13 surprising ways to repurpose old sheets and blankets at home
Read this before you toss those worn-out sheets!
Most people assume that when their sheets are no longer comfortable for sleeping on, the sensible thing to do is to throw them out. But designers and sustainability pros want you to think twice about that. There are plenty of ways to repurpose old sheets and blankets, including ones that are pilled, stained or have a few holes.
If you have sewing skills, it’s easy to take your old sheets and upcycle them into something new, like a set of curtains or a throw pillow. If you don’t know how to sew, there are still plenty of ways you can make use of your old sheets or blankets. You can cut them up to use in place of cleaning cloths, use them to wrap gifts, frame them for a piece of striking wall art, or put them to use as tablecloths. Last but not least, you can always donate your old bedsheets and blankets to animal charities. Many shelters will use donated sheets to make spaces warm and cosy for the animals until they find their forever home.
If you’ve recently decluttered your linen cupboard and you’re not sure what to do with your cast-offs, keep reading for plenty of creative ideas from designers.
Your pets will love a cosy new bed
Production designer James Pearse Connelly , who’s worked for clients such as Bad Bunny and Kelly Clarkson, says your fur baby might benefit from your old sheets. ‘Old bedding works great for dog beds,’ he says. ‘Dogs love the smell of their owners and it’s a great way to keep the dog’s space fresh and recycled.’
Turn them into a tablecloth
‘I’ve even repurposed bedsheets as tablecloths,’ says James. ‘For less expensive or uniquely shaped tables, a sheet can work just as well as a tablecloth – and even offer a softer or more interesting texture.’
Wrapping gifts has never been easier
Star Taylor, owner of Sage Allue Events and Decor, advises saving your old bedding to reuse over Christmas. She suggests turning the fabric into squares for Japanese-style furoshiki wrapping, then adding ribbons and handmade gift tags for a warm, personalised feel. ‘This works especially well for thinner fabrics such as bedsheets, shams or pillowcases,’ she says.
Donate them to animal shelters
Stephanie Griffith, the founder of BleuBully Bedding, suggests creatively repurposing old bedding by donating it. ‘Animal shelters need old bedding, towels and blankets to help keep the animals warm,’ she explains.
Your fave sheets just became your fave pillow
Doug Conner, a home improvement expert from Universal Windows Direct of New Jersey, suggests repurposing old duvet covers into pillowcases and throws for a guest bedroom. It’s a simple way to instantly freshen the space without a complete redesign.
Create a gallery wall
Doug also suggests turning old bedding into charming wall panels. For a former client, a patterned quilt was carefully stretched over canvas frames, transforming the space into a one-of-a-kind, budget-friendly gallery wall that adds personality to a living area.
Make curtains or drapes
Nicole Foster of Foster Hill Design suggests transforming old bedding into drapes by simply splitting the seams. Depending on the size, you can open it up to make a basic rod-pocket panel – perfect for a child’s bedroom or sunroom.
Give your kitchen table a refresh
Nicole also suggests using old bedding as a table runner. It’s a simple and creative solution as making decorative table runners is quite easy and bedding is usually long, so it’s perfect for the longer pieces needed. You can even add a lovely touch with ribbon trim to customise it further.
More ideas for your kitchen table
Nicole also suggests that, depending on the bedding size and whether it’s in good shape, it can be transformed into other tableware items, such as tablecloths, placemats or napkins.
Upholster existing furniture
Sheila Blanton, a former fashion designer who now owns Loni M Designs, loves incorporating upcycling into her creative process. One of her suggestions is to repurpose old bedding to upholster items like stools, ottomans or even children’s furniture, adding an eco-friendly touch to any space.
Frame sentimental pieces
Alfonsina Romero, an interior designer and founder of ARNY, renowned for warm minimalist interiors, recommends framing old blankets, quilts or bedding instead of discarding them. If a piece holds sentimental value, cropping and framing a clean section can preserve the memory while avoiding keeping the whole item.
Make an apron and oven mitts
Sheila Blanton also has the clever idea of turning your old sheets and blankets into aprons and oven gloves – another fun, eco-friendly project.
Ditch the paper in paper towels
Sarah Ramakar is the owner of Marley’s Monsters, a sustainability brand that creates products from fabric scraps, transforming leftover materials into a variety of useful items, like cotton pads, sponges and reusable paper towels. ‘Reusable paper towels offer a sustainable replacement for single-use rolls, reducing household waste with every wash-and-reuse cycle,’ she says.
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