7 New Ways to Reuse Your Old Leather Belts

With the holidays out of the way and December coming to a close, you may be tempted to do a Marie Kondo-inspired pre-New Year’s closet purge. We fully support that! But there’s one thing we think you should keep out of the trash can and the donate pile: leather belts.

Leather is a super versatile material when it comes to DIY projects, and one belt gives you plenty of usable material that’s fit for repurposing. Plus, the time-worn look of old leather belts makes for character-rich addition to plenty of DIY projects. Need inspiration? Here are a few of our favorite DIYs to get you started.

Is there any better combination than leather and wood? Brittni’s 10-minute wall organizers are modern and classic at the same time—a stunning combo. You’ll need small strips of belt, nails, and a dowel to create beautiful storage anywhere in your home. (P.S. Make sure to visit her full post to see a knotted version for a slightly different look.)

The best DIYs that are pretty and practical, and this blanket carrier from Craftberry Bush fits the bill. Buckles make old belts perfect for this project, which requires adjustable straps. In the cold winter months, you can repurpose it as a firewood holder.

Even the tiniest bit of leftover leather can be upcycled and put to good use. Cut a piece, then stamp out your name for a fun luggage tag or key fob, like these from Sugar & Cloth. You can also use them as eco-friendly gift tags.

An elegant leather bookmark feels like a solid step towards adulthood, no matter what you’re reading. You don’t need much leather to make one of these, so you can get a few of them out of a single belt.

In this project from Idle Hands Awake, recycled belts become handles to make these wooden boxes a touch more functional and a whole lot more stylish.

Loop two belts around your magazine collection for chic and effortless storage.

Longtime yogis and New Year’s resolution-makers can both agree that having gear you actually want to use can help put you in the right mindset. Caitlin from The Merrythought made her rugged mat carrier with several scrap straps, but you could also use intact leather belts like Kelsey to take advantage of the buckles.