50 Jaw-Dropping Ideas for Upcycling Tin Cans Into Beautiful Household Items!

Tin Can Votive Candles with Letters

Previously I shared the tin can votive project which included the Christmas tree and snowflake designs. This project follows the same idea and you can make it exactly the same way, only instead of pictures, we have letters marked into the cans. I love this idea to set them up once next to the other so that they spell out a word. They would be a great touch at a party or reception.

DIY Instructions & Source: abeautifulmess

Make Tin Cans Into a Charming Wreath

You can make just about anything into a wreath if you’re clever enough. But not many people would think to use tin cans! These cans have been painted a bright, eye-catching red and arranged into a simple, attractive wreath for a fence. It’d look awesome anywhere and has great homespun appeal.

Available on: Etsy Cantastic Red Wreath made from Recycled Cans.

Burlap-Covered Tin Can Candle Holders—Perfect for a Wedding!

While we’re talking about all things homespun, nothing beats burlap for rustic design. Here is an easy way to recycle a tin can into a lovely candleholder. Just wrap some burlap around it and add some embellishment! This candleholder would look awesome sitting on a banquet table at a wedding reception.

DIY Instructions & Source: redchandelier

Colorful Wind Chimes with Tin Cans, Beads and Utensils

Look at these wonderful wind chimes! I just love how bright they are—they would add a splash of color and sunshine to any room. I am amazed at what a perfect job their creator has done coordinating the colors of the beads with the colors on the tin cans. At that rate, I am amazed at how well-disguised these tin cans are. If I didn’t know better, I never would have guessed that they were tin cans at all. Awesome work!

DIY Instructions & Source: happymrsc

Beautiful Tin Can Roses That Last Forever

You can give someone a rose from the flower shop which will wilt in a week … or you can give someone a rose that will last forever and which is just as beautiful—perhaps even more so in some ways since it was made by hand.

These roses … there isn’t enough I can say about them! They are absolutely gorgeous, and in a way they look quite realistic. You’d think they’d be super challenging to make, but there are step-by-step instructions which you can follow to create your own tin roses. These would make an incredibly cool gift for someone special in your life, or they’d be great just to keep as décor around the home!

DIY Instructions & Source: instructables

Tin Can Silverware Holders

Now here is a clever idea which isn’t just aesthetically pleasing, but also genuinely useful. I have all my utensils shoved in my drawer. It keeps them out of the way, but I still seem to have to do a lot of digging to grab what I need.

This setup is a lot more convenient. You can instantly see where everything is, and there is a tin for each type of utensil. I love that they have all been connected to a convenient carrying handle too. This would make it ridiculously easy to set the table each day.

DIY Instructions & Source: madamecriativa

Make an Easy Working Grill Out of a Tin Can

Remember the rocket grill from earlier on the list? This grill is a simpler alternative. It doesn’t have the same benefits as the rocket grill—it isn’t sheltered from wind and rain, but it does have one advantage, and that is that making it is practically effortless. As you can see, you just cut down the sides, extend them, and then put some tin foil on top. After that, all you need is a cooling rack. This would be great or camping or just for grilling out back behind your house!

DIY Instructions & Source: dianthomas

Beautiful Tin Can Lamps for Ambient Lighting

I am so pleased I have found the source link for this project. It is one which I have seen circulating the web in many places, but most sites where I’ve seen it posted failed to link back to the original project. It’s easy to see why it is such a popular project. It’s quite clever, and puts a different spin on the idea of using tin cans for lighting. Unlike other tin can light fixtures, these allow you to see inside the can. This works out beautifully since the candle flames reflect inside the tins, producing a really warm and inviting effect.

DIY Instructions & Source: kiflieslevendula

Tin Can Ornaments for Your Christmas Tree

Once again we have tin cans with holes punched in to make a design, but this time instead of stringing the tin cans up as lanterns, we are using them as Christmas tree ornaments! What a smart idea!

DIY Instructions & Source: thinkingcloset

Make a Mini Apple Pie in a Tin Can

There are no instructions unfortunately, but the picture sure is enticing, isn’t it? This appears to be much the same idea in principle as the cake shared previously. These would be awesome to give to people at parties.

DIY Instructions & Source: adventures-in-cooking

Fancy Pencil Holder Made Out of an Old Tin Can

This is the same type of project as the pencil holder with the keyboard wrapped around it from the start of this list. Except this time we are skipping the keyboard, and painting the tin can instead. You can use any colors and designs you want, so it’s a fun project to personalize—and it is way cooler than any old pencil holder you’d buy at the store! These would make great gifts for your office coworkers.

DIY Instructions & Source: creatingreallyawesomefreethings

Hanging Hairbrush Storage

Hate digging around for your hair brushes? Here is one clever solution. Jamie kept her hairbrushes under her sink, and finding them was a pain every morning. She came up with the idea of upcycling tomato paste cans by wrapping them with scrapbook paper and attaching Command strips. They latch right onto the insides of her cabinet doors and are just the right size to hold her brushes. Now all she needs to do in the morning is open the doors and grab them. What a great space-saving solution!

DIY Instructions & Source: thecreativeimperative

Build an Eco-friendly Christmas Tree Out of Old Tin Cans

Tin Cans Are the Perfect Size for Making a Wine Rack

There are a lot of cool designs for wine racks, but this idea of using tin cans has to be one of the simplest and cleverest I have seen. Tin cans are only a little bit larger in circumference than wine bottles, so they work perfectly. Plus, the fact they are a bit bigger would work out well if you purchased something like Chianti that comes in a wider bottle.

DIY Instructions & Source: brit

Upcycled Keyboard Wrapped Around a Tin Can: Accessory Cup

Have an old keyboard that no longer works? If you are a desk warrior like me, you go through keyboards the way other people go through pens or highlighters. This project gives you something to do with those old keyboards and your other office supplies. I like this project not only because it is a fun and clever concept, but because I personally feel a need to memorialize my old keyboards. When you do as much typing as I do, you get sentimental.

DIY Instructions & Source: facebook

Coffee Can Stilts for Kids

What kid doesn’t like walking on stilts? This is a fun and easy way to give your kids something to do that will keep them busy all afternoon. They can make the stilts pretty easily on their own or with a little guidance, and they will have a blast using them. They can paint them with any colors or designs they want. I ran into a cute set of coffee can stilts at one point that were painted to look like elephant feet—clever idea.

DIY Instructions & Source: themudpiemakers

Beautiful White Brocade Vintage-Style Tin Can Planters

Wow, how did she get that super cool texture on there? That was the first question I asked when I saw these awesome planters. As it turns out, those are paintable wallpaper samples which this clever crafter ordered off the internet. She decided to keep them unpainted to give them a bold contrast with the moss—and to make sure the attention was on the mos. Frankly my eye was still drawn straight to the cool textures on the wallpaper. The project was an awesome success either way!

DIY Instructions & Source: homevestures

Upcycled Tin Can Organizers

Tin cans actually are pretty aesthetically pleasing just as they are. So sometimes the simplest ideas can have the best effect. You don’t have to do much to transform a tin can into something amazing—without hiding its true nature. These tin cans have been painted with a simple design and some metallic paint, and the finished effect is great. This is an idea that would be easy to customize to your heart’s content.

DIY Instructions & Source: mountainmodernlife

Tin Can Wind Chime Project for Kids

Here is a super easy tin can wind chime project which was designed to be easy for kids to do. Of course, it would be perfectly fun for adults too! I like the “weathered” look of the finished project. The bold primary colors also work very nicely off of each other.

DIY Instructions & Source: handsonaswegrow

Simple, Colorful Tin Can Wind Chimes

Here is another version of the tin can wind chimes, this time with a different setup and a very different paint job. These chimes use bright, bubbly colors, just like the others I have showcased in this list, but the designs are quite unique. Stripes and polka dots are simple, but they make for a great look!

Source: allyou

Fabric-Wrapped Tin Cans for Pennies, Flowers, Pencils, and More

It truly is incredible what you can do with a tin can and a simple scrap of fabric. Each of these tins is quite beautiful. I love the soft colors, and the effect that the entire ensemble has. It is very elegant (nicely photographed too). Once again, sometimes the simplest projects are the ones that come out the best.

DIY Instructions & Source: forthemakers

Create a Working Rocket Stove from a Tin Can

Enjoy backpacking? You can easily convert tin cans into a working rocket stove which is small and lightweight enough to take with you no matter where you go. The stove weighs in at a single pound, looks amazing, and can boil water in under five minutes. Because the design is so efficient, it conserves fuel. All you need to start the fire is a lighter or match, some lint from a drier, and sticks. Since you are the one feeding the sticks into the fire, you can control it with ease.

There are other great things about this design as well. For one, the fire is protected from the elements. Since it is inside the can, wind and rain are unlikely to dampen it or put it out. For another, it is a very durable design which will hold up great over time.

This is a project you could do yourself at home, but I recommend that you take a look at the original site. You can actually buy the rocket stoves right there on the site for a very reasonable cost. They are beautifully designed and available in black and silver. They’ve been insulated to focus the heat inside for greater efficiency, and to protect you from burns.

DIY Instructions & Source: premiumrocketstoves

Nautical Tin Can Rope Vase

This simple idea has a beautiful effect. The texture of the rope is lovely and indeed has a nautical flair. I imagine that this would be a great touch for flowers at wedding, especially a seaside one—which it seems is exactly what the design was originally for. Perfect for any DIY bride!

DIY Instructions & Source: baysidebride

This Tin Can Flower Décor is Quirky and Beautiful

This would be a more involved project, and unfortunately there are no step-by-step instructions. It is way too beautiful not to include in this list though! And you can get a feel for how it was done if you study it enough. It wouldn’t be too hard to figure out how to replicate it through trial and error. Not only is the design very pretty, but I love the paint job and the way the colors fade one into the next.

DIY Instructions & Source: pinterest

Hang These Simple Tin Can Lanterns with Handles

These tin can lanterns were made using the same principles as the votive candle holders that I shared with you earlier. Once again, you punch designs in them and the light shines through. The difference with these is just the handle which you add on. You could hang these outside for a party and they would provide beautiful ambient light.

DIY Instructions & Source: craftfoxes

Adorable Tin Man Made from Real Tin Cans and a Funnel

I can’t enough of this guy! It looks like his body is made of a coffee tin, and his arms and legs are old soda cans. Even his ears have been made out of tin lids. His buttons, eyes, and mouth appear to be soda bottle caps. His cap is a funnel. What a wonderfully inventive creation!

DIY Instructions & Source: empressofdirt