10 Unique And Crafty Ways To Repurpose Ceiling Fan Blades In Your Home Or Yard

Is it time to replace your ceiling fan? If your current fan is making a lot of noise, not working properly, or rattling so hard you're worried it's going to fling itself right off the ceiling, it's probably time for a new one. Or, perhaps your ceiling fan is just plain dated and you're ready for a modern and stylish upgrade. Whatever the reason, when it's time to replace that old ceiling fan, we're left with the somewhat daunting task of figuring out what to do with the old one. While you could definitely keep it out of the landfill by donating it or giving it away, there are also a variety of unique and crafty ways you can repurpose the fan blades around your home and yard. For example, the ceiling fan blades can be used for kitchen storage, wall decor, and even as gorgeous garden accessories.

Most ceiling fan blades are made from wood, plastic, or metal. However, for the majority of these projects, it doesn't matter what material your fan blades are made of. That is, unless the project involves drilling into the blade, in which case a metal blade may not work. Additionally, if you love the idea of some of these upcycle projects but don't actually have any old ceiling fans to use, don't worry. You can always take a peek at your local antique store to see if there are any unique vintage ones you can use for these unique and crafty ceiling fan blade upcycles.

If you're looking for an upcycle that's both stylish and functional, you'll love these chic entryway storage hooks made from old ceiling fan blades. For the hooks, you'll be using the hardware pieces that attach the fan blade to the motor itself. However, you'll need to first take them off of the blades and then reattach them upside down so you can hang things on them. Feel free to paint or decorate the blades before reattaching the hardware. Although, if you're working with a stylish vintage fan blade, you can also leave it as is.

While there's nothing wrong with hanging a simple unframed mirror on your wall, you can really up your interior design game by creating a beautiful sunburst mirror out of old fan blades. All you need to do is decorate the fan blades and then attach them around a circular mirror to create a sunburst. You could paint the blades in a pretty floral pattern or even spray paint them with metallic gold to really lean into the sunny look. For a funky and eclectic style, paint the blades a bold and vibrant color.

An amazing way to repurpose ceiling fan blades in your yard is to turn them into a beautiful dragonfly yard decoration. In addition to the blades and their hardware, you will need a post to attach them to. Then, paint the blades to mimic dragonfly wings. For example, you could use iridescent colors and overlay them with faint black lines. When you're finished painting, attach the blades to the post using the fan hardware, and then give the dragonfly eyes and little antennas to pull it all together.

Decorative garden windmills are a classic and timeless choice for outdoor decor. Rather than purchasing one from your local garden store, consider building a windmill using old ceiling fan blades. Start this upcycle by removing the fan from your ceiling, decorating the blades, and then using a bracket to attach it to either a post so you can stand it up in your yard or onto a porch pillar. Remove the motor and any light fixtures before putting it outside, and if it's in a place where it can get wet, make sure it's weatherproof.

Not feeling up to pumpkin carving? Don't worry, you can still have an adorable Jack-o'-lantern for your porch by making one out of your old ceiling fan blade. To start, paint each of the blades orange, then use black paint to add the faces. Put the blades on a circular base, attach them so they're upright, and then feel free to add some grass or hay to the middle to spruce it up. You can also wrap twinkly lights around the blades to really give the illusion of a real Jack-o'-lantern.

Alternatively, you can repurpose an old ceiling fan blade into an adorable snowman decoration to display around your home or yard during the winter holidays. Give the blade a white coat of paint, then use black to add the face buttons, mouth, and any other components of the snowman. For a more realistic touch, repurpose old fabric scraps into a cute little hat and scarf for your snowman. To create a fun set of winter holiday decor, turn all of the fan blades into snowmen and display them on your porch or around a fireplace mantle.

A singular ceiling fan blade is perfect for repurposing into a welcome sign or greeting for your home. Simply decorate the blade with some paint or contact paper, then add the greeting using vinyl stickers or paint and stencils. Next, mount the greeting to the wall using brackets, or use the holes in the blade to hang it with twine. If you have several fan blades, you could repurpose them into a longer layered greeting by hanging them in horizontal rows with words on each blade.

Is your home in need of a few more places to set down your everyday items? One unique way to repurpose an old ceiling fan blade is to turn it into a miniature side table. While this upcycle will likely still work with narrower blades if you attach two together, it's probably best to use wider ones. To make the tables, you can repurpose old furniture legs you already have, or buy these SMARTSTANDARD Hairpin Furniture Legs and attach them underneath the decorative fan blade to support it.

While cabinets, counters, and drawers are the typical go-to's for kitchen storage, wall organizers can be incredibly useful as well, especially for items that you grab frequently. To DIY a wall mounted kitchen storage solution using an old fan blade, simply sew a few fabric pockets the same width as the fan blade. Then, attach them to the blade and hang it all on the wall utilizing the holes and/or hardware already on the blade. Once it's on the wall, slip your kitchen essentials inside and enjoy the extra storage.

Finally, you can't go wrong with transforming an old ceiling fan blade into a beautiful piece of wall art. Whether you paint a picturesque ocean scene like in the image featured above, a lovely sunset, or the starry night sky, this is a great way to not only express your creative side but also dress up your bare walls. This can be heaps of fun for a family or friend's crafting night, as each person can paint their own design onto one of the fan blades.