5 Smart Ways to Reuse Old Belts Around Your House

If you’ve been doing a closet cleanout and have come across extra belts that no longer fit or speak to you or another one of your family members, don’t be so quick to part ways with them for good. There are many creative approaches that you can take to repurpose old belts around the home in order to make your space more functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Here, Sarah Teresinski, an expert DIYer and the founder of Redeux Style, shares her top five suggestions for how to give belts a new purpose all throughout your house.

Turn a Belt Into a Napkin Ring

Napkin rings automatically elevate any tablescape, taking your dinner party setup to the next level. However, there’s no need to shop for these at the store when you can easily make your own.

Teresinski recommends taking old belts and turning them into napkin holders—in fact, a standard belt can yield 15 to 18 napkin rings, she explains. All you need to bring this project to life are a pair of sturdy scissors and some heavy-duty glue. These would also make a great gift idea for the serial entertainer in your life.

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Upgrade the Hardware in Your Home

Designers are all about saying goodbye to builder grade hardware and introducing fun knobs and drawer pulls into the mix. There’s no need to hit the store in order to purchase these, though—you can take your kitchen or bathroom to the next level using your old belts.

“Thick leather belts or studded belts make great handle pulls for drawers or basket lids,” Teresinski says.

She advises cutting each belt into five-inch strips, which you can then fold in half—use your heavy-duty glue to adhere the two ends—and drill onto your drawers. Odds are you won’t have come across anything like this in your neighbors’ houses, making this an ideal project for those who crave a unique look.

DIY a Luggage Tag

You can never have too many luggage tags, particularly if you’re someone who likes to bring multiple suitcases with you when you travel or tends to lose yours while on the go. Rather than spending money on a premade version, craft your own by cutting your belt down in length and using the existing buckle to attach it to your suitcase, Teresinski advises.

You can write your name and contact information on the buckle using a permanent marker—as such, solid-colored leather belts are best for this project so that your writing will be legible. Again, something like this would make for a nice gift for the globe-trotter in your life.

Decorate a Pillow or Basket

If you have a plain-looking pillow or basket on hand at home that could use a bit of decorative flair, put an old belt to work by wrapping it around the front of either of these items and securing it with glue, Teresinski suggests.

“You can even double up belts around a bench cushion, placing one on each end,” she says.

The end result is perfect for any type of aesthetic, but will look especially fitting in a farmhouse style or industrial space if you use a leather belt. For a more preppy or traditional aesthetic, try this craft using a fabric or needlepoint belt.

Hang a Mirror

Instead of using ribbon or twine to hang a lightweight mirror on the wall, you can use a belt for the same purpose, Teresinski says. She recommends positioning the belt so that the buckle is centered at the top. Whether you hang one mirror on its own or create a mirror gallery wall of sorts by hanging up various mirrors of different shapes and sizes, you can’t go wrong with this relaxed look.