12 Fun Ways To Repurpose Old Rain Boots In The Home Or Garden

Rubber rain boots can last for years if you treat them right, defending your feet from dampness and mud when frolicking outdoors or working in your garden. Even if your boots have seen better days or have begun to fall apart, there are numerous cool DIY projects that allow you to repurpose an old pair of rain boots for functional or decorative pieces with just a few modifications. From outdoor planters to gorgeous holiday centerpieces, rubber boots can offer a wealth of possibilities. 

You can use an old pair of your own much-loved worn boots, a pair of kids boots now outgrown, or boots you find from thrift stores and other secondhand venues. You can leave them in their original color or paint them with spray paint or acrylics, as well as add decorative details like lace, trim, beading, and other accents with hot glue or a water resistant adhesive like E6000. After that, they're ready to begin a whole new life of decorative adventure.

With their waterproof construction, rubber rain boots are excellently suited for serving as fun planters. Fill them with soil, add a few holes along the bottom, and insert your favorite plants to create stunning spring garden décor using those old rain boots. Drive screws or nails through the top to hang them from a garden wall or set them next to your door or at the base of your porch steps for adorable and whimsical containers.

Because of their supple and smooth surface, it's very easy to turn a pair of rain boots into a work of art using acrylic paints. Start with a coat of white primer and then add decorative details, scenic images, or adorable wildlife creatures. Use them alone as cute and whimsical showpieces, or enlist them to hold flowers as a centerpiece or hung on the wall. 

Fill your old boots with birdseed to create a fun twist on conventional bird feeders. Just cut away the top portion of the foot and add some wire mush inside to help hold the seed in place. The shaft of the boot offers a large capacity of food to keep wildlife well-fed. You could also drill some holes to poke some wooden dowels through the boots to serve as perches. You can also turn any boot into a stunning birdhouse for feathered friends with lots of space inside.

Fill your boots with rocks or pebbles and put a few holes in the top of foot and along the side. Plant a series of tiny succulents in these holes and filling the top. Place it outside or in your home as a perfect vertical container garden. Remember to drill a few holes through the soles for drainage. Leave the boots in their original finish or paint them to match your indoor or outdoor décor. 

If your downspout empties too close to the house and you don't have an elbow-shaped piece of pipe, use a rain boot as a great hack for proper drainage. The water will empty through the boot and out the front through the hole you've cut in the toe. Since the boots are very durable, this is a great temporary fix or as a clever, longer-term solution that is sure to bring a smile to visitors. 

Use a pair of children's rain boots to make an adorable centerpiece for your holiday table. Add foam inserts into the boot cavities and stick in an assortment of holiday pics like greenery, small gifts, berries, ornaments, and other accents. Tie or use hot glue to place the boots side by side then add a decorative holiday ribbon around the top of both. This is a charming way to hang onto a childhood memento. 

For another adorable holiday idea using rain boots, create Santa's boots from a pair of black adult rain boots. Use cotton or microfiber battling glued around the top perimeter of the boots and add buckles with gold paper or paint. Set these adorable boots near your fireplace, holiday tree, or on your front porch. You can fill them with poinsettias or wintertime branches. To keep them from falling over, add sand or pebbles to the bottom of each boot.

For a stylish and whimsical addition to your door décor, use a pair of smaller boots or one large boot to hang on your door in a floral arrangement perfect for springtime showers. Add some floral foam inside and your favorite faux flowers in the boot. Since the boots are waterproof and one of many common household items that can be repurposed as planters, you could also use reservoir foam inside allowing you to water and arrange fresh flowers inside as well. 

Combine an old pair of jeans and some boots to create this hilarious upcycled planter for your garden that can sit on a bench or table. Stuff the legs of the jeans with a filler like plastic bags, straw, or paper and use the top of the jeans to set a potted plant in. Add the boots below and over the cuff of the pants to provide realistic detail. 

A single boot (or a pair) makes a stylish and creative umbrella stand perfect for a porch, mudroom, or entryway. Paint it gold with spray paint for a polished look or leave the original color. Place a stone or other weight inside for added stability. Each boot can hold several folded umbrellas or walking sticks. Making your own boot umbrella stand is a budget-friendly alternative to the boot-shaped ceramic or brass options sold by retailers. 

Shown above with cowboy boots, this fun take on traditional Christmas stockings adds a little more variation to your fireplace styling. Line your old boots (painted Christmas red, if you like) with a flannel interior and use them as a stocking. You can also fill them with small decorative packages, greenery, and other holiday décor to hang on your mantel. Alternatively, the boot can serve as a solid form to cover with a fabric or crocheted decorative sleeve.

Use a pair of rain boots as a mold to create adorable concrete statues. Leave them solid to use as garden sculptures or doorstops, or create a recess in the middle to hold plants. You can even cut away the boot around it to retain the rubber sole and toes of the original boots as decoration. Add other details like twine, laces, or ribbon to customize the boots.