So, your old mattress finally gave up the ghost. You’ve hauled it to the curb, but those weird, wiry innards are still haunting your garage. Before you see them as just a pile of scrap metal, let me stop you right there. What if I told you that a box spring or mattress coil is a DIY goldmine waiting to happen? Forget boring, predictable crafts. We’re about to unlock a world of industrial chic, rustic charm, and seriously clever upcycling. Get ready to see those springs in a whole new light with these 19 inventive mattress spring crafts.
1. The Ultimate Rustic Photo Display
This is the project that will make your friends say, “You made that?!” Take a single, sturdy mattress spring and give it a good clean. Then, all you need are some miniature wooden clothespins or small binder clips.
Simply clip your favorite photos, postcards, or even dried flowers onto the coils. The spring naturally creates a cascading, multi-level display with incredible texture. Hang it vertically on a wall or lay it flat on a mantel for a conversation-starting gallery that’s anything but basic.
2. A Whimsical Garden Trellis for Climbers
Give your peas, cucumbers, or morning glories a stylish support system. The open, grid-like structure of a box spring panel is a perfect natural trellis.
Just secure it firmly to a fence or between two posts in your garden bed. As your plants grow, they’ll weave through the coils, creating a living wall of green. It’s functional, free, and adds an instant industrial-garden vibe that a plain wooden lattice just can’t match.
3. Industrial-Chic Jewelry Organizer
Tired of tangled necklaces? A section of mattress spring is your salvation. Mount a clean, painted (or rusted-for-effect) spring panel directly on your wall.
Those coils become perfect hooks for dangling earrings, bracelets, and chains. For stud earrings and rings, attach a small piece of wire mesh to the front. Suddenly, your jewelry is art, and you can actually see what you own. Talk about a win-win.
4. A One-of-a-Kind Wine Bottle Holder
Impress your guests at your next dinner party. This craft requires a bit of bending, but the result is spectacular. Using heavy-duty pliers, carefully manipulate a large, single spring into a spiral base that can hold a wine bottle steady.
You can leave the top coils open to act as glass holders or simply let the bottle stand tall. It’s a stunning centerpiece that screams “handcrafted” and gives new meaning to “aged to perfection.”
5. Quirky Wall-Mounted Key Rack
Never lose your keys again with this brilliantly simple hack. Take a short, sturdy spring, attach it to a piece of reclaimed wood, and mount it by your door.
Each coil is a ready-made hook. The spring’s tension holds keys securely, and the unique look makes finding them a no-brainer. Add a small label to each coil for family members or even for different keys (house, car, shed). Functional and fun!
6. A Statement Light Fixture or Chandelier
Ready for an advanced project that pays off big time? Deconstruct a box spring to create a geometric frame. You can form it into a cube, a long rectangle, or a sprawling organic shape.
Then, wire in pendant light sockets through the coils. When you switch it on, the light casts incredible shadows and creates an ambiance that’s both modern and rustic. It’s a guaranteed showstopper.
7. Outdoor Hanging Planter Frame
Elevate your patio game—literally. Suspend a large spring panel horizontally from sturdy chains or ropes on a covered porch. Then, place potted plants or herbs on top of the grid.
The open design lets water and light through, and you can hang smaller trailing plants from the coils below. It creates a lush, multi-tiered vertical garden that makes brilliant use of air space.
8. Creative Napkin Rings for Your Table
For a touch of steampunk or industrial elegance at your table setting, look no further. Cut individual coils from a spring using wire cutters (wear safety glasses!).
File down any sharp ends, then maybe give them a quick polish or a coat of metallic spray paint. Slip your napkin through the center, and boom—you have unique, weighty napkin rings that guests will absolutely notice.
9. A Functional Mail or Magazine Organizer
Stop the paper pile-up on your entryway table. Stand a tall, narrow section of box spring on its end and secure it inside a wooden box or to a base.
The vertical columns between coils create perfect slots for sorting mail, magazines, or even vinyl records. It keeps everything tidy and upright while adding serious character to a boring corner.
10. Garden Tool Storage Rack
Get your shed or garage organized with this tough-as-nails solution. Mount a large spring panel on the wall. The open grid allows you to hang trowels, clippers, and gloves from S-hooks.
You can also slide long-handled tools like rakes and shovels through the coils to keep them off the floor. It’s durable, ventilated (so muddy tools can dry), and makes every tool visible and accessible.
11. An Eye-Catching Dream Catcher
Put a modern, metallic twist on a classic bohemian decor item. Use a single, circular spring as the base frame. Then, get creative with the weaving inside using yarn, leather strips, or even more thin wire.
Add feathers, beads, and crystals for a personal touch. The steel frame makes it substantial and gives it an interesting contrast between the hard metal and soft fibers.
12. Rustic Tiered Cupcake or Dessert Stand
Hosting a party? Create a stunning display for treats. Stack springs of decreasing sizes, securing plates or cake rounds between them with strong adhesive.
Paint the springs a fun color or leave them raw for an industrial look. The open design lets you decorate the tiers with fabric or greenery, making your desserts look like they came from a fancy boutique bakery.
13. A Pet-Proof Under-Bed Storage Solution
This one is for the pet owners tired of toys and balls getting lost under the sofa. Attach fabric or a durable mesh to one side of a flat spring panel, creating a shallow “scoop.”
Slide it under your bed or couch. When your dog or cat bats a toy underneath, it rolls into the scoop instead of the abyss. Just pull the tray out to retrieve it. Genius, right?
14. Unique Curtain or Room Divider
Want to separate a space without blocking light? Create a truly one-of-a-kind room divider. Hang multiple spring panels from a ceiling track or rod.
You can leave them as-is for a stark industrial look, or weave in ribbons, fabric strips, or fairy lights for a softer, more bohemian effect. It provides visual separation while maintaining an open, airy feel.
15. Sculptural Garden Orbs or Sculptures
Let your inner artist out. Disassemble springs and use the wire to form abstract shapes—spheres, spirals, or twisting forms. Place these sculptures in your garden among the plants.
As they weather, they’ll develop a beautiful patina. They catch the light and add a modern artistic element to your natural landscape, especially striking in the winter when the garden is dormant.
16. A Handy Pot Lid Holder for the Kitchen
Solve the eternal cabinet chaos of sliding pot lids. Mount a narrow vertical spring inside a cabinet door. The coils create perfect, spaced slots to slide your lids into.
It keeps them organized, prevents scratches, and utilizes otherwise wasted door space. It’s a simple hack that makes cooking so much less frustrating.
17. Outdoor Christmas “Spring” Tree
Ditch the traditional green for a festive metal tree that lasts for years. Arrange springs in a conical tree shape, securing them to a central pole or to each other.
Wrap them with outdoor fairy lights and hang durable ornaments. It’s a wind-resistant, quirky, and utterly charming alternative for your porch or yard that will have the neighbors asking about your mattress spring crafts all season long.
18. A Modern Trellis for Succulents or Air Plants
Not all trellises are for climbers. A small, ornate piece of spring mounted on a wall makes a fantastic living art piece. Use it to mount staghorn ferns, air plants, or small potted succulents in wire baskets attached to the grid.
It’s a low-maintenance, vertical garden perfect for a sunny indoor wall or a protected outdoor nook.
19. Kids’ “Ring Toss” Game
Turn trash into toys! Anchor a large spring upright in a bucket of sand or cement. Make rings from rope, embroidery hoops, or even pool noodles taped into circles.
You’ve just created a durable, outdoor-friendly ring toss game that can handle enthusiastic play. It’s a fantastic way to get kids involved in upcycling and spend an afternoon in the backyard.
See? What was once destined for the landfill now has 19 brilliant second acts. From elegant home decor to clever organizational hacks and fun garden projects, mattress spring crafts prove that with a little vision, anything can be upcycled. The best part? Each piece you create carries a story—a bit of history from your old bed, transformed into something new and full of character. So next time you see a spring, don’t see scrap. See potential. Now, which project will you start first? Your garage (and your home decor) will thank you.