30 Genius Ways to Restyle Old Denim
As much as we love buying a new seasonal wardrobe, there’s something satisfying about saving your hard-earned cash and giving an old pair of jeans or a denim button-up shirt a new shot at being fashionable. Open your wardrobe (and your wallet!) up to new possibilities with these 30 ways to repurpose your denim. We’ve got a little bit of everything from trendy accessories to pieces of home decor, so don’t send those old cutoffs packing just yet.
1. DIY Cool Jeans: We give all things color blocked a solid thumbs up. These painted jeans offer a fun way to spruce up an old pair of pants. (via EmerJa)
2. DIY Distressed Jeans: Distressed jeans are all the rage right now, and if you have a pair you wouldn’t mind sacrificing to the trend, here’s a tutorial on how to get the look for free. (via My Little Secrets)
3. Denim Whale Toy: Before donating those jeans to charity, try making this cute little guy for any new babies in your life. (via Valaan Villapaita Diaries)
4. Denim Bucket: Make a handy little pocket to clean up your desk from all those doodads that clutter up your space. (via Curly Made)
5. Monogram Denim Shirt: Dress up an old shirt or make a gift with a fun personalized monogram. (via La Vie DIY)
6. Lace Jean Shorts: Go for a bohemian classic with some hand-stitched lace that can easily be removed if you ever get tired of the look. (via Love Maegan)
7. Polka Dot Jeans: The hardest part of this DIY is deciding what color you want to make the polka dots. (via Swell Mayde)
8. Denim Heart Bookmark: The hand stitching on this little corner bookmark is adorable and would make a sweet gift for any book lovers you know. (via The Cheese Thief)
9. Embellished Shirt: Colder weather means more collared shirts; we love the idea of adding some extra bling and sparkle to last season’s standbys. (via A Splendid Assemblage)
10. Scarf Denim Shirt: Repurposing an old scarf into a brand new shirt is as easy as measuring and cutting. (via Swell Mayde)
11. Leather Cuff Jeans: Ideal for cooler weather and an easy way to add an expensive-looking touch to your jeans, these leather cuffs are super simple to DIY. (via Brit + Co)
12. Denim Cocktail Napkins: Some jean scraps, bleach and stencils are all you need to rock these sturdy little coasters. (via Brit + Co)
13. Black and White Striped Denim: Vertical stripes will make your legs go on for miles. (via Swell Mayde)
14. Denim Lace Shirt: A perfect project for a novice sewer, just replace the back of an old denim shirt with a piece of pretty lace. (via A Beautiful Mess)
15. Studded Denim: Give your jeans some edge by adding little studs down each leg. (via Swell Mayde)
16. Printed Denim: Printed jeans are perfect for fall, and you can customize them with any pattern you love, from florals to paisley to geo shapes. (via Swell Mayde)
17. Monogram Jean Jackets: Jean jackets are practically begging to be personalized. Why settle for plain old studs when you can paint them fun colors? (via Brit + Co)
18. Dyed Chambray Shirts: Bust out your stencils and paint to add some color to your denim shirts. (via Brit + Co)
19. Updated Cutoff Shorts: We all have a pair of shorts that we just never wear, so why not give them a new shot at being fashionable with a dip-dye ombre job? (via Brit + Co)
20. Denim Snack Bag: This makes a cute lunch bag, but we would happily carry around all kinds of things in it. (via Between the Lines)
21. Dotted Denim Skirt: Get all up in those spots with a bleach dot job on a black denim skirt. (via I Spy DIY)
22. Studded Collar: Why would you ever have a plain old collar when you can have one as cool as this studded one? (via A Beautiful Mess)
23. Pocket Update: Update the pockets on your button-ups with a colorful fabric. (via Brit + Co)
24. Triangle Studded Denim Jeans: The only thing better than studs are studs in geometric shapes. Talk about a win-win design. (via I Spy DIY)
25. DIY Hem: If you’re a little bit on the petite side, you know how hard it is to find jeans in the right length, so here is our super easy hem hack for all those jeans that are a just little too long. (via Brit + Co)
26. Button Lunch Bags: Get inspired to make lunches instead of ordering takeout with these adorable denim bags. (via Purl Bee)
27. DIY Skinny Jeans: If you love the way your flared jeans fit but only want to rock the skinny jeans these days, check out this easy tutorial on how to turn that flare into a skinny leg with just a zipper. (via Brit + Co)
28. Bleach Dyed Dress: We are no stranger to bleach dyeing, and we love the look of the splatter on this denim shirt dress. (via I Spy DIY)
29. Denim Wall Poster: Pick out a favorite quote and put it up in denim for a funky piece of wall art. (via A Beautiful Mess)
30. Denim Weekender: This one is two restyles in one! We turned a couple pairs of old jeans into a weekender or market tote, complete with a repurposed belt as the straps. (via Brit + Co)
What’s your favorite way to repurpose old denim? Tell us about your best denim projects in the comments below!
