6 Things To Do With Your Old Bedding

When this happens, you’ll likely need to replace it. But in these eco-conscious times, you’ll want to know what you can do with your old bedding instead of throwing it away.

Here are six fun and creative ideas that will squeeze as much joy as possible out of your old bedding:

 

1. Pet bedding

Even if your bedding is now too old for you to sleep in, your pet won’t turn its nose up at it. Use pillows to line your dog or cat beds. They’ll love having your scent near them when they go to sleep. For bigger dogs, fold an old duvet in half and use that instead. If you don’t have a fluffy friend but still want to help a needy animal, donate old bedding to your local animal shelter. You’ll make a lot of animals and their care-givers very happy!

Oh, and don’t forget to buy a new duvet either! If you want some more advice on which duvet to choose, check out our duvet buying guide first.

2. Projector screen

Who doesn’t like watching films on the big screen? In these money-conscious times, why not do it at home? If you don’t have a large, plain wall, just hang a sheet over it to use as a huge movie screen. Point a projector at it and you have yourself a home cinema! If you don’t have a projector, why not borrow a friend’s and invite them too? In the summer, you could hang a sheet between two trees or attach it to your garden fence. Then you can host your very own outdoor cinema screening when it goes dark and invite your neighbours round.

3. Draught excluder

Your bedding can also become a solution if your bedroom gets a little breezy. You can easily make a draught excluder by using a sleeve or trouser leg from some old clothing. This is the perfect shape to go across the bottom of your door. Sew up one end and stuff with sections of bedding. When it’s tightly packed, sew up the other end. You can add ribbon, buttons or any decoration you like to tie it in with your décor. All bedding will work effectively, so you can use it to make draught excluders for all of your doors.

4. Rag rug

This is one fun and creative solution! SMC loves this DIY rag rug tutorial by Grillo Designs. To make the rug, all you need is three single bed sheets, an anti-slip rug mat with 1cm grid width and some fabric scissors.

Method:

• Cut the sheets into small pieces of fabric – about 15cm x 3cm.
• Knot each piece into a hole in the grid until the grid is fully covered.
• Once complete, shake out the rug to fluff up the strands.

It’s really simple to make but may be time-consuming. Why not treat it as an ongoing project and complete a section each night? It’s also great for involving the kids as there is no sewing or glue required. Because it’s made from bedding, you can put this rug on a 30ºC wash.

5. Stuffed toys

Many of us have got old stuffed toys that have seen better days. Give them a life-extending makeover by using the wadding from pillows and duvets to re-stuff them. Duvet cover buttons can be a great replacement if your teddy has lost its eyes. If you’re feeling extra generous or want a fun activity to do with your children, why not make some new clothes? The toys will get a new lease of life and look as good as new again.

6. Tote bag

Last but not least, one for the fashion forward. If you want to channel your inner Von Trapp child, you can make clothing from your old bedding. A super simple solution is a tote bag from an old pillow case. The best thing about this is that all the hard work of making the bag shape is already done! All you need to do is attach two handles to the top using some fabric strands or strong ribbon. If the bag feels a bit too deep, trim it down and sew a simple hem around the top. You can personalise this however you want to by adding decoration or using fabric paint. Make the handles as long or short as you want and keep it in your bag to use when shopping.

Related – Bedding Protection Guide

What have you done with your old bedding? Let us know in the comments!