Repurpose Placemats: Creative Ways, Storage Solutions, And DIY Ideas

Repurposing placemats is a simple and creative solution to extend their usefulness while reducing your waste output. Instead of simply discarding your worn or outdated placemats, consider reinventing them into stylish and functional decor pieces.

Fabric placemats could be sewn into decorative pillow covers, drawer liners, or tote bags, while vinyl placemats work well as shelf protectors, DIY coasters, or small storage bins. You could even transform bamboo or woven placemats into table runners, wall art, or placemat organizers.

The repurpose placemats trend allows for an array of practical and aesthetic upgrades to your home. It only takes a few simple tools and a little imagination to modify placemats to fit different spaces and needs. Whether you are new to DIY projects or have a lot of experience in crafting, repurposing placemats is a fantastic way to add character to your home and be environmentally responsible.

Frame or hang decorative placemats to create budget-friendly artwork that adds a touch of personality to any room. With a little creativity, these could make excellent additions to your home decor while reducing waste.

DIY Storage Bins

Fold and sew fabric placemats into small storage baskets you could use to store household items. This will take a little trial and error but, with strong adhesive, you could add some useful household items and cut your waste down.

Table Runners

Stitch multiple placemats together to create a unique and personalized table runner. This could add style and creativity to your table decorations and breathe new life into old placemats that would otherwise go into the trash. Customized table runners are stylish and practical solutions.

Pet Food Mats

Use an old placemat under pet bowls to catch spills and make cleaning easier. It doesn’t matter if these mats get stained as they are just for the pets anyway. This will keep your placemats from the trashcan and also avoid you having to buy pet food mats from the store.

Drawer Liners

Cut your placemats to size and apply them as stylish, easy-to-clean liners that you can put in kitchen or dresser drawers. These add a touch of class to your storage and bring the practical benefit of protecting the drawers against dust and stains, all while reducing your waste.

Plant Pot Covers

Wrap old placemats around plant pots to add a fresh and decorative touch. These add visual appeal to your houseplants and also help to avoid stains from water that leaks through the bottom when you feed your plants.

DIY Coasters

Old placemats can be cut into smaller squares or circles to create bases for your custom coaster designs. This will unlock limitless creativity, reducing your waste while adding functional and pleasing tabletop accessories to protect your surfaces. If you are interested in personalized coasters, our service allows you to create custom drink coasters at competitive prices.

Laptop Or Desk Mat

A durable placemat could be repurposed as a desk protector to keep your surfaces clean and scratch-free. A laptop or desk mat is an important addition to your workspace, and you can reduce your waste while adding stylish desktop additions with this idea. You might also want to order a custom mouse pad to add to the stylish look.

Shelf Protectors

Line your pantry or bathroom shelves with placemats for a practical and decorative touch. Shelves in these locations are prone to scratches and spills, which can damage their surfaces. By repurposing your old placemats this way, you add protection while reducing your waste output.

Upholstered Chair Seats

Cover small chair seats with fabric placemats for a simple and stylish refresh. This will make the most of the aesthetic appeal of your placemats and breathe new life into old chairs whilst ensuring you send less to landfill.

Old placemats can be transformed into a variety of creative and functional items, so they are an excellent resource for upcycling. Studies have found that there are many environmental benefits to upcycling, so it is a trend worth joining in with.

Let’s look at a few ideas for inspiration:

• Fabric placemats: These can be cut and sewn into repurpose placemats projects like placemat pouches, laptop sleeves, or reusable shopping bags.
• Vinyl placemats: You could repurpose these into protective covers for tabletops, turn them into durable floor mats for pet food bowls, or reinvent them as drawer organizers.
• Cork or bamboo placemats: Cut these into different shapes for DIY coaster ideas, or transform them into things like trivets or decorative wall art.
• Patterned/textured placemats: Consider framing these for an instant piece of art to display.

One creative idea is to stitch or glue multiple placemats together to create a unique, handmade table runner. Upcycling old placemats not only saves money but also reduces your waste. This means it is a sustainable and stylish option for improving your home.

Repurposing placemats into home decor is an excellent way to give them new life whilst enhancing your space. One creative idea is to transform fabric placemats into decorative throw pillow covers. You would only need to sew two placemats together and leave room for stuffing or an insert.

Let’s look at a few other options:

• Artwork: Vinyl or woven placemats with chic designs can be mounted on walls for unique artwork.
• Surface protectors: Whether for shelves, nightstands, coffee tables, or vanities, placemats can make excellent surface protectors.
• Coasters: You could cut your placemats into smaller shapes and repurpose them as drink coasters. The best coaster materials can be water-resistant or absorbent, so this is a versatile decorative choice.

You could also repurpose placemats into photo backdrops, DIY clocks, or even lampshade covers for an artistic touch. These creative projects can add a decorative touch with a little crafting, whether you use your placemats as-is or modify them for a completely new function.

Placemats can be for more than just dining. You can actually apply them for a wide range of purposes beyond the table. There are various creative ideas for this, from creating decorative drawer liners to art stations or playdough mats.

Let’s look at a few ideas for your old placemats:

• Drawer liners: Protect surfaces and add a pop of color.
• Storage bins: Woven or vinyl placemats are ideas for folding and securing the edges to create small storage baskets.
• Laptop sleeves: Stitch together fabric placemats to make laptop sleeves or travel pouches.
• Feeding mats: Repurpose placemats into pet food mats that catch spills and keep feeding areas clean.
• Art station protectors: Whether for painting or playdough, placemats can be used to protect surfaces where your children like to get creative.
• Cushion reinforcements: This can be a practical way to resume your old placemats beyond dining.

If you need a replacement for your old placemats, consider ordering custom personalized coasters with our service. They are a more compact way to protect your tabletops, and they can be customized in any way you like, with various materials and generous bulk discounts available.

Whether you have brand-new or worn-out placemats, upcycling is a great way to add a fresh touch to your home. Did you know that synthetic fibers take 80 to 800 times longer to decompose than natural fibers like cotton? If you have placemats made from synthetic fabrics, upcycling is a far more sustainable option than putting them into landfill.

Cloth placemats can be dyed, painted, or stitched into tote bags, while vinyl placemats can be reshaped into small storage containers or decorative wall panels. To repurpose placemats, you could try sewing multiple cloth ones together to create a quilted table runner or bed throw. Alternatively, vinyl placemats with stylish patterns could be framed for easy DIY wall art, similar to using coaster display ideas.

Another creative upcycling option is to use heat-resistant placemats as things like:

• Ironing board covers
• A protective surface for craft projects

With a little creativity, you can repurpose placemats to make practical and beautiful additions to your home while reducing waste.

Sealing placemats is important for enhancing durability, particularly if they are made from fabrics or natural materials like bamboo. A good way to repurpose placemats is to apply a waterproof sealant to protect against stains and spills.

These are ideal solutions to make coasters waterproof, but they work for placemats as well. Let’s look at a couple of important considerations:

• Fabric placemats: Spray fabric sealants or iron-on vinyl sheets to add a moisture-resistant finish.
• Vinyl placemats: These can be treated with a clear acrylic spray for added protection.
• Wood/bamboo placemats: A coat of polyurethane pr Mod Podge works well.

Properly sealed placemats are easier to clean and last longer, so they are more functional both for dining and upcycled projects.

Instead of throwing away old placemats, consider refurbishing them to give them a new look. With some acrylic paint, you could paint vinyl or wooden placemats to refresh faded designs. Fabric placemats, meanwhile, can be embellished with things like lace, beads, or decorative trim to repurpose them into stylish table accessories.

If you find that the edges of woven placemats have started to fray, you could reinforce them with decorative stitching or fabric glue. Add a modern touch with stenciled patterns on plain placemats, using fabric paint or spray paint to enhance their appearance.

Even slightly damaged placemats can be refurbished by cutting them into smaller pieces for coasters or drawer liners. If you want to get high-quality, purpose-built custom drink coasters to replace your placemats, work with us to bring your personalized designs to life in a range of materials with professional results.