17 Genius Ways To Repurpose Your Old Mattress Topper

With the impact nightly rest has on our mental, physical, and emotional health, we can't overlook the value of fresh bedding in providing the support needed for a deep, relaxing slumber. Updates and upgrades are essential, as various parts of the bedding assembly wear out. From the pillow to the mattress topper, every component has a limited lifespan, requiring regular swap outs to optimize your bedroom for the best night's sleep. 

In many cases, that means changing pieces that may still be in relatively good shape, despite not being ideal for your bed. Just because that mattress topper needs a replacement every 3 to 5 years, it probably still has enough life in it to find a second use in a clever repurposing project, with options including DIY draft stoppers, new seat cushions, and even effective soundproofing. From the decor possibilities to the new functional accessories they can create, the genius ways to reuse mattress toppers will likely surprise you. Think twice before tossing your old topper when it's ready for a change and consider one of these upcycling opportunities instead!

Beds help anchor the room's style, but their prices can easily make them an afterthought when you have other furniture to worry about. To cut corners and costs, why not consider a DIY build with your old mattress topper at the center of it? Size the topper for your desired headboard height and width. Then attach it to a matching piece of plywood and wrap it in fabric. Use one large piece for a simple headboard with your favorite colors and patterns in the material, or combine several small rectangular pieces for a modern, linear tufted design.

Every dog or cat deserves a comfy spot to rest, and it doesn't have to be on the sofa or your bed. Give your furry family member a pet bed they can't resist with inexpensive materials, like leftover fabrics and a repurposed mattress topper. Cut the topper to comfortably fit your pet as they lie down, folding it over into extra layers to make it even softer. Cover it in durable fabric, and you're done! You'll reclaim your furniture, your pet will enjoy optimal comfort wherever they go, and you can feel good reducing your footprint with a smart upcycle.

If you're not sure what to do with a mattress topper, DIYing a floor pillow is always a smart idea. Kids especially benefit from these versatile, portable, and easy-to-store sitting spots. Post them up in front of the TV or create a comfy reading nook. Depending on the size of the mattress topper, you may be able to squeeze several pillows from it, giving you a seating arrangement for playing games and plenty of extra pads for "floor is lava".

Indoors or outside, there's often at least one seat around the home that could use a little extra padding. Take that old mattress topper and give your window benches, wood dining chairs, and patio furniture a generous comfort boost. Simply cut the cushion to size and stitch a simple fabric cover to fit around it. If you can find and use an old blanket to make your new seat cushion, this DIY is practically free! Finish up by adding strips of fabric on the edges as ties to hold the cushion in place.

After knocking out your other DIYs, repurpose that last leftover bit of mattress topper into cushioning comfort by making a custom neck pillow! Cut some fabric pieces in the size and shape of your desired pillow and stitch the edges together, leaving a small gap so you can turn it inside out. Stuff the pillow with your cut-up topper, stitch the cover the rest of the way, and enjoy! If you have enough material, you can make these for the whole family, giving them their own personalized neck pillows while saving money.

Drafty doors and windows can increase your home heating costs by up to 30%, making it critical to add weather-stripping to keep the cold out and your monthly energy bill to a minimum. DIY draft blockers can be a quick and easy fix for doors and certain windows, especially if you have an old mattress topper to get rid of. Just cut a narrow section, roll it into a tube, and fit a fabric cover over it. With a single topper, you may be able to stop drafts at several doors in the house.

Is your decor in need of reviving? Accent pillows can inject color and flair into the living room while bridging the gap between conflicting elements to make the space feel harmonious. And if you have a mattress topper hanging around, you can make this update on the cheap. Get some inexpensive accent pillow covers and cut your mattress topper to fit snugly in them for a clean look and a plush feel.

Lower back support is vital if you want to avoid the poor posture and pain that come with prolonged sitting sessions. From the home office to the recliner, this is one issue you don't have to worry about when you have a handy lumbar pillow to tote around. This is a great way to repurpose a mattress topper, providing handy low-cost stuffing for a narrow fabric cover. Keep your pillow available for seats around the house. Make several with stylish fabrics, and they'll play a role in the decor when not in use.

After adding that new upholstered seat cushion, you'll undoubtedly need an ottoman to match. If you have a bare footstool in need of a fashion and comfort upgrade, reusing a mattress topper could be the ultimate way to give your feet luxuriously plush, conforming support. Cut your mattress topper to fit the footrest's dimensions. Then sew on a cover to match your surrounding furniture and stitch in some VELCRO strips to keep it attached to the ottoman's base.

Got a beanbag chair in desperate need of a refresh? Whether you have an old chair that could use more support or a new DIY chair that's ready for some stuffing, a worn mattress topper can contribute to the fix with its soft, conforming consistency. Shred your topper into small chunks and fill your beanbag chair, making adjustments as needed to reach your preferred comfort level.

Treasured items always seem to be the most fragile. When you have meaningful mementos, keepsakes, and decorations in storage, you'll want to ensure they stay protected from impacts and falls. This is easy to do if you have an old foam mattress topper lying around. Measure and cut pieces of foam to fit your storage bins and use them as soft, protective separators for Christmas ornaments, toys, glassware, and other delicate materials.

While neither a worn-out old mattress topper nor a dilapidated sofa cushion will offer much comfort, their combined forces can do wonders. Cut down your mattress topper to bolster the support in your couch, desk chair, and other compressed, broken-in seating around the house. If your seats have a hidden zipper along the bottom or back edge, putting in an extra layer is effortless. Add layers carefully until the cushion fabric fills and tightens. If you're reinforcing removable, reversible cushions, consider adding equal layers on both sides to balance the support.

If you need better acoustics for your home theater, old mattress toppers might be an ideal, low-budget solution to get you the soundproofing you need. Egg crate foam toppers are great at reducing echoes and make for easy installation, though any topper can offer at least some sound-dampening benefits. The look may not be too attractive, but it's nothing you can't improve with some fabric and other covers.

No playroom is ever too full, but finding novel toys to add can get expensive quickly. Take a budget- and kid-friendly route with a DIY using your old mattress toppers as filling for plush toy blocks. Layer several pieces of foam into a thicker block using spray adhesive and wrap them in fun fabrics. Make them small for playing catch and learning to juggle or create large stacking blocks. It's a simple project your kids will love and one you can always fall back on if you can't think of any other ways to repurpose an old mattress topper.

If it didn't offer such fulfillment, it's hard to imagine anyone would jump into the back-breaking work that comes with tending a sprawling garden. Constant kneeling to weed, plant, and maintain the area can put a ton of stress on the knees that you'll almost surely feel later. With a padded kneeler, you can protect your joints to stay pain free and work in your garden longer. Sure, you can always buy one, but if you have an old mattress topper, you only need to size it and wrap it in some weatherproof fabric for a cheap and super-simple solution.

Foam brushes are a handy painting and staining essential when working with oil-based products. Though they're typically cheap enough to buy new, why contribute to unnecessary waste when you can repurpose your leftover mattress topper foam into a near-limitless supply? Carefully slice the foam into the desired sizes and shapes to get the textures you want. Then stick skewers or attach popsicle sticks as handles, securing them with glue. You could even cut out fun shapes in the foam, creating easy-to-use stamps for unique decorations you and the kids can enjoy applying.

Kids always love a new toy, and making your own DIY plushie is a great way to give them a little burst of excitement without hurting your wallet. It doesn't have to get complicated. Simply shape a foam core and cover it in fabric before adding funny faces and delightful decorations. If you have stuffed toys that are starting to wear down, you may also be able to recycle some of your mattress topper as filling to bulk them back up.