You spend most of your time sleeping so it’s only natural to get the best bed sheets available. You spend a good amount of money to make sure they’re soft, comfortable, and long-lasting.
However, like most of the things you have at home, bed sheets are bound to get old. And once they reach that point, it’s easy to think that you can just throw them out and just buy new ones.
Well, here’s the thing. There’s actually a lot of ways you can repurpose your bed sheets. From making new dresses to using them as duvet covers, this list has great ideas you can use to save your sheets from the dump.
1. Give new life to an old piece of furniture
Cut up pieces of your old sheets, and use Mod Podge to adhere them to furniture or your walls. You can even try different patterns for each drawer on a dresser, as detailed
here.
Why throw away an old, beautifully patterned sheet when you can make something useful out of it. Create a beautiful maxi dress from old bed sheets by following this video tutorial.
Make an adorable apron from your old sheets. All you need is scissors and a needle and threat. Watch the tutorial video to learn how to do this great project.
4. Build your own draft catcher
Put an end to the drafts in your house by making a draft catcher from your old sheets. Learn how to make one
here.
5. Make a plastic bag holder
If your cabinets are overrun with plastic shopping bags, you can use your old sheets to make a plastic bag holder. Check out the video to find out how to complete this useful project.
6. Create beautiful covers for your hangers
Make your hangers look nicer by covering them with fabric. In addition, the hangers should hold your clothing better this way. You can find a tutorial
here.
7. Make vintage headbands
These vintage oversized headbands were made with fabric from old sheets. You can find a quick tutorial
here.
8. Create covers for your plants
If the weather is going to drop unexpectedly, you can use your old sheets to cover your plants so they stay warm. The material should hold in the heat from the soil below and keep your larger plants from freezing. Use a cold gardening frame for the best results.
9. Make a sleeping bag liner
Fold a sheet in half and sew around the sides to create this sleeping bag liner that is perfect for when you go camping or anywhere else you want a barrier between you and the bed. Check out how to make this DIY project
here.
10. Create reusable cleaning rags
Cut up your sheets, and use the pieces as reusable cleaning rags instead of wasting paper towels. This works really well with more absorbent materials, such as cotton or even bamboo.
11. Craft a shower curtain
Brighten your bathroom by using a colorful bed sheet to add some color. With a little sewing, you can craft your colored bed sheet into a colorful shower curtain. You can find the tutorial
here.
12. Make a pleated bed skirt
Turn a favorite old bed sheet into a beautiful, pleated bed skirt. Not only will the skirt probably go along with your current decor, but it is also simple to make. You can find the directions
here.
13. Sew a pair of pajama bottoms
Get even more use out of your old bed sheets by turning them into a pair of pajama bottoms. You can find the tutorial for how to craft a pair of pajama bottoms out of an old bed sheet
here.
You can save old bed sheets and other scraps of fabric to make a rag rug. You can find out how to make this colorful area rug
here.
15. Build your very own bed sheet crib mobile
Another great use for an old bed sheet is to make a hanging crib mobile for a baby. You can find a tutorial for this project
here.
16. Turn Them Into Reusable Shopping Bags
If you don’t want to waste plastic bags, you can make shopping bags from your old sheets to create reusable shopping bags. Find out how to repurpose your old sheets into shopping bags in the following video.
17. Make customized pillowcases
You can repurpose your old bed sheets into pillowcases. For this project, cut equal sizes of your sheets to the size you want your pillow to be, sew around the edges, and turn them inside out to create brand new pillowcases. You can find the tutorial
here.
18. Craft a braided dog toy
Cut your sheets into strips and braid it into a toy that your dog will love. Learn out how to make a DIY tug and chew toy in the following video.
19. Use as a movie screen
You can use an old, white sheet as a movie screen and host movie nights if you have a projector. Hang it from somewhere overhead and let it hang down, but first make sure it doesn’t have any holes in it.
You can also make some beautiful curtains from your fitted sheets in just minutes. The following video shows you how to make curtains using your old bed sheets.
An easy way to use an old sheet is to turn it into a garment bag. Check out this
tutorial to find out more.
22. Use as bird nesting material
Cut your old bed sheets up into small strips and hang them up around your yard in the spring. Birds will take the fabric and weave it into their nests, making them more colorful.
Liven up the wall of your nursery or other room by adding a little color using old bed sheets. Find out how to create this wonderful DIY wall hoop art
here.
24. Create double-sided placemats
Another cool project for repurposing your old sheets for is turning them into double-sided placemats. Find how to make this useful project
here.
Cut up your old bed sheets to make patches for creating a rustic quilt. Just make sure to brush up on your quilting skills
here before beginning.
26. Turn an old bed sheet into a fitted sheet
Use a little elastic, an old bed sheet, and your sewing skills to extend the life of your sheets by turning them into fitted sheets. You can find an easy-to-follow how-to guide
here.
27. Make a fabric-covered bangle
Turn any beautiful, old bed sheet fabric into a chic bangle for your wrist. Simply take a plastic bangle and cover it with the fabric from your old sheets, as shown
here.
28. Create a handbag liner
Spice up an old bag or DIY handbag project by using your old bed sheets as an inside liner. All it takes is a little determination and sewing know-how, though this
tutorial might help.
29. Create a beautiful fabric gift wrap
Repurpose your old bed sheets as a fabric gift wrap. Top off the gift with a matching bow or ribbon. Check out this
DIY hack to find out how to spruce up your gifts using your old bed sheets.
30. DIY teepee for your child
Another great use for an old bed sheet is to make a teepee play area for your child. Easy to make, check
here to find out how.
31. Use an old sheet on a picnic
An old sheet makes a great ground cover in a pinch while on a picnic. Just fold the old sheet and place it in your car trunk. Then, if you find yourself on an impromptu picnic with nothing to cover the ground, simply pull out the old sheet and use it.
32. Donate your old bed sheets
While your old sheets might seem useless to you, many others who are less fortunate would jump at the chance to own them. So, instead of throwing them in the trash, donate your old sheets to a local charity.
33. Turn an old sheet into a seat cover
Protect the backseat of your car by taking an old sheet and placing it over the seat, safeguarding it from spills and other messes. Preferably, you want to use a fitted sheet, but a regular sheet works as well.
You can take an old sheet and repurpose it as bedding for your pets. Simply wrap any cushioning you have in your pet’s bed in the sheet, or use it to line the floor of a cage.
35. Make a colorful bulletin board cover
Take an unfaded sheet and cover a bulletin board to make a colorful cover. In addition to looking snazzy, you can still pin items to the bulletin board through the material. Check out how to do this project in more detail
here.
36. Use to collect leaves in the fall
An old sheet makes a great way to get rid of the leaves in your yard. Simply rake the leaves and place them on the sheet spread out on the ground, gather the corners of the sheet and drag the leaves to where you want.
Make clothing for a favorite doll using old bed sheets. To find out more on how to complete this easy, DIY project, check
here.
38. Turn into an ironing board cover
You can take an old sheet and turn it into an ironing board cover. This
tutorial walks you through the steps for making an ironing board cover using an old sheet.
39. Turn old bed sheets into compost
To really get some use out of your old bed sheets, cut them up into small pieces and place them into the compost pile. The cotton material should easily degrade in five to six months.
40. Use old bed sheets as drop cloths
Save your old bed sheets, and the next time you paint you’ll have some readymade drop cloths for your floors and furniture. When you finish painting, just throw the old bed sheets in the trash for easy disposal or wash them for reuse.
41. Bedsheet shelf covers
Similar to using ModPodge to cover boring dresser drawers, you can transform bland and boring shelving into something a bit more bright and cheery. Once again, ModPodge makes this craft super easy to do.
42. Cute outdoor tents for the kids
We’ve shared with you how to make a teepee or a fort for the kiddos using some old bedsheets, but these adorable outdoor tents take the cake. You’ll just need a hula hoop, some old sheets, and a few extra supplies. Head over to the Alanna George blog to find out how to make your own.
43. Sew a floral Spring dress
Do you have some old floral sheets that just don’t quite fit your decor? If the design is pretty enough, you can make a beautiful Spring outfit with them. The lightweight material of the sheet is perfect for those warm Spring.
Trevor Loves Mommy can show you how.
If you don’t have enough space for a laundry hamper in your room, fashion a fabric laundry bag to keep in your closet instead. Once it’s full, just haul the bag to the washing machine or the laundry mat! The
Momtastic blog has the
tutorial for you.
Tote bags are so handy and convenient for many things–grocery shopping, a weekend getaway, a day trip to the beach, the list goes on! Get creative with your old sheets and sew your own–it’s actually much easier than you think. Watch the video tutorial below.
With some basic sewing skills, you can transform your favorite bedsheets into cloth napkins that you can use for years to come. Head over to
Design Sponge for the step-by-step instructions.
Heating pads are wonderful for aches and pains or when you’re feeling under the weather. But, they can be expensive if you buy them from the store. Make your own by cutting two identical rectangles from a sheet and sewing three sides together. Fill the pouch with rice or dry beans then sew shut. Simply microwave when needed. You can even add some essential oils for a lovely scent when heated.
48. Make a tunic or smock for crafting
If you plan on getting messy doing crafts or painting a room, use an old bed sheet as a makeshift tunic or smock. All you need to do is cut a hole in the middle of the sheet for your head and wear it to keep your clothes clean.
49. Keep in your car for emergencies
It’s always a good idea to have an emergency kit in your car and a bedsheet should be part of it. You never know when you have to change a tire and kneel down on dirty pavement. It’s also great for cleaning up spills or god forbid–if you have to sleep in your car.
50. Help your kids build a fort
Most of us have fond memories of building forts as a kid. Help create lasting memories for the little ones in your family by using your old bedsheets to build forts in their room or play area.
51. The classic ghost costume
For decades and decades people have been using the trusty bedsheet to make a simple ghost costume. All you need to do is cut out some holes for the eyes and it’s as simple as that!
Are your friends throwing a toga party? Well, here’s an obvious answer–use a bedsheet! Stand out from the crowd by using bright colors or patterns.
53. Transform them into a duvet cover
Two sheets sewn together make a wonderful duvet cover. This is great for when you have too many sheets of the same color. Or, just head to the secondhand store, give them a wash, and you’re good to go! My Poppet has the
instructions.
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You spend most of your time sleeping so it’s only natural to get the best bed sheets available. You spend a good amount of money to make sure they’re soft, comfortable, and long-lasting.
However, like most of the things you have at home, bed sheets are bound to get old. And once they reach that point, it’s easy to think that you can just throw them out and just buy new ones.
Well, here’s the thing. There’s actually a lot of ways you can repurpose your bed sheets. From making new dresses to using them as duvet covers, this list has great ideas you can use to save your sheets from the dump.
