9 Creative, Sustainable Uses for Old Shoes You Probably Haven't Thought Of

Furniture Sliders

Before tossing those worn-down flip-flops, consider tucking them away in a closet or your home-maintenance arsenal for a quick solution to sliding furniture, suggests Friedman. They are perfect for stabilizing larger pieces, like couches and table legs, and will protect flooring as you move heavy furniture across it.

Entryway Umbrella Stand

If your tall rain boots can't stand up to the elements anymore, they can still do a related job: holding your collection of umbrellas near the entryway. Weigh down the boot by adding stones inside the toe to keep it from tipping once the umbrellas are added.

Kids Art Projects

Most kids don’t need expensive toys to keep them occupied and engrossed creatively. An old (but clean) pair of shoes, paint and paint brushes, glue, and beads laid out over a tarp is enough to delight and engage children for an entire afternoon.

Artist Karim Orange notes that sneakers can even be repurposed as decorative holders for pens, art brushes, and other tools, so your kids could embellish old shoes with these goals or projects in mind.

Upcycle Sneakers Into Planters

“My specialty is upcycling sneakers into artistic plant vessels,” Orange explains. “Sneakers make the perfect container. You can grow pothos, snake plants, succulents, and other small greens in them.” 

Johnson recommends lining your windowsills with these creations or using them to add some character and fun to your garden. “Shallow-rooted succulents and herbs are the perfect choice to plant inside old sneakers and boots,” she says, or you can place a small glass jar inside to turn a sneaker into a flower vase.

Home Maintenance, Painting, and Yardwork

Before getting rid of your old sneakers or boots, you might want to find a spot to store them so that they’re easily accessible for tasks that require getting dirty. “I like to keep an old pair for messy tasks like cleaning the garage, doing yardwork, or painting,” Parks shares.

Shower Shoes

Parks suggests holding onto a pair of old sandals to use as shower shoes in public showers. Especially when traveling, rinsing off at the pool or beach, or showering at the gym, they can protect your feet from any number of unknown bacteria and grimy tiled floors.

Turn Stilettos Into Bookends

If you’re having a hard time saying goodbye to old high heels, Johnson recommends transforming them into bookends. “They look fantastic on the shelf and add both flair and function,” she says. “You may want to add a paperweight on the inside to ensure their strength as bookends.”

With a little extra creativity, you can convert your old, pretty heels into charming jewelry stands as well, according to Friedman. “There’s always another chapter for a pair of shoes,” he says.

Weighted Door Stops

Fill old boots with bags of sand or another weighted object. They're perfect for propping open doors in areas like the garage, shed, basement, or greenhouse.

Both short and tall boots work well for this DIY: Short ones can be shifted around with your foot, making them hands-free and useful when doing home maintenance or yardwork. Tall boots, such as Wellingtons, can easily be grabbed and moved, as well as offer a cottagecore, English-country charm.

Use Shoelaces as Bows

Don’t forget about the laces. "Creative reuse doesn’t stop at just shoes," reminds Johnson. "Shoelaces can be used to embellish an outfit or hairstyle in various ways, and you can also add them to your gifting collection to become bows."

Consider dying, cutting, or painting used shoelaces to transform them into charming, one-of-a-kind additions to your gift-wrapping supplies.