18 Ways To Repurpose Old Stuffed Animals Around The House And Garden

Are your storage bins overflowing with once-loved stuffed animals you just can't bear the thought of parting with? Whether the well-loved plushies are yours from years ago or it's time to clean out your kid's collection, there's no need to throw away stuffed animals that have been loyal companions. Old plushies can be repurposed in countless ways around the home and garden, ranging from reusing them as a phone holder to a festive wreath to a garden statue. These projects are beginner-friendly and a great way to keep beloved items from ending up in the trash or landfill.

Most of these household repurposing projects require just basic crafting tools and a bit of creativity. Some of the most essential items include hot glue guns and glue sticks, needles and thread, and fabric scissors. You might also need specialized supplies such as zippers, buttons, sand or rice (for weighting), fabric scraps, and sturdy tie back cords. Sewing skills can be handy but aren't always required, as hot glue guns or strong adhesives often do the trick. Before starting, make sure to spot-clean the toys if necessary (hand-washing and air-drying are best to avoid damage) and look them over for hazards like loose buttons.

Tired of losing your phone in your bedsheets every night? One simple way to keep tabs on your mobile phone is to create a DIY phone holder out of a stuffed animal. This is an ideal way to repurpose old plushies while creating a functional phone holder you can use not only near your bed at night but in any room of the house. You'll need to remove the stitching in the back and hot glue a phone case inside. Now, you'll have tabs on your phone as it's being held for you.

Help cut down on clutter from all of those extra plush toys by using an old stuffed animal to create the base for a cozy pet bed. There are several ways to approach this repurposing hack, including simply using the stuffing as filling for a new bed or cutting open a large, flat stuffed animal, using a pair of nylons filled with stuffing on the exterior border, and then adding filling to the middle and stitching around it. Be sure to remove any small pieces, like eyes or a nose, for safety.

There are plenty of novelty backpacks on the market, ranging from popular characters to ones with cute and cuddly stuffed animals. Instead of having to pay the high price tag for these specialty items, why not turn an old stuffed animal into a functional backpack? This hack involves creating a pouch inside the stuffie and adding straps so you can wear it anywhere. You can complete this repurposing hack with just a needle and thread, but a sewing machine would be helpful. Consider simply storing items inside and displaying it in a children's bedroom as well.

Take care of those extra stuffed animals and make extra seating at the same time by using them as a bean bag filler. You'll need to gather clean old plushies and add the toys into a bean bag cover to make a comfy seat. This trick turns cleanup into a relaxing reward for adults and children alike. Once the bag is full, you've got a soft ottoman or floor cushion ready for lounging. You can also use the extracted fluff from stuffies to refill a flat beanbag.

Do you have an old chair frame or a sturdy chair that just needs cushioning to be functional? Create your very own stuffed animal chair by attaching plush toys to it. You can add a zip-tie assortment of stuffed animals onto an open-frame chair and form an amazing conversation piece for a playroom or any room of the house. This upcycled furniture project corrals dozens of toys into one functional sculpture that delights kids and gives a new purpose to those once-loved plush toys.

Create a cruelty-free trophy wall by mounting plush animal heads as decor. This is ideal for those who enjoy the design aspect of a taxidermy wall without having to actually have one in their homes. To do this, remove the stuffed animal head, attach it to a piece of wood, and use your preferred method to hang it from the wall. The result is deliberately whimsical, perfect for a nursery or game room, and a great conversation starter that saves toys from the landfill.

Instead of tossing out all of your old plush items, why not go through them and find a few options for your pet to play with? Just like their toys, something soft and cuddly can make a great play item for pets in their as-is condition for some stuffed animals. What you'll need to do is watch out for any loose items, like eyes or buttons, that can pop off and be a choking hazard. Be sure to remove these before giving them to your pet, and always supervise during playtime for safety.

Another way to repurpose stuffies is to turn them into DIY stuffed animal decor in the form of a doorstop or draft blocker. These items are typically used to keep doors open or shut or to stop cold air from getting inside, but who says you can't have an adorable friend help with this? You can create a weighted stuffed animal from an old plush to stop those annoying door slams with the addition of some fill material. Some common fill materials include sand, beads, and rice.

It can get expensive to purchase new wreaths and decorations for every holiday. One way to make this process cheaper is to get creative and make your own front door wreath. You can customize the look of this home decor by adding a plush animal to the wreath. Attach it with zip ties instead of a more permanent solution like glue if you want to change up the stuffed animal from holiday to holiday. Only try this hack if your front door is covered, though, as the plushie would wear down quickly in rain or snow.

Does your home decor need a refresh but you don't want to run out and buy all new items? One way to feel like you have a brand new lamp without having to purchase one is to DIY your very own stuffed animal lamp. You'll need to use a lamp similar in size to the stuffed animal and then create an opening to slide the cord through the lamp. However, ensure you keep the stuffed elements away from the bulb so there's less risk of a fire or overheating.

While large stuffed animals can become a clutter issue in the home, it can be just as challenging to deal with small toys that seem to build up in every drawer or corner. Instead of tossing them out, use small stuffed toys as the main feature for a keychain accessory. You can carry these on a backpack or purse or hang them from a key holder by your front door for a fun decorative touch. Add a thick stitch to the toy, and then you can attach the keyring to the new loop.

Want a fun place to hide your extra cash or other valuable items? You can create a hidden "safe" inside a stuffed animal in this unsuspecting repurposing hack. Start by separating the head and body and remove just a portion of stuffing from each. Put a mason jar into the body and hot glue the lid into the head. You may want to tie a ribbon around the jar's mouth to hide it. Now, you have a storage area that unscrews to reveal the jar but is completely hidden from wandering eyes.

Keep your favorite stuffed animals on display with a more modern approach by using the toys as 3D wall art. You can choose how you want to showcase them by matching the approach to your decor or going outside the box to help the design stand out. For example, if the stuffed animal is small, you can add it to a frame for a polished look. You can also hang them from the wall outright and use several different ones to make a pattern or help fill empty space that goes beyond basic framed photos.

Have you always wanted to take your stuffed animal friends outside but didn't want to ruin their soft material? Now, you can proudly display your plush toys in the garden by turning them into a concrete statue. You'll need to completely cover the toy in concrete to help hold it in a solid shape as well as protect it from the elements. Once the concrete sets, dress up your stuffed animal or add fun embellishments like googly eyes before standing them outside in your flower beds or by the front door.

Love the look of a bearskin rug but prefer a cruelty-free option for your home? That oversized teddy bear that's been taking up space in the corner of the playroom is the perfect item for this faux rug project. It's simple to execute, too. You'll need to remove all of the stuffing from the bear before sewing up the openings made for this step. Be sure to keep all of the stuffing in the head portion of the toy for the most realistic bearskin rug appearance.

Another way to repurpose an old stuffed animal is to turn it into a hand puppet that can be used not only to entertain little ones but also as adorable home decor. This is a relatively simple project that requires you to remove the inner portion of the plush and create a finished edge where the stitching is removed. When you're not using the puppets for a show, display them by hanging them from the wall or create their very own toy box home.

Who says plush toys and greenery don't mix? You can turn an old stuffed animal into a planter that can be used both indoors and outside. For this DIY planter idea, you'll need to create a cast of your stuffed animal or use cement to coat it as a way to solidify and protect the soft elements. Next, you can add the plushie to your favorite existing planter or use the arms to hold a planter on display. While this can be a messy way to repurpose old stuffed animals, it will keep them functional for years.

You can easily brighten any room by repurposing old stuffed animals into curtain tiebacks. Start by using a small plushie like a teddy bear and attach a cord to each of its paws. Then, you can tie the cords around the curtain. Besides providing personalized detail to kids' bedrooms, this also keeps sentimental toys displayed and out of the trash. Overall, this turns practical window treatments into decor accents with nostalgic appeal.