TL;DR
Get coffee and tea gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
A Good Housekeeping report presents seven ways to give old mugs a new use around the home or garden. Suggestions include holding desk or bathroom supplies, serving as a small vase or planter, and becoming a candle, gift-basket component or bird feeder.
Good Housekeeping has outlined seven ways to repurpose old mugs, suggesting they can be used for desk and bathroom storage, small floral displays, planters, candles, gift baskets and bird feeding. The ideas offer households a way to keep sentimental or unused mugs in circulation rather than leaving them stacked away, though the report does not provide testing or comparative evidence about how well each project works.
The report’s simplest ideas use a mug as a ready-made container. On a desk, it can hold pens, pencils, markers, paintbrushes, scissors and other small craft supplies. In a bathroom, mugs can keep toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss together, or store cotton balls, rounds and swabs. These uses need little preparation beyond choosing a mug that is clean, stable and suitably sized for the items.
For decoration, the article suggests using a mug as a short vase for flowers, or as a container for herbs, microgreens, seedlings or plant cuttings. Designer Janette Ewen recommends grouping mismatched mugs of herbs in a shallow wooden box or vintage crate. The report also proposes making a candle in a mug. Ewen says craft stores sell wax options that include microwavable melts and wax intended for a double boiler; the article does not give a full candle-making procedure.
The remaining ideas extend beyond everyday storage. A mug can be included in a cozy gift basket with cocoa or loose-leaf tea, a strainer, snacks or other comforting items. For outdoor use, the report suggests filling a mug with birdseed and securing it sideways to a sturdy surface, or hanging it by its handle in a sheltered place where birds can perch. It does not specify construction materials or instructions for attaching the feeder.
Practical Uses for Mugs at Home
The suggestions turn an everyday item into small-scale storage or decor without requiring a purpose-built organizer, vase or planter. For readers who keep mugs for their connection to trips, gifts or family members, reusing them can preserve that personal meaning while giving them a role in a room or garden.
The ideas vary in effort and suitability. Desk and bathroom storage are straightforward container uses, while candles and bird feeders involve additional steps and care. The article is an inspiration list, not a tested guide: readers should check that a mug is sound and stable and consider whether its shape and placement suit the intended use.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
From Cupboard Clutter to Useful Containers
The source report opens from a familiar household problem: mug collections can grow quickly, and some cups carry sentimental associations with places visited or people remembered. It presents reuse as an alternative for mugs that have already been kept after sorting a collection, rather than offering advice on how many mugs a household should own.
Its seven ideas span indoor organization, table decor, gifting and outdoor feeding. Ewen is quoted on candle wax options and arranging mug planters; the other recommendations are presented as practical suggestions in the article. The source does not report a new product, survey, test result or change in guidance.
““Craft stores carry a variety of wax melts, from simple microwavable ones to the traditional double-boilers styles. I love the microwavable option.””
— Designer Janette Ewen
Project Details the Report Leaves Open
The article offers concepts rather than complete how-to instructions. It does not explain candle-wick selection, wax quantities or safe handling, nor does it describe how to attach a mug bird feeder so it remains secure. It also gives no information about the mugs’ materials, condition or suitability for particular projects.
There are no reported tests, cost estimates, durability findings or claims that the ideas reduce waste by a measured amount. The source material also does not supply the report’s publication date. Readers should treat the recommendations as suggestions, not verified performance claims, and use project-specific instructions where heat, hanging or outdoor placement is involved.
Choosing a Safe Second Use
The next step is for readers to match each mug to a practical use: a stable, easy-to-clean cup may work for desk or bathroom supplies, while a small vessel may suit a compact floral display or plant. Before using a mug outdoors or turning it into a candle, readers will need to follow appropriate instructions for the specific project; the report itself does not provide those details.
Good Housekeeping’s article supplies a menu of seven possibilities, but it does not announce further testing or updates. Any additional guidance on construction, materials or safe use would need to come from later reporting or detailed project instructions.
Key Questions
What are the seven suggested ways to reuse an old mug?
The report suggests using one to store pens and craft supplies, make a candle, serve as a mini vase, join a gift basket, hold plants, feed birds or organize bathroom essentials.
Can a mug be used as a planter?
The article suggests using mugs for herbs, microgreens, seedlings or plant cuttings. It does not provide planting instructions or discuss drainage, so readers should check what their chosen plants need before using a mug as a container.
How does the report suggest making a mug bird feeder?
It proposes filling a mug with birdseed and securing it sideways to a sturdy surface, or hanging it by the handle in a sheltered place. The report does not specify attachment hardware or construction steps.
Does the article provide complete candle-making instructions?
No. It recommends the mug as a possible candle vessel and quotes designer Janette Ewen on types of wax available, but it does not give a full method or detailed safety instructions.
Source: rss
Halloween Picks
halloween
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
