In today's day and age, we're always being told to reduce, reuse, and recycle - but what about repurposing? Upcycling is becoming a huge trend and something that helps breathe new life into old and often forgotten things. So, while it's easy to throw away old tin cans, you might want to think twice next time before shoving them in the recycling bin. It turns out there are endless ways to repurpose these simple containers into decor, storage, and more. All you need is a little DIY skill, some old tin cans, and the useful tips and tricks we've gathered here.
Hanging Hairbrush Storage
When you have your hairbrush, hair dryer, makeup bag, toothbrush, and other items on your vanity unit, the whole space can become cluttered and dirty. Thankfully, some old tin cans can help you with that! Although you might not have realized it, hollow tin cans are the perfect size to hold hairbrushes - especially when you're short on space. And all you have to do is remove the top and bottom and decorate it how you please.
Then, you can simply hang these tin cans on the wall. This will allow your hairbrushes to hang with ease but also be ready for whenever you need them next.
Make Nautical Rope Vases
Most people like to commit to a theme when they're decorating their houses. Some go for minimal and modern, others go for cottage chic, and then there are those who can't get enough of nautical. If you're one of those people, take a look at this hack to repurpose old cans! This crafty project is incredibly easy, and all you have to do is glue rope around the outside of the can.
Finish off the nautical vase with the flowers of your choice, and place wherever you'd like in the home. If you want a top tip, though, opt to decorate different-sized vases for the best effect.
Keep Your Cutlery Organized
There's nothing more annoying than opening up a cutlery drawer and seeing the forks and the knives caught amongst themselves. The whole drawer looks messy and uninviting, which is why it's always a good idea to organize them in some way. And while you could buy a cutlery organizer, why not make your own instead? After all, it turns out that you can recycle tin cans and make your own cutlery organizer.
You can use however many old tin cans you need to bring this idea to life, and you can even decorate them however you'd like. We love the copper in the photo above, though!
Hang Unique Decorative Planters
If you have a large tree in your yard, or you only have a balcony on which to hang things, hanging planters give you the option to jazz up your outside space. But who wants boring hanging planters? If you have old tin cans lying around, you can use these to your advantage and make your own personal hanging planters that suit your space and your style. And the hanging planter world is your oyster.
Whether you want to stick with a floral theme or you want to turn your planters into a disco ball, the choice is yours. Just remember to fill them with plants!
Create the Perfect Mini Pie Cases
If you love pie as much as the next guy (who really loves pie), you'll know that nothing compares to the smell and the taste of a homemade pie. But no matter whether you love apple pie or meat pie, sometimes making a whole family-sized pie is way too over the top. To combat that, you can repurpose some old tins you have lying around the house and make mini pies instead.
Yes, these recycled tin cans work perfectly as little pie cases. They're great for people who love solo, but they'd also be great to hand out at your next dinner party!
Make a Working Tin Grill
There are two kinds of people in this world; there are those who hate camping, and then there are those who can think of nothing better than immersing themselves in nature and living a simple life for a weekend. If you're part of the latter category, you might be interested to know that you can actually make your own working tin grill using any tin cans you might have left over.
It's pretty easy to do this, too. Using scissors, simply cut 3/4 of the tin can down into strips, folding them out to create the grill shape. Then, cover in aluminum foil and hot coats and cook!
Create a Bespoke Lampshade
If you're the kind of person who hates the idea of buying something that someone you know already has in their house, the concept of making your own bespoke pieces probably floats your boat. So, why not make your own bespoke lampshades? To do this, you can repurpose old tin cans and turn them into an intricate light with one-of-a-kind cut-outs that make it stand out from any other lampshade in the world.
To do this, take an old tin can and use scissors, a knife, and a hammer to create your own personal design. You can go as wild or as subtle as you want with this.
Engraved Candle Holders
Looking for the perfect gift for someone? Look no further! If you're not good at handmade gifts but want to give them something special from the heart, you'll be happy to know that it's very easy to make these letter candle holders. All you have to do is wash some old tin cans, paint them in the color of your choice, and then punch out some holes to create your desired letter, words, or design.
When you pop a candle inside, it creates a warm and charming effect that you just can't get from store-bought candle holders. And you could even spell out entire words, too.
Make a Colorful Pencil Holder
There are two kinds of people in the world: there are organized people and then there are unorganized people. But if you're an organized person looking for a new colorful DIY project or you're an unorganized person trying to make some organizational changes, we have a feeling that this colorful pencil holder will do the trick. And the best part? You can decorate it however you like without having to put in too much work.
You don't have to cut anything to bring this idea to life. Simply wash out an old tin can before decorating it with painter's tape, spray paint, or wrap it in paper.
Put Together a One-Of-A-Kind Wine Rack
Although it's incredibly easy to buy your own wine rack, there's nothing quite like making something yourself. And if you have some old tin cans lying around, you can do just that! In fact, this is pretty handy if you're someone who is looking to start a wine collection, as you can add more and more tin cans to the rack as your collection grows. It's also pretty quirky, right?
Making this is pretty simple, and you can decorate this wine rack however you'd like. Plus, you get the chance to brag about your creation when your friends come around for cheese and wine night.
Create Cute Little Lawn Critters
It's important to note that choosing to repurpose tin cans doesn't always have to have a practical outcome. Sometimes, you can choose to recycle these tins purely for the fun of it - and what's better than spending time with your family creating these cute little lawn critters? Sure, they don't necessarily serve a purpose, but they will allow you to sit down with your kids and spend some quality time together.
Painting these bugs in bright colors will really help them pop against the brown earth or the green grass, and they have the added bonus of looking super cute, too.
Craft an Industrial Lamp
Industrial chic is something that some people just can't get enough of. But what you might not have realized is that old tin cans lend themselves extremely well to this decor style. And while you could spend thousands buying an industrial lamp from a store, you could also save yourself some serious cash by making it yourself. All you need to do is use the tin can as the lampshade!
Of course, a little bit of DIY skill would be handy to attach the lampshade to the rest of the lamp, but the general idea is a very simple one. And it looks very effective.
Make a Handy Tool Holder
If you're someone who likes to buy larger tin cans, you might not know what to do with these bigger tins. Do you just throw them in the trash? Do you just recycle the tin cans? Well, it turns out that you can still repurpose them! Although these bigger cans are a little too big for pencils and paintbrushes, they can come in very handy if you want to organize your tools or your sewing kit.
This person has even attached pouches to the side of their repurposed tin can to add extra storage space for all of their scissors, measuring tape, and cutting tools. Pretty neat, huh?
Attach Planters to Your Fence
If you have a boring fence in your backyard, have you ever considered adorning it with some homemade planters? This cheap and easy DIY hack is perfect for those who want to recycle tin cans and repurpose them into something useful, as you can stick as many as you'd like onto your fence and use them in a way that works for you. Of course, the easiest option would be to plant some flowers.
But this would be great for someone looking to create their own herb planter or for someone who wants to grow seasonal fruits and vegetables on a smaller scale. It's so cute!
Make Your Own Rocket Stove
Is there anything cooler than a rocket stove? No, we thought not. Whether you love camping or you just want to test out your survival skills, making your own rocket stoves is one of the best ways to ensure that you have fire no matter where you are. And it turns out that it's pretty easy to DIY! You can simply recycle your old cans - with a little bit of elbow grease thrown in for good measure.
To do this, you'll need to find a few old cans of different sizes. But once you have them to hand, all you need to do is work on fixing them together and allowing space for the fuel and the flames.
Add in Some Soft, Ambient Lighting With Tuna Cans
If the 'big light' gives you a headache, you're not alone. As the nights get darker and the winters get colder, there's nothing better than filling your home with a warm glow rather than a big bright light. And while there are so many different ways to do that, we love the idea of repurposing tuna cans to add some soft, ambient lighting to your house. You'll need a knife for this hack, though.
When you've got a knife, you can cut slices of the tin can off and decorate them how you please. Then, simply attach them to the wall and pop in a candle!
Craft a Tiered Organizer
If you're looking for a way to add storage to any space in your home without having to shell out a hefty fortune, why not put together these simple tiered organizers? You can acquire different-sized cans, whether from repurposed purchases or from the dollar store and DIY them into the cutest standing organizer. Depending on what you want it for, you can make different sizes ranging from small to big.
You can use a smaller one for storing things like hair ties or cotton balls in the bathroom. Or a medium-sized one for storing jewelry on your vanity. The possibilities are endless! Tiered cookie tray server, anyone?
Make Your Own Bird Feeder
Everyone should try and encourage wildlife in their garden, and while there are so many products you can buy in stores to bring birds and squirrels into your yard, you could also try and make them yourself! Yes, if you want to make your own bird feeder, you don't need anything fancy to do so. All you need is an old tin can, some paint, and some string to hang it up in your yard.
To do this, cut off half of the lid and the bottom of the tin can so the birds can get the seed inside. Then, hang the rope inside of it so you can hang the whole thing up.
DIY Wall Art
Some people love filling their homes with inspirational wall art that encourages them to live, laugh, and love and reminds them to have hope. If you're one of those people, you might be interested to know that you can actually make these signs yourself using old tin cans. First, you need to cut down the middle of the tin can and roll it out so you have a flat surface. Then, you can personalize it with any slogan or artistic design that you want.
To write your inspirational words or quotes, you just need a hammer, a nail, and a steady hand! You can then attach it to some wood to affix to the wall.
Rustic Vase Inspired by Nature
We've discussed wrapping tin cans in things like rope, but what about going the extra mile for that rustic feel by covering an everyday tin can in sticks? You can either go to your local craft store for nature's imitation or scavenge your local park for sticks yourself. Then, simply hot glue them around the tin can. While you probably want your sticks to be similar in size, they don't have to be the exact same.
Having the sticks' heights vary slightly adds to the rustic and natural look of the vase. Now, you can use it for anything from flowers to planters.
Make a Kid's Throwing Game
The tin can hacks in this list can be used to make your life easier by storing your items safely and offering you planters for your flowers. But let's not forget that these old tin cans can also be used for fun! You can go old-school with your tin cans and make your very own kid's throwing game, and you don't even need anything fancy to bring this idea to life.
All you need to do is attach some rope to tin cans and hang them from a stick or pole. Then, your kids need to work hard to try and throw a ball into the can!
Magnetic Pencil Holders
Is there anything more annoying than not having a pencil or pen on hand when you need it most? Because these small stationery items are normally loose around the house, they move from one room to the next without anyone keeping track of where they've gone. But you can stop that from happening by creating these magnetic pencil holders using old tin cans that you have lying around the house.
This handy hack doesn't require too many tools, either. You just need some tin cans, the decorations of your choice, and some self-adhesive magnets. Then, you can stick them to the side of your refrigerator.
DIY a Planter Mobile
When you think of mobiles, you probably think of the colorful and bright mobiles that hang above a baby in a cot. But who says mobiles should be reserved for babies? If you want to add brightness to your garden, it's super easy to make your own mobile planter using old tin cans. And all you need to bring this idea to life is some tin cans, an old drying rack, and the paint of your choice.
The best thing about this idea is the fact that it should whizz around in the wind, creating a unique and impressive feature in your backyard. This idea isn't for everyone, but we think it's super cool!
Create Your Own Christmas Tree Ornaments
When the festive period comes around, it can be easy to head to the local store and stock up on decorations. But what if we told you that you could save yourself some money by choosing to recycle tin cans instead? If you love a rugged and industrial look, old tin cans can add a real statement to your Christmas tree. Plus, making these things is a fun activity for the whole family to do.
To do this, you can go as big or as small as you want. But we'd always suggest using scissors or pliers to poke holes and cut patterns out of the can so you can pop a candle in and light up your tree.
Decorate Your Garden With a Tin Man
If you have a whole load of old tin cans lying around in your garage and you're not quite sure what to do with them, why don't you try and make your own sculpture? This tin man figure will look amazing in the yard or on your front porch and is the perfect way to add a touch of whimsy to your outside space. Plus, you have the option of standing it upright or hanging it from a tree.
Of course, making this tin man figure will be a little more difficult than some of the other hacks on this list. But it'll certainly be worth it when you see the end result.
Have Your Own Indoor Herb Garden
Many people around the world are trying to be more self-sufficient, and growing your own fruit, vegetables, and herbs is a great way to do that. But if you don't have a lot of outside space to grow these things, what can you do? Well, you could make yourself your own indoor hanging herb garden using some old tin cans. To do this, you just need to attach some tin cans to a stick using some string and pot some herbs.
Of course, you don't have to make it that simple. You could also take the opportunity to jazz the whole thing up and decorate your herb pots to your taste.
Hang up a Wind Chime
So many people have wind chimes in their backyards, especially as these items were originally designed to ward off evil spirits and to keep any bad luck at bay. And if you've always wanted to add a wind chime to your property, now could be your chance. You don't have to buy one of these ready-made chimes from the store, though. You can make one yourself by recycling tin cans!
This idea works best if you have different-sized tin cans, as you can layer them on top of each other to create a bigger design. Remember to add some color to your design, too!
Make Your Own Music Speakers
Mixing tin cans with technology sounds like a match made in hell, but you might be surprised to learn that tin cans have been at the forefront of technology for years. In fact, tin cans inspired the modern-day telephone we now use on a daily basis! Not only that, but you can still make your own working tin music speakers today if you want to. And it's a handy way to recycle tin cans.
The best bit about this hack is the fact that you can decorate your speaker to your own personal taste, something you can't do when you buy a speaker from the store.
Turn Cans Into Makeup Holders
We all know that tin cans are ultimately desired as a way to store food products. But who says that you then have to re-use them for the same purpose? Due to their shape and size, tin cans lend themselves well to storing all kinds of things - including makeup brushes. So, if you want to keep your makeup brushes off your bathroom counter and in one place, you might find this tin can hack extremely handy.
You can decorate these tin cans however you'd like, and you can even paint them in a way that matches your bathroom decor if you want to. The choice is yours to make.
Craft a Decorative Dog Sculpture
Most parents will know that you can spend a fortune on branded toys, only for your child to fall in love with a stick they found on the floor. So, why not bypass that whole charade by making your kids cool and quirky toys from old tin cans you have lying around the house? You can craft a toy dog fairly easily, as long as you have some tin cans you can recycle and some extra springs, wheels, and chains in your garage.
If you really want to create a long-lasting toy, you should probably weld these things together. But super glue should also do the trick if you want more of a temporary measure.
Brighten up Your Door With a Wreath
When you look down your street, you might see that every single house looks the same. The construction is almost identical; you all have the same windows, and you probably all have the same doors. But if you want to make your house stand out from the crowd, you can repurpose tin cans to create this beautiful wreath display. And it's pretty easy to bring this crafty idea to life, too.
All you need to do is connect the sides of the tin cans to create the circular, and then tie it all together before attaching it to a hook.
Make Some Colorful Planters
If you want to add some plants to your garden but you're not sure how, why don't you give this idea a try? These colorful planters can be added anywhere in your garden, from a stump like this to the fences surrounding the perimeter of your property. The best part? You can decorate these any way you'd like and create as many as you'd like, depending on how many tin cans you have lying around.
It's important that you clean and dry your tin cans before starting this DIY project, but when you've done that, you can fill them with the plants of your choice and attach them anywhere you'd like.
A Scarecrow for Your Garden
If your garden is constantly being terrorized by birds, foxes, and other pesky critters, there's a high chance that a scarecrow will work in your favor. But it's a lot of work to make your own scarecrow using burlap sacks and straw. So, use old tin cans instead! If you have some spare tins lying around, join them together, draw a face on the head, and paint on some clothes to make it look realistic.
Of course, no scarecrow would be complete without a hat - but you'll probably need to raid your own closet to dig one of those out. We don't know how you'd make a hat from old tin cans!
Fill Your Own Planters
If you live in an apartment and don't have outside space or if you don't want to dig into the ground, planters are a great option for those who want to add some greenery to their lives. But instead of spending your hard-earned money on some store-bought planters, why don't you make them instead? Of course, you can do this with any old tin cans - but the bigger, the better.
You can go as basic or as flamboyant as you want with the decorations on these planters, but mostly, all you need to focus on is filling them with soil and your plants - and, of course, making sure they're watered!
Quirky Pencil Holders
You can never have too many pencil holders, right? Tin cans are perfectly shaped for this job, thanks to their size, their shape, and their general sturdiness. This can make them a great addition to any office desk or child's playroom. The added bonus with this tin can pencil holder hack is the fact that you can also decorate them in the way that you want to - using the paintbrushes and pencils you have stored in them!
We love this quirky and vintage-feeling design. Just remember to wash the tins out before you use them for your stationery.