wants their various cords and wires to get twisted up in the packing process. Unfortunately, straws won’t do the trick for a phone charger, but it just so happens that a sunglasses case will. Before you leave, carefully wind up your various leads and place them gently into a sunglasses case or a small purse.

This way, when you need to plug your electric toothbrush into your universal adaptor, you’ll know where to look and you won’t have to waste time unwinding cords.

When packing for a vacation, it’s crucial not to overpack. This doesn’t just refer to clothing, though it is a waste to bring hordes of outfits that you won’t even consider. But, asides from clothing, don’t feel the need to bring every single product that you use at home.

Realistically, other countries and regions have soap, shower gel, and toothpaste. You could easily pick those things up when you arrive. Plus, grocery stores in other countries are the most fun.

Let’s be real — traveling abroad is undoubtedly one of the most exciting adventures. And while you can count on having the time of your life, there are some things you should bring along in order to have the best experience imaginable.

Rather than buying a ton of converters for your electronics, why not just buy one power strip and one converter to go along with it? This way, you’re not only packing less but you can also charge various things at a time whether it be your camera, phone, or even laptop.

Don’t have a pillbox to pack your jewelry in? Well, don’t fret because we have just the packing hack for you! With plastic (or saran) wrap, you can keep your precious jewels from getting tangled up.

Simply put down a layer of plastic wrap, lay your jewelry out, then cover it with another layer of plastic wrap. Press these two layers together around your jewelry to keep everything separated. Gently fold or roll your wrapped jewelry to create a small, packable bundle.

Anyone that has ever used a bobby pin in their life knows the struggle of losing it seconds after removing it from your hair. While it can be quite frustrating even finding it in the comfort of your own home, imagine losing the pin while on vacation — and what if that’s the only one you have?!

Rather than packing bobby pins loosely in the suitcase and hoping for the best, why not consolidate a handful of them into a pill bottle? With this hack, there’s no doubt that you’ll save yourself a lot of time and aggravation.

And while we’re on the subject of misplacing hair accessories, why not take a second to talk about hair ties? That’s right — all you people out there with hair totally know what it’s like to lose the only scrunchie you have lying around the house.

Luckily, this hack will help you whether you’re at home or on vacation. Simply place all those ponytail holders on a key ring and you’ll never misplace one again…unless you lose the keyring, of course.

If you’re going on vacation for an extended period of time, then there’s a good chance that you’ll decide to pack a razor. And if that’s the case, then you’ll want to learn about this next hack.

There’s nothing quite like searching through your suitcase after a long flight when suddenly, you cut your fingers on the open-face razor that you packed at the bottom of your bag. By using a bigger clip to protect the razor head, you’ll also protect your fingers from some pretty intense injuries.

Believe it or not, but tissue paper can become the ultimate packing buddy for any and all of your vacations. None of us are strangers to wrinkled clothing, especially after it’s been sitting in a suitcase for hours on end.

To reduce the chance of wrinkles, you can fold your clothes with tissue paper placed in the middle. The texture of the paper will reduce friction on the fabric. For an added bonus, spray the tissue paper with some perfume and you’ll have yourself the best-smelling suitcase you’ve ever packed!

Traveling with a wad of cash can be quite risky. If you’re someone that doesn’t feel totally comfortable holding all the cash you have in your wallet during your travels or flight, why not try this awesome hack?

Quite inconspicuous, all you have to do is take one of your old (and empty) deodorant containers, and stash your money in there! Just make sure not to forget this secret hiding place as it would be quite a bummer to throw the container out with all that money hidden away.

We think it goes without saying that a first aid kit is always a handy thing to bring along with you. So, why not pack a travel kit for your vacation? You’ll be thanking yourself if your kid happens to fall down and split his knee, or if you end up getting allergies due to weather changes.

Whether you want to make yourself a customized first aid kit or buy a pre-packaged one, we guarantee that you won’t regret the decision to bring it on your vacation.

Whether or not you’ve thought about this, glasses and sunglasses cases can be used for much more than just storing your eyewear. Take cables and cords, for instance.

Sure — you can pack those things away in a plastic bag or you can use an eyeglass case instead! If you wear glasses quite often, then you’ll need to pack that case anyway so you might as well make use of it during your flight or travels by storing your cables away.

So, we’ve already gone over a few different packing techniques on this list — from packing cubes to a mega bundle and even Marie Kondo’s method. But, if none of those options tickle your fancy, you could try going for the rolling method.

If you roll your clothes to pack them, then you’re that much closer to becoming a savvy traveler, as well as a packing pro! Simply lay your clothes face down on a flat surface and roll away!

Of course, we all know that travel-sized products are a good option when going on vacation, but don’t forget about samples. Every good shopper knows that department and cosmetics stores offer free samples of cosmetics, perfume, or skincare products, and they just happen to be the ideal size for taking on trips.

Sephora offers perfume samples to take away, and they sell a perfume sampler that includes a range of scents. These are perfect for stashing in your purse while on vacation.

Lest we forget to provide a packing hack for hand luggage, let’s focus on one of the most important packing hacks of all. When traveling anywhere by plane, make sure your hand luggage has important items in case your main suitcase gets lost or delayed.

We recommend packing a pair of pajamas, a change of clothes, some swimwear, and a pair of undies. That will see you through in most situations. As a backup, put an outfit in your travel partner’s luggage.

When packing a suitcase, it’s a good idea to keep certain items grouped together. Once you’ve arrived at your Airbnb or hotel, you don’t want to have to rummage through all of your stuff in search of a Chapstick.

Instead, put essential items like toothpaste, deodorant, contact lenses, and face wash together in one small bag. Likewise, keep medications in their own pouch, cords in their own bag, and types of clothing grouped together. An organized case leads to a much better vacation.

When packing, some people put all of their items directly into their suitcase, but others lay everything out beforehand. We recommend trying the layout, where you place everything in relevant piles so you can clearly see what you’re bringing.

By looking at your possessions in this way, you’ll be able to see if anything is missing, or if you have too much of one thing. You’ll also be able to see if your items match each other, so that you’ll bring coordinated outfits.

So far when we’ve talked about organizing our possessions before packing, we’ve advised that items be packed with other similar items. Shirts with shirts, jeans with jeans, and so on. However, there is another way.

For people that like to be really prepared in advance, one option is to pack your clothes by day. Pack everything you’ll need for each day in a labeled bag, and consider taking a photograph of you wearing the outfit as a reference. It’s what the celebs do.

Thanks to some people with a whole lot of creativity, some junk can actually be reused to achieve great things. In this article, we’re going to take a look at just such creative people, who have a knack for turning old stuff past its prime into brand new things that are fun and interesting.

Want to make a fashion statement that strays away from the traditional ideas and materials most people use? Well, have no fear: bicycle tires can be used if you really want to! Granted, we’re not sure why you would want to do this, but as long as you clean the tires, right…?

Besides, it does look decently snazzy. And that’s all that really matters when it comes to fashion, right?

Certain people are of the mind that bicycles shouldn’t be indoors, but what if you aren’t actually riding them? What if you’re just using them to make furniture? Yes, you too can use a bike indoors if you are just looking to turn it into a bathroom counter.

Of course, this isn’t for everyone, and there are actually a number of interesting things you can do with an old bike. But as far as those options are concerned, this is a pretty fun way to use your old bike if you plan on getting a new one.

Ever feel that the wood you use for your fence could just as easily be used for something else? Well as far as that’s concerned, of course it can! You could make all sorts of things with the wood from your fences if you just cleaned them up a little.

For instance, this individual decided to make a door out of it. By doing this, not only do they save a bit in regards to money, but they can take pride in knowing that they made something so cool all on their own. It’s also a cool story to tell.

Frankly, we’re not entirely sure what type of play table this DIY project is supposed to be, but it is a play table, nevertheless. We have no doubt that there’s a variety of games that could be played on it. Better yet, all it took was some work on a dining table.

Furniture can be used in many ways that they weren’t intended for if you are just creative enough to modify them in one way or another. Next time you are looking to get rid of furniture, instead consider what else you may be able to use it for.

Dead trees are, most often, just turned into paper or some similar product, but there are other things you can do with a dead tree or its stumps. For instance, you could turn them into a floor, like this person did. It looks great, doesn’t it?

Who knows what else you could do in such a style. Could you make a wall like this? Perhaps even a ceiling, or furniture? It would certainly make for an interesting aesthetic across the entire home, but you would probably need to find a couple of dead trees.

When you accidentally get clothes that are too big for you, the first thing that comes to mind is retuning it or giving it away. But you could do other things instead, if you have the necessary skill. For instance, you could take that big shirt and make a dress out of it.

Granted, this probably requires a bit more know-how in regards to clothes and fashion and how to work with it, but even so, it’s an interesting idea that you could probably learn how to do through an internet video or something similar.

Some people like old things, other people don’t. But if you are a fan of the older aesthetic, be it dubbed vintage or classic, it’s easy enough to replicate that aesthetic with just a bit of work and a few resources. Often, paint or some vinyl might be all you need.

When such is the case, you can turn old things into stuff that is new, but merely appears old. Of course, technically this fridge was a vintage one to begin with, but this couple managed to restore it to a state in which it looks as new as it once was.

Most people don’t really feel the need to own a boombox these days, since much better portable music devices are available. But hey, there’s a certain level of appeal available when it comes to boomboxes. They’re a classic. So if you wanted to make your own, what could you use? A suitcase!

All it really requires you to do is have a fitting sized stereo to put in the suitcase, as well as cut some holes into said suitcase that fit the speakers and the buttons you’d need to press. This is actually a cool idea that could give people a way to customize their own boombox.

As far as kitchen utensils go, we understand why people may not want to use something that is beyond a certain age, but that doesn’t mean you have to actually throw old kitchen stuff away. Depending on what it is, you can actually restore it with some effort.

That’s what this person did, taking a rusty pot from an antique shop and realizing that it was mostly superficial. With a bit of effort and some know-how that made all the difference, they were able to turn this rusty pot into a useful utensil once again.

If you are going to have a greenhouse, you may as well do your best to make the whole process as green as possible, right? After all, if you have a bunch of old glass jars lying around, you may as well do something useful with them.

One thing you could do is use those glass jars to make a greenhouse. Walls, ceiling, however you feel like doing it: this may be a task that requires a significant amount of skill and effort, but if you do have the necessary elements, why not, right?

Everyone has favorites. Doesn’t matter what you’re talking about. And when our favorites get old, we tend to get sad, because that means replacing them. But you know, it doesn’t have to be that way. If you have the determination and the right skills, you can turn your old favorites into new favorites.

That’s what this fellow did with his bag, taking the effort to make it usable and fresh again even though it has probably seen better days. Don’t let go of your old stuff just because it’s a little weathered: breathe some new life back into it!

Wooden pallets have a great deal of use in many jobs, but they don’t have to be limited to work alone. With a bit of care and creative talent, you can easily transform a number of wooden pallets to something cool, like a couch. Now pallets often go through some rough times, so getting them up to snuff may be work, but it’s worth it.

After all, put enough time into it and you could make some furniture with a very unique aesthetic that no one else can lay claim to. Or on the other hand, you could possibly provide some inspiration for others that end up visiting your home.

Need a chalkboard for either yourself or your kids? Regardless of the reason for needing one, you can really spruce up a chalkboard by creating a special frame for it: if you have a picture frame that fits, you could use that. Or, you could use the frame from a mirror instead.

Either way, adding a little bit of your own flair to a chalkboard like this is a great way to also add some flair to the home overall. It’s both fun and practical! Not to mention a much better use of an old frame you weren’t going to keep.

Turning old instruments into something new and practical is a hard job, but if you do it right, you can come up with some really cool things that are wholly unique to you and your home. For instance, you can turn an old drum kit into a chandelier.

Definitely not the first thing that comes to mind for most people when it comes time to recycle a drum kit of all things, but it certainly is a pretty cool way to do exactly that. When you think about it, drums are kind of shaped like lamps, aren’t they?

OK, we know this is the third time we’ve mentioned using ladders as shelves in this article. But this one is a little different, as it uses a different type of ladder and also creates a different type of shelf. Just take a look and you’ll see what we mean.

Not only is this a more rustic type of use for a ladder, but it even works on corners! It looks so good that some people may not even recognize it as a ladder right away, which is saying something. We would try this ourselves if we could.

Old folding chairs with little purpose other than being thrown away at this point? There’s no need to do that to the poor things. Instead, you can actually use them as racks or shelves in their own right. Granted, the aesthetic may be a little odd for some.

But it could also be construed as unique and fun. It would definitely draw a lot of attention from guests. Ultimately, this is but one thing you can do with old chairs you don’t need anymore, but it is certainly an interesting and easy one.

Plastic spoons aren’t something that tend to get “old” since you don’t keep them that long. But there is a point you can reach where you just don’t need as many of them as you have, in which case you can do something like this: creating a lamp.

Hot glue and a whole bunch of plastic spoons is all you need to achieve this, as well as some skills in general handicraft. But if you have all of those things, along with some patience, this is a great way to make a unique light out of things you may not have used otherwise.

Old books, journals, or notebooks building up? Wondering how you can use them instead of just throwing them away? Well, consider making a bookshelf: no, not the kind you’re thinking of. A shelf, literally made out of the book. The picture below shows what we mean.

As you can see, this is a great way to create novelty shelves that are both quaint and cute. And better yet, all it requires is your books and things that you can get from just about any store, so it’s easy to do. Naturally, easy to do is our favorite kind of project.

This is yet another thing you can do with old CDs, but it’s a little different than the other ones we’ve mentioned thus far. Instead of using them to make household decorations, you can use them to make… other types of decorations, apparently.

Ironically, CDs are actually quite useful in regards to just making pretty things. They do have that iridescent appeal to them, after all. So if you do have old CDs, consider using them to make some nifty decorations, be it for the house or a holiday.

Paper plates that you don’t need lying around? Instead of throwing them away, consider using them for something like this. You can fold them properly to create little treat baskets that are both cute and practical. It’s easy to do and even the image below will show you how.

Heck, you don’t even have to wait to have old plates to do this with. If you really wanted to, you could just go out and buy some paper plates for a little home project, if you wanted something to do. It would be fun either way.

Whether you play tennis or not, lots of people buy tennis balls for one reason or another. And eventually, those tennis balls get kind of old, and you may be inclined to throw them away. Rather than doing that, you could repurpose them for a variety of different things.

For instance, a simple task of cutting them open could make for a DIY key holder, or you could use them to cover a doorknob, or the legs of some furniture. Either way, tennis balls actually have quite a few ways to be used when they’re no longer good for tennis.

Old chairs can be a little sore on the eyes depending on exactly how old that age is. But it also doesn’t take that much to breathe new life into those chairs. With a little bit of fabric and some paint, you can actually make seemingly old chairs quite good.

That’s actually the good thing about repurposing old stuff for new things: most of the time, you don’t actually have to put that much into the project as far as money is concerned. Of course, time and effort are entirely different things to consider.

Ah, the floppy disk: truly a relic of a bygone computer age. Now, you would be hard pressed to find some way you could use them in the way they were intended: chances are there are no computers these days that could even make use of a floppy disk.

But that just means you have to find a different way to use them. Like many objects that once had practical uses, there are many ways you could use a floppy disk, or several, to create art or artistic additions to your house. This right here if a perfect example.

Sure, you’ve probably heard of the sword cane, but that’s not all that you can build into a cane. This person turned their cane into an amalgamation of gadgets and tools that are super cool. A flashlight, a magnet, a clock, and even some… self-defense options, as it were.

On the other hand, it doesn’t exactly hide the fact that it is special like a sword cane does, but hey, not everything has to be hidden from the eyes of others. Let them know you’re a cool old dude, what of it? If anything, they’ll probably just be curious.

A bit of knowledge on craftsmanship would be absolutely vital in order to turn the old stuff seen here into a coffee table, but assuming that you do indeed have that knowledge, then it is certainly something worth doing with some old wood and chain. Why not?

Besides, it certainly has a particular rustic feel to it, which is something a lot of people are looking for when it comes to home décor. At the very least, it would be very easy to brag to your friends about something you were able to make yourself.

Do you have a lot of bottle caps leftover from somewhere? If you’ve been collecting them, you may have enough lying around to consider this: make some cute little candles out of them! All you need is some wax and some wicks, and this little project is perfectly achievable.

Of course you may need to know a thing or two about making your own candles, but that’s a small price to pay for being able to do this. After all, candles are fun, and with the large variety of bottle caps out there, you could make very unique ones.

Bulletin boards may not be absolutely necessary around the house, but they sure are fun to use regardless! If you want to make a bulletin board that’s really cool, some cork and a frame is all you need. Just take a look at this bulletin board created entirely out of cork.

Not only can you use a bunch of different types of cork to make a bulletin board that looks unique and special, but it’s very easy to pin just about anything you need to cork, which is pretty sturdy. This would be a really fun way to make use of all that old cork lying around, if you have a bunch.

Admittedly, this is a project that would require a degree of knowledge on how to work with metal, because you certainly can’t just grab a wrench and start bending. But if you do have that knowledge and a couple of old wrenches, this is a great way to make some hooks.

It would work especially well for a garage aesthetic, since it might be a little weird in the regular parts of the home. But at the end of the day, it’s a fun project that would be a pretty good way to make use of those old wrenches you don’t use anymore.

Alright, of all the things we mention on this list, this one is admittedly something that would probably require a degree of particular skill and knowledge to achieve. So it isn’t something as easy to do as some of the other things we’ve talked about.

That said, if you have the knowledge and ability to turn old computer parts into a pen or similarly useful utensil, we can’t really see why you shouldn’t. It certainly looks cool, and it is much better than just throwing those old parts away, right?

Speaking of things you can do with wooden pallets, this one is actually a lot less labor intensive. In fact you barely have to do anything with the pallets at all, other than place them at proper angles for what you need. By doing that, you can create an easy bike rack.

As you can see in this picture, it’s actually a very effective, but also very easy, way to create a bike rack, practically requiring no real work or effort at all. So if you have some wooden pallets and don’t know what to do with them, this works.

Computer towers have come a long way these days, with many of them actually looking sleek and attractive, unlike their old counterparts. That being the case, consider the fact that your old computer tower looks an awful lot like a mailbox…

It certainly makes for a very interesting addition to the front of the home, doesn’t it? It’s a great way to show off that computer tower that carried you through the years in which you couldn’t afford something better. The old guard deserves respect, after all.

Sure, a water feature is cool. Sure, a garden is cool. But what about a water feature and a garden inside of an old piano? Yeah, it’s as cool as it sounds. Just take a look! Needless to say, having an old piano is something that does not apply to everyone, but for those that do have one…

Well, this is definitely a super cool thing to do with an old piano, as opposed to scrapping it or donating it (not that donating things is bad). Strangely enough, it even fits into the garden pretty darn well, if we do say so ourselves.

Ladders truly are a very practical and efficient shape, if we’re talking about the A-shaped variety. They can be used in numerous ways if you have just one, but what if you actually have two? If you have two ladders, you can combine them to make all sorts of furniture, like the following.

And that’s really just the beginning. The next time you have some old ladders on your hands that need to have something done with them, consider getting rid of them by actually turning them into something else, rather than just selling them or putting them in storage.

If you are determined to make something really cool, there’s no reason to hold back. Scrap metal has long been a source of creative art around the world, and this guy decided that he was going to go all in with his creations. Making a giant robot out of old scrap? Awesome!

We wish we had the talent and time to do something like that: there’s little doubt that anyone who could put a giant robot in their garage would be the favorite family member for any kids, be it as a grandpa, uncle, or dad. Life critical skills, people!

You know how aquariums and terrariums are just big glass containers? You know how vases, some coffee pots, and a lot of other household items are also just big glass containers? Do you see where this is going already? This guy took his old glass coffee pot and did something super cool with it.

Making a terrarium out of an old coffee pot is definitely not the first thing that comes to mind for most people, but why not? It looks cool, and chances are that most guests would think it was cool as well. So there’s no real harm in something this unique.

Picnic tables are fun, but not always the right size for everyone involved in the picnic. If you have some family of smaller stature, you may notice that it is harder for them to eat at a traditional picnic table. So, why not make your own? Some old skateboards will do.

You really only need four of them to get the job done, two for the top and two for the seats. That said, we most certainly recommend that you thoroughly clean those skateboards before letting anyone eat at this table, for safety if nothing else.

If you know how to cut glass to get the shape you want, then realistically you can use all sorts of things to create your own mirrors. This includes old tennis rackets, if you feel like it. Once the netting in a tennis racket breaks, they can be used for this instead.

It’s a nifty little side project that would require a bit more knowhow in regards to working with glass, but if you could pull it off, it would definitely be fun. Besides, it’s a much better use for those old tennis rackets, isn’t it?

Have lots of unwanted mail? You don’t have to throw it away. Or even if you have mail you do care about, this trick is pretty neat. By using an old wooden window shutter, you could make a unique mail holding device that adds a ton of character to your house!

You can paint it any color you want, put little decorations on it, and store a ton of different letters for a unique addition to the home that is sure to catch the eye of visitors or entertain your children. All around, a great use for an old shutter.

Have some old lightbulbs that are no good for electric light any longer? Rather than just throwing them away, there are some other things you could consider. You could actually help them create light in a new way, by turning them into oil lanterns of a sort.

You might have to do a little research in how to make one of these, but ultimately it isn’t that difficult once you learn how to do it. At any rate, the aesthetic of these lightbulb lanterns is pretty cool. Just have to be careful not to break them!

Paint brushes have a tendency to get old and crusty fast. They are also very hard to clean once they get like that, so a lot of people just throw them away. It doesn’t have to be that way though. With enough creativity, those old brushes can find new meaning.

That meaning could be something like aesthetic or artistic decor for a home, as we see here. Needless to say, this kind of thing adds a lot of personality to a home and really lets people know exactly what kind of person you are without having to say a single word.

Need something to do with all those old magazines you have? If you really want to, you can get pretty weird with it. Believe it or not, you could actually make a stool out of them, if you have just two other things: a cushion of some sort and some belts.

Just stack those magazines, and strap that cushion to them. Voila, easy made stool! Granted, we’re not sure how practical or comfortable this would be compared to a normal stool, but if nothing else, it would make for a pretty cool novelty item.

Corporate meetings aren’t exactly exciting or fun. And even if you have a really cool table, that reality isn’t going to be negated entirely. Still, we imagine that many people would enjoy having a cool table like this to have their meetings at.

How anyone got the authorization to use a jet engine for their table, we’re not sure. But we do know that a table this cool is something we would definitely like to have ourselves if we could. What better way to say that you aren’t like other bosses?

A shelf is really just something to place things on, so when you think about it, there’s actually a lot of ways to make a shelf. There’s a lot of old things you can use to make a shelf instead of throwing them away. For instance, an old ladder is actually a perfect fit.

Sure, you’ll need to touch it up a bit if you want it to look like it belongs in your house rather than your garage, but with a little paint and some elbow grease, that’s easy enough to achieve, as evidenced by this image we have here.

Nothing quite reminds us of previous eras like the vehicles of old. Old cars carry with them the spirit of their decade, the design philosophy we held back then. Unfortunately, not everyone cares for classics, and some of those iconic vehicles get scrapped.

That’s where the creative people of the world come in. This guy and his stepfather figured that there was no reason to let this van remain a junker when they could do something amazing and restore it. Kudos to them for putting in the effort!