Turn Your Vintage Ties Into Custom Home Decor With These TikTok Hacks

If you're creative, it's impossible to look at ties without wondering what can be made from them. That's especially true for vintage ties, with their often striking colors, patterns, materials, and days-gone-by construction. While they've become a go-to material in upcycled fashion, old ties are also trending for other imaginative uses. Don't toss them because there are ways to repurpose your ties around the house. With some simple hacks taken from influencers on TikTok, you can turn vintage ties into custom home decor.

The easiest yet most brilliant hack is to use them as curtain tiebacks. Not only is it a practical repurpose, but it's also one that can bring unexpected pops of color into the home. You can cut a tie in half so that it can be used on both curtain panels, or you can use two different ties for a complementary look. Of course, you'll have to install a tieback hook. It's generally recommended that it is placed a third of the way up from the bottom of a curtain. Of course, if you don't have curtains or want a different way to use your vintage ties, there are plenty of other options around the house, too.

Pillows are the one budget-friendly item that makes your living room cozier. With a vintage tie, they can also make a room more colorful (and easy to change each season). Wrap the tie around the pillow and fasten it to the material with a fancy brooch. The only thing challenging about this upcycle is finding a throw pillow that the tie is long enough to wrap around. 

Another option is to upcycle a tie to give your lampshade a fresh look, using Velcro or double-sided tape for adhesive. This looks best with the skinny part of the tie because it's the same length from end to end. Cut the tie, and use it on a lampshade that's narrow enough. These are just a few ideas and once you start upcycling your ties, the only limits are your imagination and getting your hands on enough ties.

Thankfully, it's easy enough to source inexpensive vintage ties at thrift shops, garage sales, and estate clear-outs. One reason they are plentiful is that ties have become a casualty of more casual office dress codes, going the way of suits, cufflinks, and dress shoes. There's usually a wide secondhand selection, and you won't be competing with others to pick through piles to find the best ties. But also consider reimagining ties that have special meaning to you, such as those left behind by loved ones. Take those ties out of that box in the attic and give them a new life in the home.