By Danielle Truen
If you’re anything like me, you have a collection of old coffee mugs that are only used as dust collectors but don’t want to throw them out during your spring cleaning. Now is the perfect time to get crafty and give them a new purpose.
Mugs can be used for so much more than just coffee and make for great decorations and place holders around the house. So, let’s dust of the mug cupboard and get started.
Create an herb garden
Instead of throwing away that collection of old mugs, get creative and use them as planter pots. Whether you have a brown thumb or not, this is a fun way to recycle some of your old mugs, and a great way to add a pop of colour to your home commemorating the spring season. If you have more than one herb, don’t forget to label your mugs to ward off confusion. Don’t forget to add some rocks or pebbles at the bottom of your mug before adding your potting soil and seeds - this will help with drainage, keeping any excess water in the rocks and not sitting in the plant’s roots. Make sure you leave a gap from the top of the mug and your soil to allow for easy watering.
Make a candle
Nothing says cozy like a cute coffee mug and a nice candle. So, why not have the best of both worlds and combine the two? Candles are super easy to make, and with the handle on the mug, it makes it easy to carry around, making every room in your home smell great without running the risk of burning yourself.
Paint them
Not only is it a great way to add a pop of colour to old mugs that are a little more on the plain side, it’s also a great activity to occupy any little ones, all the while creating a keepsake sure to make them proud in the future. You could use acrylic paint or Sharpie painting markers to create a design – just bake the mug for 20-25 minutes in a 375F oven to seal the paint. Tip: Handwash these mugs only!
Organize your office space
Scratch the pencil holder off your office supply list and instead use an old mug. This is one of my favourite decorating tricks, because even the old ones that you may not love as much any more can add a lot of character to your desk. And best of all? You don’t have to spend any money.
Turn it into a piggy bank
Whether you have kids or are just sick of being weighed down by all the coins you have in your wallet or purse, mugs can be used as the perfect coin collector. You’d be surprised at how much they can hold, and if you have kids, it’s a great way for them to personalize it to their liking while saving up for a special something.
