If you have an old stack of newspapers sitting by your recycling bin, hold onto them. With basic craft glue and standard scissors, you can turn those printed sheets into sturdy, attractive home accents.
Sustainable decorating saves money without sacrificing style. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that paper accounts for a large share of municipal solid waste, so reusing newsprint directly reduces trash. Here are practical ways to upcycle old print editions into functional decor for every room.
1. Woven Newspaper Storage Baskets
Roll paper tubes tightly around a thin dowel, then weave them in an over-under pattern around a heavy cardboard base. A coat of acrylic paint and clear sealer gives the finished basket the texture and look of natural rattan.
2. Vintage Newspaper Accent Wall
You can turn a plain powder room or home office into a standout space using monochrome paper. Paste vintage newspaper sheets directly onto a smooth wall using standard wallpaper paste. Finish the surface with matte varnish to block moisture and keep the edges flat.
3. Faux Ceramic Papier-Mâché Vases
Dip torn newspaper strips in simple paste, then layer them over an empty glass bottle to shape an asymmetrical vase. The classic papier-mâché technique lets you build sculpted ridges. Finish with chalk paint and joint compound to replicate heavy stoneware.
4. Rolled Paper Starburst Mirror Frame
Roll several dozen tight paper rods, trim them to different lengths, and hot-glue them in radiating patterns around a round mirror. A coat of metallic gold or matte black spray paint gives the piece a clean mid-century look above a fireplace mantle.
5. Modern Geometric Coasters
Flatten rolled newspaper tubes, then coil them tightly into circular or hexagonal shapes. Fasten the outer ends with wood glue, then brush on two coats of waterproof resin or Mod Podge so they repel condensation from drinks.
6. Botanical Newspaper Seedling Pots
Wrap black-and-white newsprint strips around a small glass jar to build biodegradable starter pots for your windowsill garden. When your seedlings outgrow them, place the entire pot directly in garden soil. If you enjoy pairing greenery with handmade decor, look at these flower DIY crafts for more ideas.
7. Decoupaged Wooden Serving Tray
Give an old thrift-store wooden tray a clean update using torn newsprint and crossword clippings. Brush decoupage glue across the wood, smooth out air bubbles with a plastic scraper, and let the tray dry. Finish with a heat-resistant topcoat so you can carry warm mugs safely.
8. Delicate Paper Blooms
Cut teardrop-shaped petals out of text-heavy newsprint and wrap them around floral wire to assemble paper roses. Place a dozen of these neutral flowers in a simple ceramic pitcher or clear glass vase for a dining table centerpiece.
9. Textured Abstract Wall Canvas
Crumple, twist, and paste torn newspaper scraps across a stretched canvas to build raised relief patterns. Coat the surface with white gesso, then brush warm grey or black paint across the high points to create dimension.
10. Rustic Rolled Paper Candle Holders
Wrap tightly rolled paper reeds around plain glass votive cups to add texture to a bedside table. Keep the paper well below the top edge of the glass, or use battery-operated LED tea lights to prevent fire hazards while casting patterned shadows across the room.
11. Elegant Pendant Lampshade
Fold broadsheet pages into crisp accordion pleats to build a geometric origami shade. Mount the shade over a standard LED pendant cord kit. The paper diffuses sharp light bulbs into a soft glow above a kitchen island or small dining table.
12. Newspaper Origami Garland
Fold old print sheets into small paper cranes, stars, or geometric diamonds. Thread them onto jute twine alongside raw wooden beads, then hang the strand along a bookshelf ledge or across a window trim.
13. Statement Clock Face
Mount a basic battery-powered clock movement onto a round wooden board. Glue rolled paper coils in radiating concentric rings around the center spindle, then paint clear numbering so you can read the time easily from across the room.
14. Upcycled Hanging Planters
Weave stiff paper reeds into a bowl shape, reinforce the bottom with cardstock, and apply two coats of clear waterproof sealant. Knot macrame rope under the rim to hang artificial trailing plants near a bright window. Find more ways to style your space with these aesthetic DIY crafts for room decor.
15. Decoupage Drawer Liners
Line wooden dresser drawers with old newspaper front pages or colorful comic spreads. Secure the sheets flat with spray adhesive, then coat them with clear satin polycrylic so clothing slides smoothly without picking up printer ink.
16. Mid-Century Modern Trivets
Roll long strips of folded newspaper into dense spiral discs to shield wood tables from warm serving dishes. Glue each coil securely as you roll it. Dip half of each completed disc into dark acrylic paint for a clean, two-tone finish.
17. Papier-Mâché Fruit Bowls
Inflate a round party balloon and paste paper scraps around the bottom half to create a shallow bowl. After the glue dries, pop the balloon, trim the edge into a gentle curve, and paint the inside metallic bronze. Set it on an entryway console table for pocket items and keys.
18. Rolled Newspaper Photo Frames
Update plain wooden picture frames by gluing rows of rolled newsprint tubes along the outer edges. Cut the tube corners at 45-degree angles for tight mitered joints, then spray the frame with clear satin finish to protect personal photos.
19. Festive Paper Pom-Poms
Stack several large sheets of newspaper, fold them into wide accordion pleats, and wrap craft wire around the center. Fan out the layers one by one to form full, round paper spheres you can suspend from the ceiling for parties.
20. Farmhouse Typography Letters
Cover hollow cardboard alphabet letters with overlapping strips of newspaper text. Rub dark brown ink along the corners to create an aged finish, then set the finished monograms on a mantle or bookshelf.
21. Woven Newspaper Placemats
Weave flat paper strips into tight rectangular table mats. Coat both sides with clear acrylic varnish so you can wipe them down with a damp cloth after dinner, giving your dining table a rustic, handmade texture.
22. Decoupaged Switch Plates
Replace plain plastic switch covers by wrapping them in clippings from vintage newspapers, maps, or sheet music. Cut precise openings for screws and toggle switches, then apply two coats of clear gloss sealer to prevent finger smudges.
23. Miniature Paper Succulents
Cut curved leaf shapes from newsprint, shape them with a wooden dowel, and glue them into rosette patterns. Blend light green and rose chalk pastels over the paper edges, then secure the succulents inside miniature terracotta pots with fine gravel.
24. Newspaper Reed Diffuser Holder
Cover plain glass fragrance bottles by building a snug sleeve out of rolled paper tubes. Paint the outside with neutral horizontal stripes that match your bathroom colors, creating a tidy housing for reed diffusers.
25. Vintage Silhouette Wall Art
Cut animal or plant outlines from black cardstock and paste them over vintage newspaper pages. Mount the finished prints inside matted frames with white borders to create balanced wall art for an entryway or hallway.
26. Decorative Desktop Pencil Organizers
Wrap recycled steel cans with diagonal rows of woven newspaper tubes to organize desk supplies. Cut the cans to different heights to store pens, scissors, and paint brushes in one organized cluster. For more home projects, explore this collection of DIY crafts to do.
27. Upcycled Paper Bead Curtains
Cut long, tapered triangles from newspaper pages, roll them tightly around toothpicks, and coat them in clear gloss varnish. String the dry paper beads onto sturdy nylon line to build a lightweight hanging curtain for open interior doorways.
28. Sculptural Bookends
Coat ordinary construction bricks in several thick layers of papier-mâché paste and paper, shaping them into smooth arches or stepped pyramids. Spray them with textured stone paint to create heavy bookends for tall bookshelves.
29. Paper Feather Wall Hanging
Cut feather silhouettes from printed broadsheet pages, glue floral wire along the central spine, and snip fine fringe down both sides. Tie each feather stem to a branch of driftwood using cotton twine to create lightweight wall decor.
Upcycling old newsprint lets you build practical home decor while keeping waste out of landfills. Choose a project, collect your paper, and start creating pieces tailored to your living space.