Don't Toss Them Out! Upcycle Your Old Bed Sheets

Discover innovative and eco-friendly ways to repurpose your old bed sheets with our updated guide. Breathe new life into unused fabric.

Did you know that your old bed sheets can lead a fascinating second life beyond the linen closet? With a bit of creativity, they can transform into anything from chic home décor to practical everyday items.

Using old things in new ways is not just a trend; it is a way of life as we try to be more environmentally friendly. This updated guide to creating new things out of old bed sheets shows creative and environmentally friendly new ideas. No matter how experienced you are with do-it-yourself projects or how new you are to crafting, these projects are sure to inspire and delight you.

These ideas offer a range of new projects that cater to different interests and skill levels, from simple no-sew options to more complex sewing projects, all aimed at reducing waste and promoting sustainability through creative upcycling.

Fashion Forward with Bed Sheets

Boho-Chic Maxi Skirts

Create flowy, bohemian-inspired maxi skirts from patterned bed sheets. This project is perfect for beginners and adds a unique piece to your wardrobe.

A boho maxi skirt made out of old sheets.

Jammie Pants

With minimal sewing skills, one can turn old bed sheets into comfortable, easy-peasy jammie pants.

Clothing Linings

Solid-colored bed sheets can serve as an inexpensive lining solution for see-through garments.

Summer Dresses or Skirts

Lightweight bed sheets are perfect for sewing into simple summer dresses or skirts.

Bandanas or Headscarves

Create fashionable bandanas or headscarves, customizing them with fabric dye or stamps.

Practical Upcycling Projects

Custom Tote Bags

Durable and stylish, tote bags fashioned from old bed sheets are perfect for groceries or a day at the beach. Customize with fabric paint or patches for a personal touch.

Wreaths and Decorative Items

Following tutorials like the one by Two Shades of Pink, crafters can create cute wreaths and other decorative items from old bed sheets.

A white fabric wreath with flowers made from old sheets.

Produce Bags

Sew lightweight, breathable produce bags for your fruits and veggies. They’re washable and reusable, making them an eco-friendly alternative to plastic.

Pet Bed Covers

Sew easy-to-clean pet bed covers that can be swapped out and washed regularly.

Home Décor and Accessories

Braided Rug

Cut sheets into strips and braid them together to create a cozy, colorful rug. This project can be a fun way to involve the whole family.

Decorative Wall Art

Stretch and frame a section of a beautifully patterned bed sheet for instant, affordable wall art. This simple project can dramatically change the look of a room.

Wall art made from stretching bed sheet fabric over canvases.

Reversible Table Runners

Combine two bed sheets of contrasting colors or patterns to craft reversible table runners that match any season or occasion.

A reversible table runner made from old sheets.

Rags and Cleaning Cloths

An easy and straightforward way to repurpose any bedsheet. Simply cut the sheets into the desired sizes for a cost-effective cleaning solution.

Throw Pillows

Utilize old bedsheets to create decorative throw pillows for your bed or sofa, adding a touch of personalized decor to your living space.

Curtains or Room Dividers

Transform bed sheets into stylish curtains or room dividers to enhance privacy and décor.

Gardening and Outdoor Ideas

Picnic and Beach Blanket

Transforming bed sheets into picnic or beach blankets involves sewing two full-sized sheets together and adding quilting lines for stability.

Frost Protection

Gardeners can repurpose bed sheets to cover crops during light frosts, providing an easy and effective way to protect sensitive plants.

Outdoor Craft Project

Bedsheets offer a large canvas for children’s outdoor craft projects, enabling creativity and fun outside the house.

Bed Sheet Teepee

Creating a teepee from old bed sheets provides a fantastic play area for kids (and adults), with an amazing tutorial available to guide the construction process.

A children's teepee made from old sheets.

Protective Furniture Covers

Use bed sheets to create protective covers for outdoor furniture.

Frequently Asked Questions About Upcycling Bed Sheets

Yes! Both fitted and flat sheets work great. Consider the fabric type for your project—cotton is versatile, while silk or satin can add luxury.

Not at all! Many ideas are suitable for beginners, and there are even no-sew options available.

Use proper care when washing and handling. For items like tote bags, reinforcing seams can add durability.

After you’ve transformed your old bed sheets into something spectacular, why stop there? Dive deeper into the world of creative upcycling with our collection of ingenious tutorials. Each guide is packed with easy-to-follow steps and ideas to inspire your next project:

22 New Uses for Old Pill Bottles: Discover how to turn those little bottles into useful tools and charming decorations with this eye-opening guide.
12+ Fun Ways to Upcycle Holiday Cards After the Season: Keep the holiday spirit alive year-round with these unique ideas for repurposing your old holiday cards.
Mason Jar Crafts You’ll Love to DIY: Mason jars are not just for canning—explore a myriad of ways to transform them into decorative and functional pieces for your home.
20 Creative Uses for an Old Milk Jug: Don’t throw out your old milk jugs! Our tutorial will show you how to give them a second life in ways you never imagined.

Whether you’re a seasoned upcycler or new to the DIY scene, these tutorials offer something for everyone. Click through to unleash your creativity and make the most of items you already have at home. Let’s turn the ordinary into extraordinary together!

If you’ve found value in this blog post and enjoyed reading it, why not share it with your Pinterest community? Pin the image below and spread the love!

A Pinterest-friendly graphic for my post on upcycling bed sheets into new and creative things.

Using old bed sheets in new ways is not only creative, but it is also a way to live in a more environmentally friendly way. I think the important “takeaway” from this is that bed sheets are free or inexpensive fabric sources. Instead of hauling old sheets away in boxes, figure out if there is some way you can give them new life. That’s the homesteader way!

What’s the most creative way you’ve repurposed an old bed sheet? Share your projects and inspire our community!

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213 Comments

I place elastic in the casing of an old pillow case. I then use them as a dirty clothes bag for camping or traveling.

Leona Rice says:

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Old pillowcases are great to store quilts in. It keeps them clean from dust & lets them “breathe” which helps the fabric to last longer than to put them into plastic bags.

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I use them to put under the hedge when trimming, much easier to clean up afterwards.
Also, in my mothers day, they would tear the sheet in half down the middle where it was worn and then sew the outer edges together, thus making them into a usable sheet again.

Mary says:

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We used them under plum trees and walnut trees to help gather up what shook loose.

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Clever, good ideas.

I made a ironing board cover from an old sheet it looks prsettier than what you can buy in a store.

Mary says:

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My mother taught me to make ironing board covers. Said she started doing that during the depression.

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Resale shop sheets are fabric of choice for many women’s costumes for our theater group. Especially for petticoats, bloomers, nightgowns and corsets. Sheets were used in all the daughters outfits for “Pirates of Penzance” last spring and all the fairies in this falls “A Midsummer Nights Dream”.

Personally I have used 2 flat sheets to make duvet covers for decades and a twin flat sheet is just the right size for a bottom sheet for a queen size water bed, just add triangles to the corners to hold it to the mattress. Also used designer sheets to make wall covering in rental apartments back in the 80’s. Merimako had a lovely poppy design.

Judy Johnson says:

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I have purchased sheets for my Medieval re-enactment clothing. I also got a beautiful dress out of a duvet cover. You never look at household linens the same way

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Made valances for bedroom.

made curtains for a porch.

Old bedsheets make great covers for the front and back seats of cars. Or even a car cover.

my husband used bedsheets for the backing on guilts that he made when he was making them i like them for covering the couch and chairs in summer so its cooler to sit on .

I use queen size flat sheet to make sleeping bag for sleepover instead of using their bed sheets fold bedsheet in half and sew bottom and halfway on side, Just put that sleeping bag over any bed or sofa and just add a blanket Over it. You can also sew a pillowcase on top of that sleeping bag.. Just slide in a pillow .. You bring your sleeping back home to wash and you didnt use the bedding of where you were visiting…For winter use warmer sheets to make sleeping bag . Twin size sheet s are perfect for children sleeping bags.. Or Queen size flat sheets.

Vickey says:

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Great idea on the sleep sack, Maria. These are handy for hostel guests, too. And travelers who don’t quite trust the state of the linens in hotels where they stay.

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Mary says:

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I made twin sheets folded in half with quilt batting or old blankets cut to fit and sew up into a tube, then a seam across the bottom to make nap pads or bags for a local kingergardeb class. Kids all loved them.

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table clothes – they are perfect

I use an old sheet when I give my dog a haircut. When I am done I take it outside and shake over the garbage can. Saves clean up time.

I’m going to give the jammie bottoms a go.

I have made curtains from bed sheets,but pj bottoms that’s new…….thanks for the idea.

If you purchase calico flat bed sheets, and sew a white ruffle around, you can use them for great drapes, and use the white ruffle for tie backs. They look really good in a log cabin, type home. My mom would use them for cleaning mirrors, as they don’t contain lint, and for curling my hair when I was little.

Cloth pads. Just finished one today: pillowcase, 6 layers of flannel, sweatpant fleece, snaps.

I used sheets from the thrift store to give me enough fabric to make a quilt and bought an even bigger sheet there for the backing. Saved TONS of money on fabric (of course I picked only colors I like for my quilt).

I tear them in strips and us to tie newly planted trees and/ or plants to a pole.

Mary says:

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I’ve used them for tying up new fruit trees and tomatoes. Also a strip made a nice tied headband or tied a ponytail when I’m working.

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About ten years ago, I was given a bunch of odd sized white sheets. Maybe they were hospital bed sheets. They were too narrow to do much with, but with a little work, such as tearing on grain and from there I made pillow cases and pillow case covers (with back flaps,that I call pillow case underwear). I gave quite a few to our adult children a few years ago, and now it is almost time to start replacing the ones we have.

I use them for lining inexpensive drapes and drop cloths for painting.

I use white sheets for table cloths

I learned from Pinterest that you can use fabric for classroom bulletin boards. Bed sheets might be cheaper than fabric. Also, I use old bed sheets to cover up my books and computers during summer vacation to keep dust away.

instead of using a plastic tarp to carry my leaves to the composite pile, I use a sheet, so much easier to handle.

My grandmother and mother would keep white sheets torn into strips to use for bandages on us kids.cheaper than gauze and tape.worked greatm

the wall art tutorial is Portuguese,by the way, from a fabric storeinRio, but we can figure it out thanks for all the ideas!!

I sometimes use them for quilt batting when I want a light-weight summer blanket.

Don’t Toss Them Out! Upcycle Your Old Bed Sheets