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If you have a cabinet full of mugs you never reach for anymore, you’re not alone. Most people tend to collect souvenir mugs, gift mugs, seasonal mugs, and the random ones they liked at the time but don’t really use now. And while donating them is always an option, sometimes you want to keep a few, especially if they hold memories or still look cute.

Old mugs are surprisingly useful once you stop thinking of them only as drinkware. Even chipped or broken ones can still serve a purpose around the house. Here are some practical ways to reuse them without letting them sit in the back of a cabinet.

Ceramic mug antisky ceramic — Image Credit: Ethan8808, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Turn them into homemade candles

If you have a mug you still love looking at but no longer use, making it into a candle is an easy way to keep it around. It lets you enjoy the design while giving it a completely new purpose.

All you need is wax, a wick, and a little patience. Once finished, it makes a cozy accent for a shelf, coffee station, or bedside table, and it also makes a thoughtful gift if you’re trying to rehome a few extras.

Use them as mini planters

Coffee mugs are a natural fit for small plants like succulents, herbs, or tiny indoor starts. They’re sturdy, easy to place on a windowsill, and instantly make a plant feel a little more decorative.

Organize small office supplies

Mugs are just the right size for pens, paper clips, rubber bands, and other desk clutter that tends to pile up. Instead of letting those little things get lost in a drawer, a mug gives them one easy place to land.

Store bathroom toiletries

Cotton balls, cotton swabs, makeup pads, and hair ties all seem to end up scattered across the bathroom counter. A few mugs can help corral those everyday items without needing to buy matching organizers.

Plus, they can make the bathroom feel a little less cluttered without much effort.

Hold craft supplies

If you do any kind of crafting, old mugs are great for sorting the little things that usually get mixed together. Buttons, beads, pom-poms, thread spools, and small tools all fit perfectly inside.

They’re easy to line up on a shelf or keep on a worktable. It’s one of the simplest ways to organize supplies you actually use without spending money on containers.

Use them for flowers and small centerpieces

A coffee mug makes a great holder for a few fresh flowers, especially if you’re going for something casual and homey rather than formal. Short stems fit especially well, and it works nicely for small arrangements on a table or counter.

Keep spare change in one place

Loose coins have a way of ending up everywhere on the counter, in a drawer, or at the bottom of a bag. Using an old mug as a change holder keeps everything together and makes it easier to actually use it later.

Use one on your nightstand

A mug works well as a catch-all for the little things you take off at the end of the day, like rings, earrings, or even glasses. Instead of letting those items slide around on a nightstand, they stay contained and easy to find in the morning.

It’s especially useful if you’re always setting things down in random spots and then wondering where they went. A mug gives those small valuables one consistent home.