185 Upcycling Ideas That Will Turn Your Trash Into Treasures

Instead of a cup, drink from a mason jar. They're really cool to serve your homemade mixed drinks in when guests come over.

Give new life to an old atlas with these upcycled map tile coasters.

If you're looking for a planter, opt for a mason jar instead of opaque pots. It's cool to actually see the soil, and it'll give your home an earthy vibe.

Turn plastic bags into yarn, or plarn, and then knit it into a bag that you can use for all purposes.

Transform an old picture frame into something really special with the help of Mod Podge and an old atlas. Get the DIY for this cute map frame here.

Instead of tossing it in the recycling, give a plastic container a quick refresh and upcycle it into smart kitchen storage.

With a bit of work, you can make rustic chandeliers out of mason jars. For an easier DIY route, use candles instead of electrical lighting.

Buy this mason jar chandelier ($90) on Etsy.

Make paper rose decorations to add an interesting twist to items including gifts, Christmas tree ornaments, and wreaths.

Buy a really cheap lamp and glue a map around the shade. Or you can even cut the map into strips and glue it onto the shade for a shaggy effect. The thinner the map, the better the light shines through, so you might want to use the nonglossy kind for this project.

You'll need some hardware (and oil and the proper flame) to pull this one off, but a tiki torch made from wine bottles is a fun way to light up your outdoor space. If all else fails, placing the right-size candle in the bottle neck will get the job done, too.

Find a cute strand of colored rope (or dye brown rope with food coloring) and wrap it around a container with a hot glue gun.

Use small bits of flowers and plants as decorative items and insert them a vial necklaces to make this stunning jewelry piece.

Buy this terrarium pendant ($25) on Etsy.

Turn empty old almond milk bottles into easy vases or plant holders.

Terrariums are cheap to make, and they're a nice way to add some greenery to the home or even the office. Using a mason jar to store the plant arrangement is a nice twist on the traditional terrarium holders.

Chase bugs away with this cute orange candle.

If you have unused colorful construction paper in your home, turn the unwanted scraps into a beautiful paper flower chandelier. Simply cut out leaf and flower shapes and attach each piece to a hanging light or lampshade.

These cookie cutters will perfectly shape your candles.

Put plastic straws to good use when you craft them into a playful lampshade. Just glue them to an existing lampshade, and watch it come to life.

Take bamboo skewers and put them in a bottle filled with essential oil, rubbing alcohol, and more for a neat scent diffuser.

Making your own candle topper is simpler than you might think: all it takes is cutting off the bottom of a used wine bottle and securing it over a tea light candle and base.

Turn an old towel into a travel kit for your toiletries that you can also use to wash your face with!

All you need are a few paper bags and a foam round for making this pretty Fall wreath that will look great on your front door.

Hollow out corks to make cute planters. Get the DIY for these succulent wine corks here — they're even magnets!

Along with being a fun way to upcycle your favorite daily read, this DIY only costs a few dollars to make.

Tear out old book pages to make greeting cards. The background is suitable for all types of occasions — birthdays, graduations, and more.

Buy these homemade cards ($4) on Etsy.

Corks make the perfect material for stamps. You can carve them, and they will be able to absorb ink well enough for stamping.

Don't toss your bottle caps! Turn them into mini candles.

Take an old water jug and turn it into a great garden tool to water your plants.

Don't toss that big cardboard container of salt or sugar if you're almost finished with it. Repurpose the top into a cute mason-jar seasoning shaker. This DIY project costs less than a few dollars to make and is a great way to spruce up your kitchen without investing in expensive containers.

For pieces unique to you, dress your Christmas tree up in homemade cork ornaments.

Punch little shapes out of leaves, paint chips, book pages, and anything else you can find to make lovely confetti for a party or wedding.

Turn a soup can into a cute container by sticking buttons on it and adding a coat of spray paint.

Spray-paint a mason jar, and it'll be a colorful addition to your desk as a pen holder. Get the DIY here.

Such an easy DIY project, and yet, so pretty! Spruce up a wine bottle with a doily to turn it into an interesting centerpiece.

Punch out pretty shapes in your paint chips and string them together to make a pretty ombré chandelier.

You can bake cakes in mason jars and give them away as party favors or gifts. These cake jars are also great for portion control!

There's nothing sadder than when one of your favorite teacups or coffee mugs ends up with a crack or chip. But instead of tossing out your beloved drinking cup, transform it into a sweet candle.

A denim wallet will keep your money and important cards safe.

Dye and scent rice to use in pretty candle holders.

Protect tabletops with these smart-looking coasters that insulate surfaces from the heat of your mugs.

Roll up your calendar, newspaper, or magazine pages to create fun paper beads that you can string up to make necklaces and bracelets. Instructions here.

Buy this newspaper bead necklace ($34) on Etsy.

Upcycle a mason jar into this cool butterfly moss lamp.

Frame some burlap for a unique jewelry organizer.

Use the cover of an old book to create a cover for your ereader. It's perfect for the nostalgic bookworm who made the transition from paper to digital.

Buy this Kindle tablet cover ($34) on Etsy.

Turn your old pill bottle into a quarter holder which you can store in your car for convenience.

Put those old shirts to good use and DIY your own pop-up cleaning wipes.

Take the plastic produce mesh bags and turn them into efficient pot scrubbers.

Going on a trip, but can't lug your big bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and more along? Create these single-use travel packets from straws as a smart solution!

Create a map pendant with a cutout of your favorite spot on the map. You can paint the piece with lacquer or glue a glass gem on top to make it more durable.

Make statement necklaces with denim for a bold piece of jewelry.

Instead of throwing glass jars into the recycling bin, upcycle those pasta and condiment containers into chic organizers. Here's how.

Have a big collection of plastic bags hiding under your kitchen sink? Upcycle them into a seriously beautiful and unique holiday wreath that only costs just a few dollars to make. Along with creating something to celebrate the season, you're repurposing something that you'd normally trash — and you can't beat that!

Turn an old alcohol bottle into a trendy and unique soap dispenser that everyone will love.

Braid plastic bags together to make a basket. Get more instructions here.

If you've got a stack of magazines and newspapers cluttering a corner of your home, a paper garland is the perfect project for transforming them into something really sweet.

Poke holes on the lid of a milk jug to turn it into a handy watering can. Just fill it up with water and pour away!

Turn old book pages into gift tags that you can attach to presents to better personalize them.

Buy these book page tags ($3) on Etsy.

Save your cans from the recycling bin and upcycle them into rope-covered cans that look awesome holding all your pencils and pens. Get the DIY here.

It's not the nightlight from your childhood, that's for sure, but these additions would make the perfect accents for an outdoor party. Find an old wine bottle and fill it with stringed bulbs so that the light reflects the color of the design. Look for small batteries or an outlet to make it light up.

They might look like lemon candy, but they're actually supercute lemon soaps! Instead of throwing away lemon rinds, make these homemade soaps for brighter, softer hands.

Crochet plastic bags into little shapes. You can use these to scrub dishes, pots, and other cookware.

Buy these pot scrubbers ($12) on Etsy.

Setting your table to impress doesn't have to involve pricey napkin holders. Just wrap some twine or rope about each napkin and personalize everyone's place by adding a small initial detail to complete the look.

Use the ends of soda bottles to create this nifty wallet.

Would you guess that these wedding-favor boxes used to be toilet paper tubes? Add this to your list of budget-friendly wedding ideas.

Hollow out one of your old books to hide your cash and other valuables. No one will ever guess your secret hiding place! Get the DIY here.

Flatten and bend spoons, and then nail them onto wooden planks to make a really cool-looking spoon rack.

Buy these spoon racks ($36) on Etsy.

Travel with this compact candle to fill your hotel room with beautiful scents.

If you had a particularly rough week, you'll want nothing more than a steaming, relaxing bath. But why use expensive store-bought bath products when you can make your own? Try this bath salt DIY using withered flowers from Mother's Day or any special occasion.

Smell the roses with these DIY coffee-filter roses.

Stick cute notes on your fridge with these glitter clothespin magnets.

We seriously heart these bookmarks made from old denim.

Look at this adorable family of honey bears — doesn't it remind you of the story of the three bears? Upcycle your empty honey bear bottles and turn them into your new favorite multifunctional decor pieces.

Keep your camera secure and fabulous by making this chic camera strap using a scarf.

Keep your phone and wires in place with this charging station made from a plastic bottle.

Plastic spoons left over from a party? DIY this candleholder to make good use of them.

Turn an old tie into an exciting new phone case.

Your guests won't know that these party pom-poms are made from plastic bags!