16 Stylish Ways To Repurpose Cabinet Pulls Around Your Home Or Garden

Cabinet pulls are everywhere — in our kitchens, bathrooms, and on our furniture — but, because they're so common, they have a tendency to fade into the background. What you may not realize is that there are a ton of opportunities to repurpose these items that may otherwise go to waste after a renovation or furniture upgrade. If you suddenly find yourself with a wealth of cabinet pulls — or if you simply enjoy browsing the selection at the vintage store — try your hand at turning them into something new with one of these creative projects (think wine stoppers, jewelry organizers, and towel holders). 

Whether you use them to DIY your own décor, give new life to an existing item, or craft a functional addition to your house, you can enjoy all the benefits of incorporating a new piece into your home without having to spend extra money on something store bought. Repurposing projects offer a fantastic chance to get creative with the things you already have, leaving you with a final product that's custom-catered to you, beneficial to the environment, and kind to your wallet.

Cabinet pulls provide a hand hold to help you open doors, but they can also act as a convenient spot to hang items. If you're looking for a way to mount your décor that's a bit more decorative than a plain nail or pushpin, consider using a cabinet pull instead. You can attach the cabinet pull to a piece of wood or repurposed cabinet door to easily mount it, or, if you're feeling crafty, you can slightly modify your handle so it's able to be attached to the wall without having to go completely through it.

One of the most popular ways to repurpose cabinet pulls is to turn them into a hanging rack, and for good reason. This DIY is incredibly simple to do on your own — all you need to do is secure the pulls to a piece of wood before mounting it on the wall — but it can be used for plenty of different purposes. Place it by the front door so you can hang keys and purses, use it in the bathroom as a towel rack, or mount it in the garage as a spot to store tools.

Holiday decorating on a budget can be a struggle, but this simple idea can give you the chance to make your own adorable mini Christmas tree in just a few seconds. Take your old cabinet pull, preferably one that already has a hole at the base, and flip it upside down to act as the bottom of your "tree." From there, snip off a piece of garland or twig from your tree to create the plant itself. If there isn't already a hole, however, you might have to create one with the help of a drill.

If you're looking for a way to add some interest and class to a decorative vignette, consider DIYing your own cloche. You'll only need three things: a dome-shaped glass object, like a serving bowl or glass light cover, some glue, and your cabinet pull. Make sure the glass piece fits over the items you want to display, then attach the cabinet pull to the top with some extra-strength glue to finish off the project. Once it's cured, you'll be able to use the cabinet pull as a handle to lift the cloche when needed.

Decorating your home with photos of your loved ones is a great way to make a space feel like it's truly your own, but frames can get expensive and take up quite a bit of space. Instead of framing your photos, try making a cute photo holder out of a cabinet pull and some wire. Creating the wire bit that will hold the photo will take some finessing with a pair of pliers, but once you're done, you can display and easily swap out photos without having to worry about fiddling with a frame.

Making your outdoor spaces welcoming to local wildlife can help attract pollinators and provide some fun birdwatching opportunities. If you don't have a birdhouse, however, don't fret — they're very easy to make on your own. After building a basic structure out of wood, metal, or other repurposed objects, it's time to finish everything off with a small perch that the birds can use to rest. Rather than settling on a plain peg, try installing a cabinet pull for a fun, upcycled twist that will make your birdhouse stand out among the rest.

Furniture obviously has a major impact on the look of a space, but if you're feeling like your existing pieces aren't exactly representative of your style, it might be time for an change. Rather than spending a ton of money on new furniture, try first making a simple swap like switching out the hardware. This is a great way to repurpose old cabinet and drawer pulls that you previously used elsewhere in the home. Even a minor upgrade like this can completely change the look of a piece, helping it to better align with your taste.

If you don't have much of a green thumb, but you're still looking for a way to bring some freshness into your space, try making this tiny planter out of an old drawer pull. While the tiny hole at the back of a pull certainly won't be big enough to act as a pot for an average-sized plant, it can make a great base for a tiny succulent or air plant. Because the entire thing is so small and won't require much care to keep alive, this is a great gift idea or low-maintenance office decoration.

Wine stoppers offer a convenient way to keep your wine fresh after it's been opened, but they also provide a great opportunity to get crafty and play around with your existing items. Simply insert a threaded cabinet pull of your choice into a spare cork to make it easier to grab, and to also spruce it up a bit. You can also use glue to ensure the pull doesn't pop out. This is a chance for you to completely DIY your own stopper — they make great gifts.

Home décor doesn't need to be expensive to feel luxe, and this simple trivet idea is the perfect example. If you have a piece of scrap wood lying around, give it a coat of stain or paint, then attach some cabinet pulls to the bottom to act as feet. This can be used as a platform to prop up other décor pieces, as a spot to place hot plates so you don't damage your surfaces, or even as a tiny tray table to help you enjoy a breakfast in bed without spills.

If you enjoy hosting events or are looking for a way to add some more interest to your surfaces, consider making your own DIY serving tray. The base can be just about anything that's sturdy and flat — a slab of wood, for example, or even a repurposed baking sheet. Give the base a sand, coat of paint, or layer of stain, if desired, then finish it off with some repurposed cabinet pulls along the edges to accessorize it further and make it easier to carry around.

Even when you carefully stow your pieces away in a jewelry box, necklaces have a frustrating tendency to tangle up and become full of kinks and knots. Because of this, it's best to keep them hanging on an organizer. To DIY your own jewelry organizer, all you need are some cabinet pulls and a piece of wood. Mount the pulls on the wood, then hang it on your wall. Small round pulls are great for necklaces and bracelets, but cup and bar pulls can also be used as a spot to store and display dangly earrings.

There are a ton of different ways to reuse old glass jars around the house, but if you want to make something that's truly unique to your style, you're going to have to get creative with the way you accessorize them. To make your own fashionable bathroom storage, paint the lids of your jars your desired color, then attach a cabinet pull on top with some strong glue. This pull will bring some interest to the piece, as well as make your storage jars easier to open and close.

Pulls and handles make it easier to open your cabinets and doors, but they can also be repurposed as a way to conveniently carry items. Just about anything can be turned into a basket or caddy with the addition of a pull. Use this idea to create a caddy to help you transport your gardening tools as you work, to transform a cumbersome crate into something that's easier to transport, or even as a way to DIY a unique and reusable Easter basket that can be repurposed down the line.

In the kitchen, it's not uncommon to use cabinet pulls as a convenient spot to hang towels, so why not utilize this same line of thinking in your next repurposing project? Attach an old cabinet pull to the side of a piece of furniture or directly on the wall, then use it to hang or thread through a towel for easy access. This, of course, can be done in the kitchen or bathroom, but it's also a great idea to utilize in spaces where you frequently get your hands dirty, like the garage or garden potting shed.

Tiered trays can be used to both display food and elevate your décor pieces, but if you feel like yours is lacking a bit of glamour, try topping it off with an old cabinet pull. This is a very simple DIY — all you need to do is screw your cabinet pull into the top of the tray or glue it on with some extra-strength glue — but it can help to add a pop of decoration, transform an old piece into something that feels brand new, and make it a easier to carry.