7 Genius Ways to Repurpose an Old Pillow

Three stacked pillows on a bed — Credit:
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Part of the chore of swapping in a new pillow is figuring out what to do with the old one. Often, old pillows may have run their course in the bedroom, but they’ve still got some life left in them that makes a full discard feel plain wrong. To extract the full value from this fluffy bedtime essential, consider these unique ways to reuse an old pillow.

Gillian Economu, professional organizer and founder of Sort It Out Organizing
Jennifer Yang, organizing expert and director at Seville Classics
Christina Heiser, content director at Saatva

01 of 07

Create a Kneeling Pad for the Garden

If you tend to flower beds and planters, an old pillow is a great way to make your time in the garden more comfortable. “Put it into a waterproof covering, like some Sunbrella [or outdoor upholstery] material, a piece of tarp, or even a heavy-duty plastic garbage bag,” advises Jennifer Yang, organizing expert and director at Seville Classics. “Those old pillows can save your knees while weeding and planting.”

02 of 07

Donate to Animal Shelters

Animal shelters often need cozy materials for the pets they house, including old blankets, towels, and even pillows. “A lot of shelters and rescue centers will take pillows to use as bedding in cages and kennels,” says professional organizer Gillian Economou.

You can also repurpose old pillows for your own pets at home. Wrap it in an old blanket or pillowcase so it looks nicer and is easier to wash.

03 of 07

Use as Packing Material

Whether packing for a move or shipping a box, fragile items can be protected with a soft pillow. “Old pillows are excellent reusable padding for fragile items like glassware, décor, or keepsakes,” says Christina Heiser, content director at Saatva. “They also work well as buffers between furniture and walls during a move.”

Yang says you can also use them to store fragile seasonal items, like holiday décor, or to keep handbags in shape between uses.

04 of 07

Make an Indoor Kneeling Pad

You can repurpose old pillows as cushioned kneeling pads for indoor projects, like when organizing low cabinets or scrubbing the floors. It’ll give your knees a softer place to rest as you’re working.

Either use the pillow in its entirety—covered with a soft and durable material—or remove the stuffing and fashion it into a pad.

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05 of 07

Refresh Stuffed Animals

If your pillow is made with stuffing, you can remove the material and use it to freshen up a stuffed animal. "Give sagging or well-loved stuffed animals a second life by re-stuffing them with clean pillow fill," Heiser says. "It’s a simple fix that can make a child’s favorite toy feel brand new again."

06 of 07

Repurpose for Outdoor Seating

Upgrade your outdoor chairs or sectionals with old pillows. Sleeping pillows can soften your seat, and throw pillows can add a little extra flair to your setup. Economou says that as long as the pillow is still in decent shape—it’s just old and not ideal for indoors—the patio is the perfect place to relocate them. Use a weather-proof material on top to keep them protected from the elements.

07 of 07

Fashion a Floor Pouf

Perfect for a cozy kids' corner or a meditation spot, you can turn an old pillow into a cute pouf. “Repurpose pillow stuffing to make a casual floor cushion for reading corners, kids’ rooms, or extra seating,” Heiser says. “With basic sewing supplies and fabric (even old sheets work), you can create a stylish, functional accent.”