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How to Upcycle Old Appliances with These 14 Nifty Ideas

By Jennifer Poindexter
Jennifer Poindexter

Jennifer is a full-time homesteader who started her journey in the foothills of North Carolina in 2010. Currently, she spends her days gardening, caring for her orchard and vineyard, raising chickens, ducks, goats, and bees. Jennifer is an avid canner who provides almost all food for her family needs. She enjoys working on DIY remodeling projects to bring beauty to her homestead in her spare times.

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Do you have older appliances you either need to upcycle or find a way to breathe new life into them?

If the appliances still work, you may be able to save money by revamping them. By doing this, it’ll give you an updated look without spending a fortune.

Even if the appliances have stopped working, you may still be able to find a practical use for them. Check out these incredibly creative ideas before sending your outdated or broken appliances to the landfill.

These amazing ideas on how to upcycle old appliances could be just the ticket to inspire you and simplify your life with what you already have on hand:

1. Washing Machine Fire Pit

how to upcycle old appliances, make a fire pit

If your washing machine has finally bit the dust, don’t toss it to the curb yet. Instead, pull out the drum inside the machine.

You can utilize this tutorial to transform the drum into a unique and nearly free fire pit. Get ready to have great times around the fire pit your washing machine provided even after years of laundry service.

Also, check out our post on a DIY chicken plucker where they also made brilliant use of a broken washing machine.

2. The Coffee Pot Terrarium

Has your percolator seen better days? Are you getting ready to pitch it in the garbage because it doesn’t do what it was intended to do anymore?

Before you throw it in the trash, keep the coffee pot and consider using it to build your own terrarium. It would be a unique decorative item for your home which would cost next to nothing to create.

3. Vintage Blender Lamp

upcycle old appliances from a blender to a lamp

I remember having this type of blender growing up. It makes me feel a little nostalgic when I look at it. If you have an old or unused blender, give this idea a chance.

Unfortunately, this is only an idea and doesn’t come with a tutorial, but if you’re into building your own lamps you may be able to figure it out.

4. Washing Machine Drum Seating

upcycle old appliances as an extra seat

Are you low on seating around your home, but you’re also on a budget? Don’t get discouraged. Instead, use what you already have.

You can use an old washing machine drum to make this creative and unique chair. It’ll give you additional seating without additional cost.

You can be highly creative in painting it, adding wheels to the bottom and you can also use the inside for extra storage space – a win-win in my book.

5. Washing Machine Floor Lamp

Purchasing lighting for your home can be a kick to your wallet. If you’re working on a meager budget but need lighting for your home, consider putting an old appliance to work in a new way.

If you have a washing machine which no longer works, don’t toss it to the curb. Use this awesome tutorial to build a functional floor lamp.

6. Retro Fish Tank

It’s amazing how far things have come. When I was growing up, we had the large boxed TV set which sat on the floor.

Now, our televisions are flat and hang on a wall. However, if you hung onto your old box television set, you’ll be happy to know you can use it in a new way by converting it to a fish tank.

7. Refrigerator Doghouse

Has your refrigerator stopped working? Does the repairman say it isn’t worth fixing? Instead of tossing the fridge to the curb, toss it to the backyard.

You can lean the fridge on its side and remove the doors. It can be converted into a functional doghouse for little money.

8. From Armoire to Mini-Bar

Having a minibar in your home isn’t as common today as it was 30 years ago, but if you want to take a step back in time, incorporate one into your living room.

It doesn’t need to be fancy. You can use an old television cabinet and transform it into the perfect mini-bar which can be seen when in use and closed when you’re finished.

9. Upcycle Old Appliances From a Fridge to an Ice Chest

upcycle old appliances from a fridge to an ice chest

Do you enjoy entertaining? When you have lots of company, it’s vital to have enough ice to keep the drinks flowing.

You don’t need to leave bags of ice sitting everywhere. Instead, convert an old fridge into a pretty ice chest. It’ll function without being an eyesore.

10. The Mudroom Sink

This idea doesn’t come with a tutorial, but it’s an amazing idea on how to upcycle old appliances if you’re crafty enough to figure out how to recreate it.

If you have an old stove, remove the burners. Add the sink where the burners once were. Use the pull-out drawers for storage.

11. From White to Stainless Steel for Under $30

You have older white appliances, but you wish they were newer stainless-steel appliances. The problem is, your wishlist is larger than your budget.

What should you do? You can utilize this tutorial to fix your white appliances to look like they are stainless steel, and the best part is you can do it for less than $25.

12. The Gorgeous French Fridge

Would you love to upcycle old appliances so they look like they are part of your cabinetry? It’s a gorgeous look for your kitchen, but you’ll pay a pretty penny for them.

If you don’t have the money to replace your old fridge but would love a new look, consider converting it to a gorgeous French-style fridge.

13. Painting Your Fridge

Many people are learning how to transform the appliances they have into the appliances they dream about.

You can trim out your fridge in wood which makes it easier for painting. Once trimmed, paint your fridge and make it into a gorgeous masterpiece.

14. Stenciled Washer and Dryer

We’ve all had boring appliances in our lifetime. They’re the kind which function, but they don’t add anything to a room.

If your laundry room is suffering from this currently, consider using stencils to freshen up your washer and dryer. It’ll give your room a whole new look for little investment.

You now have 14 different ways to upcycle old appliances, or even improve dull or broken appliances. Hopefully, the ideas will either give your home new life or give you added convenience by using what you have available.

Learning to upcycle old appliances can not only reduce the amount of waste we have in our world, but it can save a ton of money along the way. Enjoy getting creative and using what you have to the fullest of your ability.

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