22 Creative Ways To Repurpose Plastic Party Cups In Your Home & Garden

Disposable plastic cups are incredibly convenient to use when you're on the go or hosting a large event, but this convenience comes at a cost. While many people have opted to use more environmentally-friendly options in their daily routines, like reusable bottles and cups, it can still feel like you're having a negative environmental impact when you occasionally opt for disposable options. Cutting down your usage of single-use plastics is one of the best things you can do for the environment, but, if you have no other choice, there's also the option to repurpose items that would have otherwise gone straight into the garbage. 

Whether you have some leftover party cups from an event that have been sitting in the cabinet or you're trying to find a way to extend the life of cups you've already used, there's likely a hack here for you. Party cups are fairly durable and simple in design, so there are plenty of crafts and repurposing ideas for which they can be used as a base. Using an old cup to mix your paints or start seeds in your greenhouse might seem like a minor switch, but every piece of single-use plastic you find another use for is one less piece of garbage in the landfill.

If you're doing an art project or touching up the paint on your walls, you know that things can get messy quickly. One way to keep everything contained is by mixing your paints in a reused plastic cup. With this approach, your paints are easily portable, you can portion out exactly how much you need, and, if your cups are clear, you can clearly see if the pigment is adequately mixed. Once you're done for the day, you can toss out the paint or add a bit of plastic wrap over the top of the cup to keep it from drying out.

There are plenty of benefits to starting seeds instead of buying plants, but one of the biggest draws is the difference in cost. Unfortunately, however, investing in store-bought seed starting supplies might cause you to cut into those savings, leaving yourself with next to no difference in price. To get around this, try using items you already have on hand, like plastic party cups. These cups can act as the perfect vessel in which to cultivate your seeds, and they'll allow you to easily and gently transfer your seedlings to the garden once they're ready to plant.

If you're looking for some unique home décor, consider trying your hand at making resin art. This process involves mixing two liquids together to make an epoxy resin, then pouring it on to a surface to create interesting textures and patterns. After some time, the resin cures, finalizing your art piece. Because of this curing, it's important to work with tools that you don't mind tossing, and a repurposed party cup fits the bill. While you'll still likely have to throw the cup away, it's better to get multiple uses out of an item rather than just one.

Independence Day and New Year's Eve activities are often filled with shining fireworks and glittering explosions. They're also filled with quite a few burns. Sparklers are designed with a small section at the bottom that acts as a handle and theoretically keeps your hands away from the sparks, but it can be nice to have an extra layer of protection, especially if you have kids that are a bit intimidated by holding something that's on fire. Cut a hole in the bottom of a party cup, stick the end of the sparkler through, and enjoy the night burn-free.

Christmas decorating can help usher in holiday cheer, but when it's time to put your decorations away, things can get a bit less fun. With this ornament storage hack, however, you can keep your tree decorations separated and protected year after year. Grab a storage bin, then lay down some plastic party cups leftover from your holiday party. Put the ornaments inside, put down a piece of cardboard, and add another layer of cups. This will keep your ornaments in their own individual spaces and make them easier to find when it's time to pull them out again.

Establishing a productive office at home requires quite a bit of organization, but it's not necessary to spend a ton of money on simple items like pencil cups. A basic plastic party cup can both work as a perfectly functional space to store your writing utensils and help you to cut down your single-use plastic waste. After giving it a good clean, you can leave it as is or get creative with some customizations. Give it a coat of paint, cover it in contact paper, or try your hand at drawing some cute designs with a permanent marker.

If you feed your pets kibble, it's much more convenient to have some kind of scoop in the bin to help you properly portion and deliver the food to their bowl. It's common to use a measuring cup or something similar for this job, but if you have a larger dog or are feeding multiple pets at once, it's likely that something that small won't cut it. Enter: the plastic party cup. Toss one of these cups in the bin with your pet's food for a quick and easy solution to your problem — no additional purchases necessary.

If you're in a pinch and you don't have a flower vase, a plastic cup can do the job. With a coat of paint, however, you might consider this a more permanent solution. After making sure your plastic cup is completely clean and dry, give it a couple of coats of your spray paint of choice. A plain color will work if you're just looking for something simple to match your space, but a textured or metallic paint can help to conceal the fact that the cup is plastic and make it look more like a store-bought vase.

Creating your own eco-friendly DIY Christmas ornaments gives you the chance to honor the environment and try out a fun craft at the same time. Conveniently, plastic party cups make for the perfect base. Take your cup and draw some festive patterns on the sides and bottom with a permanent marker. Preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit, then place the cups inside on a protected baking sheet. After a few minutes, the plastic should melt and flatten into a disc, which you can then hole punch, string some thread through, and hang on your Christmas tree.

If you're throwing a get-together and you're looking for something to add a bit of pizzazz to your plain string lights, consider making a plastic party cup garland. Cut a hole in the bottom of your cups, then place them over the bulbs on your string of lights to essentially create a lampshade that will help to diffuse the light and bring in a pop of color. You can leave your cups as is if you like the look or cover the exterior with some spray paint to better match the theme and color palette of your party.

Plastic party cups have developed a bit of a reputation over the years thanks to the fact that they're commonly used in alcohol-focused party games like beer pong and flip cup, but they can be used for more child-friendly events, too. Set up some party cups like bowling pins and try to knock them over with a ball, lay the cup on the ground as a hole for putting practice, or stack them up as a target to shoot down with water guns. The possibilities are endless, so don't be afraid to get creative with your setup and rules.

When you're giving out small gifts or party favors, the presentation makes all the difference. Instead of spending extra money on bags, consider making your own cute cups that are themed to match your party. Add a construction paper belt around a red party cup for a subtle nod to Santa Claus for Christmas, draw some eyes and a mouth on to a white or clear cup to create a spooky ghost for Halloween, or custom-make or order some stickers for more personalized events like bachelorette parties, birthdays, and graduations.

Party poppers can be a lot of fun, but if you want to avoid all that annoying confetti cleanup, consider making your own version with a balloon, plastic cup, and pom poms. First, tie your balloon into a knot, then cut off a strip of the material at the top. Cut off the bottom of your cup so both ends are open, then stretch the cut balloon over the bottom of the cup with the knot facing out. After you've filled the cup with pom poms, you can pull back the balloon to launch them into the air.

If you spend a lot of time driving, you know how easy it is for the interior of your car to get messy. While routine clean-outs are the best way to keep clutter at bay, this simple plastic cup hack can help to make the cleanup process easier and keep the mess contained in the meantime. Grab a plastic cup and place it in one of your cupholders that you don't regularly use. This cup can act as a mini trash can that you can either empty into the garbage or toss out entirely once it gets dirty.

Forgetting items in your pockets can both destroy the item and wreak havoc on your washing machine, so it's a good idea to check all of your clothing before you toss it in to clean. If this is a common issue for you and your family, it's also smart to keep a laundry lost and found in the room so none of these small items get lost in the clothing shuffle. Clean out a plastic party cup, put it on top of your washing machine, and use it as an easy catch-all for all of those forgotten items.

If you've already sown your seeds, but they still need some extra protection and warmth to thrive, consider topping them with plastic cups. The additional layer will help to trap in heat, maintain moisture levels, and ward off pests. This works best with clear plastic cups if you're planning on leaving them on for more than a day or two, as they allow the plants to still get the sunlight they need, but solid-colored cups can still be used in a pinch to temporarily protect small plants from overnight frosts, snowfall, or other unfavorable weather conditions.

Retro design is back in a big way, and one of the easiest ways to bring a nostalgic touch to your spaces is by incorporating some fun lighting. Unfortunately, statement lighting often costs a pretty penny, even if it's made of fairly simple materials. To create your own funky light fixture on a budget, take some plastic party cups and start shaping them into a sphere. Glue or clip them together to complete the structure, then install an LED lightbulb in the middle for some illumination without the risk of excess heat that could melt the plastic.

Trying to play music, but your phone speaker just isn't cutting it? Using a plastic party cup can help amplify the sound. This hack won't deliver the same results as a state-of-the-art sound system, but it's a convenient trick if you're caught in a situation where you don't have the ability to connect to an external speaker. Turn your phone volume all the way up, hit play, and place it with the speaker side facing down in your plastic party cup. You should notice a bit of a boost in volume and range after getting everything set up.

Oil changes are fairly easy to do at home, but one of the major issues that prevents people from attempting this simple maintenance task themselves is the potential for mess. With this party cup hack, however, you can easily keep your hands and the floor of your garage clean. Grab your cup, then place it over the oil filter before you unscrew it. Place a drip pan underneath the car to catch spills, then unscrew the filter using the cup. This will create a barrier of protection so oil doesn't end up all over your hands.

Plastic cups can be used to start seeds — and they can also be used as gardening tools. If you don't have a trowel, use a cup to more easily dig into soil. If you need to water multiple plants at once, fill a cup with water and use it in lieu of a watering can. If you're trying to evenly spread fertilizer, place it in your cup and shake it out over the bed for more control. Plastic party cups can do plenty of jobs, so try keeping one with your other supplies as a convenient multi-use tool.

If you frequently use cash in your day-to-day, it's likely that your wallet quickly becomes overloaded with spare change. To create a convenient collection point, consider repurposing a plastic party cup. Keep this cup by the spot where you normally drop off your wallet or purse, and take a moment every couple of days to clean out any spare change you have on hand. After your cup is full, take it to the bank or a coin counter kiosk to cash out and see what you've earned. You'll likely be pleasantly surprised by the final total!

When you're switching paint colors or wrapping up your painting project for the day, it's necessary to thoroughly clean your brushes with water. Because of this, it's common to keep a cup of water nearby while you're painting, but, even if you quickly wash your cup after you're done, it's likely that it will end up with some difficult-to-clean spots or stains. To avoid this, reuse a plastic party cup that you don't mind messing up. After you've washed your brushes, this cup can be easily disposed of or used again and again for the same purpose.