Instead of throwing them in a thrift store pile, give your favorite pair of worn jeans a second life with these recycled denim ideas!

Have you ever worn out a pair of old jeans? Because I have. And let me tell you where the denim fails first on me . . . in the lower bum and then also between the legs. The portion that rubs together when you walk.
I’m one of those people that will patch things together as long as possible. I had an L.L. Bean sweater in high school that got several tears and I turned it into what I affectionately called “Franken-sweater.” And I wore it proudly.
When my jeans have crapped out, I’ve tried patching them on the inner thighs. Depending on how big the holes are, it may or may not be comfortable. Sometimes it feels awkward to have an extra patch in that area, so sometimes patching isn’t the solution I’m necessarily looking for.
Which leads me to the entire point of this post.
Sometimes you have a perfectly good pair of jeans that are worn out in a specific area that you can’t fix. And I know I’m not the only one – the Goodwill is loaded with racks of denim in various stages of style and condition.
When the rest of the denim is good, what should you do? I think it’s time to use that jean material in a recycled denim project.
Basically, don’t throw those old jeans away! They can be turned into something very useful so that your favorite pair of pants doesn’t go to waste.
The next time you tear a hole in the knee of your jeans, salvage them and turn it into something beautiful with these 25 recycled denim ideas. Scroll down to get the inspiration!
Recycled Denim Ideas
Don't let your old jeans go to waste! Make them into something really unique with these 25 recycled denim ideas. You won't believe the creativity in this list!
Denim Pocket Organizer
Blue jean pockets make for easy organizing. What better place than a pocket to store those personal things you want close at hand! This is great for a teen bedroom, craft room, or dorm room.
Color Jeans Quilt
Turn a rainbow of recycled jeans into a beautiful striped quilt. This is a good one to make once you've hit up the Goodwill to get pants in a ton of sizes and colors!
Thrifted Chair Redo
Reupholster a chair and give it a bright and fun new ‘seat.’ This is really easy to do, and we’re going to show you how . . . with a pair of denim pants!
No Sew DIY Denim Clutch
"Stitch" up this stylish dual-toned clutch. Actually, you're going to love this fashion project because there's no sewing involved. Don’t you just love the contrast of the pocket?
Farm Girl Apron
Okay, this has to be the cutest apron I have seen in quite some time! Kind of reminds of Daisy Duke's shorts. Such a cute idea.
Craft Caddy
Organize your craft room or desk with this copper and denim craft caddy project. It's not just the jeans that are recycled, it's the cans and wood too.
Denim Pouf
Rest easy with this unique foot rest. The patchwork method of this unique recycled denim idea really floats my boat.
Denim Snack Bag
Pack your lunch in style with this DIY lunch bag. Pascale not only used jeans, but also used a belt that would've otherwise ended up in the trash.
Colored Denim Scrap Wreath
Do you have multiple pairs of jeans or scrap denim to use? This DIY wreath is a great project for more than one color denim!
Reverse Shibori Tie Dye
Make your own fabric prints while experimenting with this unique dying technique. It's made up of two techniques, shibori and tie dye.
Denim Feather Wall Décor
I love how these denim feathers turned out! I can think of some other ways to use them in a project, but this wall hanging is a beautiful option.
Denim Patchwork Quilt
Turn your blue jeans into a cozy throw! This chilled-out quilt has such an easy-going air to it; there are no set measurements for this so make your quilt to whatever size you like.
Crochet Denim Coasters
Make some denim yarn and crochet it into these country coasters. It's such an easy project, and you can make the coasters any size you like.
Denim Beaded Ring
Just sew seed beads onto a small piece of denim for this project. Amanda also has a post for a matching bracelet. It is linked in the tutorial for the ring.
Upcycled Jean Pillow
Jeans, jeans, the magical pants; the more you wear ‘em, the better you dance (right?). Whip up some easy throw pillows with denim and add a rugged touch with a thrifted belt or two. You'll also learn how to make a weekend bag.
Elastic Book Band
These DIY elastic book bands are a fun no-sew craft to make at home. It’s pretty simple as far as crafts go. All you need to do is cut out the pieces and then glue them together and voila, the elastic book bands are complete!
Denim Play Crown
This is such a cute way to upcycle your old jeans! Plus it will be very durable and hold up to kids playing.
Denim Bin
Here’s how to make recycled denim bins before you send your drawers to the Salvation Army. You can make bins like these in any size you like.
Denim Throw Rug
Make a whimsical throw rug with leftover denim patches. This is a great way to incorporate other fabric patterns as well - for the coolest rug ever.
Denim Triangle Quilt
Another fun take on an upcycled quilt! We've had a few other blankets in this collection, and the triangles in this one are very cool.
Denim Pumpkins
Make cute pumpkins from your old jeans in just 10 minutes! Bonus? No sewing involved. Instant fall decor with a neutral theme.
DIY Jean Bowl
Here’s a fun and simple way to give old jeans a new life. These bowls make perfect catch-alls around the house – and wouldn’t they be a perfect gift for a guy?
Denim Bunting
If you have denim scraps left over, it’s easy to turn them into a DIY bunting! Perfect for a party or for little girls’ room décor.
Denim Beads
Make a colorful beaded necklace with this original technique! This time you're going to paint the denim with acrylic paint colors. It's great for customizing.
Tug-of-War Dog Toy
Denim is the perfect fabric for a dog toy because it is so strong. You can be playing with your dog in five minutes with this craft!
If you enjoyed these ideas for recycling denim, I’d also love for you to check out these other posts: