10 Creative Ways To Repurpose Leftover Floor Scraps After A Renovation

After a renovation, it's common to end up with a lot of things that you won't have use for anymore like doors, windows, cabinets, tiles, and flooring. They might be old materials that have finally been replaced or even brand new leftovers. Luckily, nothing goes to waste at House Digest and we've compiled some creative ways to repurpose leftover floor scraps in particular. With some simple tools and steps, they can be turned into different furniture or art pieces like benches, tables, picture frames, and wall decor.

No matter what flooring options you choose for your home, the materials often come with a hefty price tag which is why it's important to put every last piece to good use. So, these ideas meet various needs in terms of how many scraps you have and don't need a lot of tools and equipment to put together. Even if you only have one plank left, there is something you can do with it to save it from the trash.

One way to repurpose leftover floor scraps is to turn them into a coffee table. This is especially good with solid hardwood because it's a quality material that will ensure a sturdy table. Depending on the amount of scraps you have, you can either make the whole table out of it or just the table top. If you just do the top, the legs can also be created with other scraps of wood, old legs from a different table or chair, old metal pipes, or steel rods if you have some welding skills.

If you have scraps of an especially stylish material like oak, hardwood, or luxury vinyl, show it off by creating a mirror frame. We like this idea because it can work whether you have a few or a lot of pieces. Create a design based on what you have, measure them, and lay out your pieces. Sand and stain or paint them if needed, then attach them to the edges of the mirror(s) using construction adhesive. Just make sure you use the right adhesive for the type of flooring you have.

Scraps of solid wood or engineered wood flooring will work well to make floating shelves. You can choose to make box shelves, bookshelves, or just the typical horizontal floating shelves. Mount them on the wall in whichever way you like and make sure they're secure before putting anything on them. These can be installed anywhere in the home where you need a bit more storage space like the kitchen, bathroom, home office, and playroom. Some savvy ways to use floating shelves are installing them in unique layouts, on top of tiles, or surrounding a focal point (like the TV).

This can be done with wood or laminate flooring. Measure the floor scraps into the size(s) you want, cut them straight or into mitred corners, and glue them together to make the face of the photo frame. Then, get a piece of plywood to glue to the back of that to make that the surface for the photo to slide onto. With this idea, you can set up a photo display or gallery wall easily without having to buy photo frames. 

If there's a room that you want to add something interesting to, consider covering the ceiling with leftover floor planks. Wood is a good material for this. Measure the surface to see how much you need and if you have enough. If it's a go, then stain or paint the pieces if you'd like, and install them with nails and construction adhesive. Add crown moulding or trim around the border to cover the cuts and create a finished look.

Similar to the ceiling, you can repurpose floor scraps by transforming another major feature in a room — the wall. Choose a small wall that will work with the pieces you have and install them in an interesting design. Instead of the traditional straight set, opt for a herringbone pattern or a vertical or horizontal offset. This can work with vinyl or wood flooring which can add some warmth and texture when they come in a natural color. In fact, Joanna Gaines thinks a wood-paneled accent wall is the perfect way to add gorgeous texture to any bedroom.

With laminate or wood flooring scraps, you can also make a bench that can be useful in different spots around the house. Join your panels to create the seat then fix it onto the legs. Like the coffee table, you can be creative with the material for the legs if you don't want to stick with the flooring. This DIY bench can serve as a seat or table in the backyard or patio, in the bedroom at the foot of the bed, or at the entryway so you have seating when you take your shoes off.

Another creative way to repurpose leftover floor scraps after a renovation is to turn them into a tray or organizer. Just create a square or rectangular base and then attach planks on two or all four sides. To make it more durable so it can stand up to frequent use, coat the tray with water-based polyurethane. Then, to add functionality, attach handles on the sides so it's easy to carry around.

Whether you need a small rack for your keys at the front door or a rack for coats and bags, use your flooring scraps to create one. Choose a piece in the size you want or adhere smaller ones together, attach some hooks on the front with a cordless drill, and you're good to go. For a key holder, for example, consider this double prong hook at Lowe's which costs $4 and comes with the mounting hardware. If you want a no-spend hack, find old hooks around the house and use them instead.

Floor scraps can also serve as the base for personalized wall art or decorative plaques. Take your laminate or wood boards, cut them into shape, and stencil on what you want to display. You can put down some motivational quotes to place around the house or create room labels. You can also create a welcome sign or plaque with your family name for the front door. For mounting, fix your signs in place with nails or add some rope or string to them and hang them up so they can be moved easily.