If you’re a coffee lover, you’ve probably got a cabinet full of mugs—more than you could ever actually use. Instead of letting them gather dust, why not give them a new life? Upcycling old coffee cups isn’t just a clever way to free up space; it’s a chance to add personality to your home while cutting down on waste.
From mini planters to DIY candle holders, there are plenty of creative ways to repurpose those extra mugs. Ready to get inspired? Here are some fun and practical ideas to give your old favorites a fresh start.
Turn Your Mug into a Planter
One of the best ways to upcycle mugs for garden lovers is to turn them into planters. Succulents and various herbs are among the plants that can survive in a small space—like a cup. You can use one cup to grow succulents on your desk or multiple cups to have an herb garden on a sunny window sill.
How to Do It:
- Choose a mug and decide if you want drainage holes. For better plant health, use a diamond drill bit to create holes at the bottom.
- Fill the cup with potting soil and plant your chosen greenery.
- If you’re growing herbs, place them on a sunny windowsill for best results.
This simple upcycling idea adds greenery to your space while repurposing unused mugs in a functional way.
Create a Bird Feeder
You can upcycle an old coffee cup into a bird feeder to attract feathered friends to your yard. The design you choose will depend on how you want to display it.
One option is to hot glue the cup to a saucer on its side, creating a built-in perch for birds to land while they eat. Alternatively, you can hang the cup by its handle using twine, filling it with birdseed for a simple and charming feeder. If you prefer, you can also place the cup on an outdoor patio table, making it accessible to both birds and squirrels.
No matter which method you choose, this easy DIY project gives your old mugs a second life while supporting local wildlife.
Upcycle a Coffee Cup into a Candle
Combine your love of coffee cups and candles by turning one of your mugs into a homemade candle. I had a cute unicorn mug that I had never used, but I really liked the way it looked, so I decided to upcycle it into a pretty candle.
You can melt down old candles to use for the wax or order candle wax flakes and wicks from Amazon. Stir some essential oils in to add your favorite scent and pour into the cup. You will also need to place the wick into the cup while the wax is melted. Let it cool overnight to allow it to completely harden before you burn it, or it can be used as a decorative candle.
Fill it with Goodies for a Fun Gift
Do you need a sweet gift idea but don’t have a big budget? Repurpose one of your best coffee mugs into a gift for someone special. Here are a few ideas:
- Self-Care Mug: Fill it with herbal tea bags, a small candle, bath salts, and a handwritten note for a cozy, relaxing treat.
- Coffee Lover’s Mug: Add gourmet coffee beans, a mini spoon, flavored syrup, and a biscotti for the ultimate caffeine fix.
- Hot Cocoa Mug: Include hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, a candy cane, and a small packet of cookies for a festive winter gift.
- Gardener’s Mug: Pack it with seed packets, a small trowel, and plant markers for a green thumb-friendly surprise.
- Office Essentials Mug: Fill it with colorful pens, sticky notes, and a motivational quote card for a practical and cheerful desk accessory.
To add an extra special touch, wrap the mug in cellophane and tie it with a ribbon or place it inside a gift box with decorative filler. This simple DIY idea is perfect for birthdays, holidays, or just brightening someone’s day.
Use it as a Vase for a Faux Flower Arrangement
I decided to upcycle one of my old coffee mugs into a faux flower arrangement, and I was delighted with how it turned out. You can buy floral foam and faux flowers from Dollar Tree to keep it inexpensive, too.
I simply cut the floral foam to size and put it in the bottom of the cup. Then, I picked out a variety of silk flowers and arranged them inside the cup. The best part is that you can switch out the flowers for each season or make multiple arrangements to have them on hand.
Organize Your Pens and Markers
If you have decorative mugs, you can use them on your desk to organize your favorite pens and markers. You can also use them to store other office supplies such as paper clips, binder clips, etc. That way, you can tame your desk clutter and clear out space in your kitchen.
Who knew coffee cups could help declutter your desk?
Use a Coffee Cup to Catch Spare Change
One simple — but great — way to use one of your old coffee mugs is to use it to toss spare change into. You can actually place cups in various spots of your home to put loose coins into as you find them.
One of the best places to put a cup for change is in the laundry room. As you clean out your pockets, you can easily toss the coins into the cup and cash them in once it is full.
Store Bathroom Essentials in Coffee Mugs
Mugs are great for storing items like toothbrushes, makeup brushes, Q-tips, and cotton balls. They can declutter your counters and make it easier to find items you use on a daily basis. Whether you have matching mugs or need to mix and match, this can be an easy way to repurpose those cups.
Make Mosaics From Broken Mugs
You can even upcycle coffee mugs that have chips or that are broken. Use those mugs and turn them into beautiful mosaics for various projects. For example, you can create a custom tabletop, make wall art, decorate flower pots, and more. Make sure you wear safety goggles and gloves to protect your hands when you smash up your mugs for mosaic projects.
The process for making each item will vary, but it could be a fun way to transform something broken into something beautiful.
Use Coffee Mugs as Scoopers
Coffee cups make handy scoopers for various items, such as pet food, baking goods like flour, and dirt during gardening projects. They are already equipped with a handle and are usually made with durable materials such as ceramic or porcelain.
Plus, they typically come in a standard size of 8 to 12 ounces, which means they can also be perfect as a measuring cup when you’re in a pinch.
Try these Ideas to Upcycle Coffee Mugs into Something Useful
These are awesome ways to reuse your old coffee cups that are taking up space. Rather than having them tucked away, why not make them into something that you can use or gift to someone else? For a fun project, you can try your hand at creating a mosaic or make a bird feeder for your feathered friends.
Besides, upcycling items not only breathes new life into old things but also keeps stuff out of overflowing landfills.
