21 Creative Ways To Repurpose Empty Coffee Containers Around The House

The world drinks more than 400 billion cups of coffee each year. This means there is a constant stream of containers to hold the coffee grounds coming in and out of your home every year, and most of those containers eventually end up discarded in a landfill. You may, however, want to think twice about tossing that can, canister, tin, or coffee bag. The internet is full of amazing repurposing projects fit for everything from vintage coffee cans to tiny K-cup cylinders, many of which are as functional as they are stylish. Need a perfect container for plants? A reusable lunch pouch? A fun vintage lighting fixture? Coffee containers can be repurposed for an abundance of uses, most of which require only a few supplies and a little innovation.

Not only are you keeping these containers out of landfills, but in many cases, using them as a DIY solution saves you money from buying similar store-bought storage containers. They are also a charming decorative accent, whether you modify one with paint, paper, or fabric, or leave the cans untouched, where their bright colors, interesting design, and iconic typography can shine.

Metal or plastic coffee containers make excellent planters due to their size and durability. Just punch a few holes in the bottom to allow drainage. Add soil or pebbles to the can, then fill it with leafy plants or succulents. These containers can also be customized. For an industrial look, leave metal cans in their natural state or paint them with acrylic or spray paint. Plastic cans are perfect for applying paint and decoupage techniques along the sides. Assemble multiple cans to make a cute window herb garden, or employ them as outdoor containers in your garden. 

Coffee and soup cans can be repurposed to create hanging backyard lamps. Use a tin punch or drill to add holes around the perimeter of the can to allow the light to escape. You can even create patterns and shapes like hearts and stars in the metal. Drop a votive candle into the can for a beautiful addition to an outdoor table or seating area. You can also use string or LED lights inside. Paint or add decorative details to the outside of the can. To hang, punch holes along the top to string through wire or twine.

Vintage coffee canisters can be visually beautiful and interesting. They are often highly prized by collectors looking for them in good condition, a rarity since many have rusted over time. Find them at flea markets, antique stores, and estate sales, where they have often been functioning as storage tins in homes for decades for everything from sewing supplies to hardware. A row or grouping of vintage cans looks pretty assembled on a counter or shelf, adding a sense of age and history to your kitchen or any room.

Add a simple lamp kit to any metal coffee can for a cute antique lighting fixture. Just drill through the top to add the bulb socket and out the back to accommodate the cord. You can also use a battery-operated cordless light glued with a sturdy adhesive to the top of the can for a similar look. Use these adorable lights in a rustic or retro space as vintage décor, or think practically to use it as an extra counter light in the kitchen, task lighting on a desk, or an adorable nightlight in a vintage-styled bedroom.

Use a vintage coffee can as the base for a small holiday tree for a fun, rustic accent and alternative to other pots and tree skirts. Cans and tins will hold the tree upright and allow you to add drainage holes for real trees. Visually, vintage cans bring texture and a sense of history into your holiday decorations. Place a real tree in soil or add pebbles or rocks to help hold up an artificial tree. You can also paint and decorate the can to match your home aesthetic.

Use a couple of old coffee cans to add charm to your modern day coffee station or coffee bar. While the coffee they once held is long gone, they can repurposed to expertly hold sugar packets, K-cups, or tea bags. Even those that have lost their lids are perfect for holding stir sticks, spoons, or other accessories on top of the counter. Add a stack next to your coffee or espresso machine to bring in a bit of rustic vintage style that is as functional as it is pretty.

Even distressed old coffee cans can become charming rustic holiday centerpieces. Use some floral foam in the can and add holiday florals, cotton tinsel, and faux snow to serve as a backdrop for cute vintage Christmas ornaments, figurines, mini-trees, and more. Use your new arrangement as a centerpiece for holiday meals or a piece of décor. You can even add battery-operated twinkle lights for a little extra sparkle and glow for the season. If you want a more modern look, paint the can's exterior in a holiday-inspired color or add decorative details like trees and poinsettias.

For a fun variation on the coffee can lamp, turn your can upside down and drill a hole in the bottom large enough for a hanging lamp kit. These canister lights make a cute addition to a retro kitchen or a great way to get some stylish light in spots like garages or workshops, where even the rustiest and dented surfaces can be a fun and fitting accent. Leave them in their natural state or add paint, paper, or fabric to the outside to cover the can itself.

Old coffee containers make adorable vases for flowers and cuttings, especially in outdoor spaces, where they're less fragile than glass containers. Plus, unlike most vases, their wide brims accommodate larger flowers like hydrangeas. They work particularly well in interiors as well, where they can bring a bit of vintage feel to any room in their existing state or can be DIYed to match your aesthetic. For an extra accent, paint the metal surface, then use rope or twine around the base of the can. You can also repurpose an instant coffee jar into a cute decoupaged vase for flowers.

Short round coffee canisters can make an ingenious container for making candles due to their durability and fire-resistant metal. The airtight fit of the lid can also make any scent you use stay fresher longer and prevent dust buildup on the candle between uses. Just add one to three stick-on wicks to the base of the can and fill with paraffin or soy wax. Use it in your kitchen as a vintage accent or as part of a centerpiece arrangement. You can also add scented oils, color pigments, or old spices to customize your candle.

Larger plastic or metal coffee cans make perfect holders for kitchen utensils on the counter to keep them in easy reach. Not only are the metal tins heat-resistant so they can be placed near the stove, but their smooth surface is easy to clean. Use a cute vintage coffee tin to stash ladles, spatulas, or spoons. Modify a newer can or plastic canister with paint or decoupage to fit your kitchen style and fill with essential tools. Smaller tins and containers are great for holding silverware and cutlery, freeing up drawer space for other kinds of storage.

Coffee containers are great for storage in other parts of your home, including home offices and crafting workspaces, where they can repurposed to hold everything from pencils and pens to scissors and paint brushes. Use them as chic vintage accents or cover them with paint, paper, or fabric to fit your décor sensibilities. They are just as handy in other work areas, too: Use them in your workshop or garage to sort hardware, or reuse plastic airtight tins to store extra paint.

For a cute and easy DIY project, modify a large metal coffee can into an adorable drum using paint, decorative trim, wooden beads and dowels. The drum makes a cute accent in a child's room or an imaginative play instrument for little ones, and it's perfect for DIY costume-making, too. While large cans make the most playable drums, you can turn even smaller canisters into decorative drums for a party. Use a grouping in various sizes as a fun centerpiece for a child's birthday bash to add a sense of whimsy.

A large metal coffee can makes an undeniably cute way to organize and store hair accessories on a dresser or vanity. Wrap the cannister in fabric and various kinds of ribbon secured with hot glue, then clip hair flowers, barrettes, and other accessories to the outside of the can where they are all in view. Use the interior to stash headbands so they don't get lost or broken and can retain their shape. This wonderful storage solution is especially handy in a child's room for keeping everything in one place and easy to find.

With their rustic, natural look and interesting typography and design, bulk coffee bags can be an excellent piece of wall décor for your kitchen or dining area. Many are quite large, with their ruddy burlap material great for adding texture to a blank wall. Use a wooden scroll hanging kit or place the bag directly on your wall with tacks or nails. You can also frame them for a distinctive piece of art. Coffee bag art fits right in above a coffee station or coffee bar and adds rustic and vintage flair.

With some simple sewing skills, you can turn burlap bulk coffee bags into stylish tote bags that make durable carryalls for everything from bookstore hauls to groceries. Cut out two identical pieces from the fabric of the bag, and sew the seams together on three sides. Use two strips of the same burlap sack to create your handles and sew everything together. These bags can be stunning pieces all on their own, so they also make great hanging storage on a peg rack in a kitchen for holding onions, potatoes, garlic, and other produce stylishly.

If you have some large coffee sacks in your garage, try using them to create a walkway in your garden. Their durability makes them a great material for laying down to create a mud-free, non-slip surface for you to walk on among the garden rows. They are also much more eco-friendly than plastic tarps or liners and won't harm the ground or wildlife underneath them since they are breathable and allow water to permeate through. They also make a great frost prevention cover. Burlap bags prevent weeds from growing through and will last you many years.

K-cups only make a single serving each of morning coffee, and you might worry about the waste of all those tiny plastic containers filling up landfills. A perfect reuse project for these tiny cylinders is to rinse them out and repurpose them to start seeds for your garden. Fill them with soil and a couple of seeds and add water. They are lightweight and make it easy to cut away and remove the seedling when you are ready to plant. Their size makes them even easier to store than other store-bought plastic containers designed for starting your garden. 

Use plastic K-cups as a fun way to add pizazz to an ordinary set of string lights for your outdoor celebrations. Paint the cups with acrylics or spray paint, then punch a small hole in the bottom of each to thread the lightbulb through. The light from the bulbs will penetrate the semi-sheer plastic and cast a warm glow. Use them to decorate your outdoor space or campsite as an alternative to more expensive store-bought lights. The K-cups are also easily removable, meaning you can swap out cups in different colors using a single strand of lights.

While many smaller air-tight coffee bags often end up in landfills, you can easily turn them into a piece of DIY décor or storage in a countertop or drawer. The YouTube channel ruutupunontaa — coffee bag weaving has multiple walkthroughs of how to do this. First cut the bags into flat sheets, then fold them, accordion-style, to create a multilayered strip. Weave them together to create a fun basket or bowl using the colors to organize your desired patterning. This project requires multiple bags, so it's great to start stashing them away for crafting early on.

Another eco-friendly re-use for smaller coffee bags is to turn them into pouches by folding them over, adding some stitches, and placing a zipper along one side. Since they are airtight, these pouches make an excellent way to carry sandwiches and stacks without using disposable plastic baggies. Just turn the pouches inside out for gentle washing with soap between uses. You can also use them for holding all sorts of items, from pens and makeup, in your bag to avoid them staining the other contents if they leak.