Handbags aren’t cheap. In fact, they can be quite expensive! So, when they’ve reached the end of their life, it’s hard to let them go. Luckily – you don’t have to.
Over time your purse might wear out, becoming worn and faded, or you might decide it is just time for a change. But instead of throwing your purse away when you’re ready to get rid of it, consider giving it a new look, recycling it, or upcycling it into something completely different!
You’d be surprised at how many things you can do with an old purse. These ideas will help you find new uses for an old-but-still-useful purse.
1) Hand-Me-Downs
Give a lightly used old purse to a teenager or younger child in your family, or one who you know in the neighborhood. Although the purse might not be ‘brand new’ to you anymore, but it could have a new, extended life with someone else!
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Mommy Shorts
2) Emergency Car Kit
Transform your purse into an emergency car kit by tossing in some aspirin, a snack, a tire iron, flares, and other essentials items. Then leave it in your car in case of an emergency. It’s a way better option than trying to shove all of that stuff into your glove compartment.
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PopSugar
3) Camera Bag
If photography is one of your hobbies, an old handbag or tote can easily be used as a camera bag. Who cares if it’s a little beat up and worn out? When holding expensive equipment, the not-so-appealing bag with help conceal its contents.
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Devon Alana
4) Wall Art
Create a beautiful piece of wall art with your evening handbags. Use your old purses to create art for your wall by stuffing them with faux flowers or sticks, or gluing on photo frames, then hanging with a nail. The possibilities are endless with this one!
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Pinterest
5) Shopping Bag
Repurpose larger tote purses for use as shopping bags to take with you to the supermarket. Canvas totes are super durable. Even if they look faded and old – the material can still be of high-quality which is great for holding groceries while you walk home from the store.
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Rattles & Heels
6) Toiletry Kit
Make sure you have everything you need on a trip by carrying toiletries in an old purse. By keeping your purse toiletry kit packed, all you have to do is grab it and go when leaving on a trip. You don’t have to deal with a tiny dopkit that can barely hold all of your necessities.
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The Underground Writer
7) Use it for Dress-Up
Playing dress up when you’re little is one of the most fun things to do! Little kids will love your old purses to play dress up with. So, hang on to the ones you were thinking about tossing and give them to your grandkids or any other little one that you think will build some fun memories with it.
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The Lovers Cooking
8) File Organizer
File-storing briefcases aren’t the most stylish of bags to carry around. Use your old purse as a place to store files instead. This is an especially great idea come tax season for storing financial documents. Plus, even though it’s a bit on the weathered side, it’s still more fashionable than a bulky briefcase.
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Pinterest
9) Turn Into Sandals
Instead of throwing away a loved handbag, take it to a local cobbler and see if they can use its material to make you a pair of sandals. Refinery 29 shares how one of their stylist was able to turn their old handbag into an adorable pair of shoes.
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Etsy/FobulousFinds
10) Paint It
Hate the color of the purse you’ve had for years? Change it! Apply a coat of spray paint to an old bag to freshen up its look. Just make sure to apply the paint in a well-ventilated area. Head to the craft store and buy either fabric paint or paint meant for leather/faux leather to make sure it adheres properly.
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Wrapped Up in Rainbows
11) Garden Tool Carrier
Turn your purse inside out, or add some pockets to the outside and use it to store your garden tools. This is especially great for those canvas tote bags that have lost their color or printed design. No need to worry about getting them dirty!
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The Lovers Cooking
12) Decoupage It
Who doesn’t love Mod Podge projects?! Use your decoupaging skills and materials to make a beautiful, customized bag. You can decoupage just about anything. If you are looking for ideas on how you can add some flare to your bag, head over to One Good Thing by Jillee for inspiration.
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One Good Thing by Jillee
13) Bedazzle It
If you have some old Bedazzling beads lying around, use them to make an old purse into a like-new fashionable accessory. Your old handbag just went from boring to bling! This is a fun project for the little ones as well.
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Pinterest
14) Kindling Carrier
An old canvas bag clearly has many uses, even after its supposedly past its glory days. Use your old purses and to carry kindling when you go camping or for your backyard firepit. Hey, it works!
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Gardenista
15) Attach Some Fringe
Attach some feather fringe to update an old purse’s look. This tutorial from Brit + Co can tell you more on how to make a feather fringe bag.
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Brit + Co
16) Cover it in Buttons
Do you have a bunch of old buttons lying around? Attach them to an old purse using needle and thread to make a colorful handbag to take with you anywhere.
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Pinterest
17) Make a Pillow Cover
Create a swanky pillow by stuffing a pillow inside your old purse or filling it with your own stuffing, chopping off the straps and placing it zipper side down on your couch.
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Mother Earth News
18) Embroider It
To give an old purse an especially unique look, embroider it to turn it into a piece of art. For even more effect, add beads and other items to really make your old purse stand out!
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Beadsmagic.com
19) Add Tassels
Add tassels and other charms to your old purse to give it a new and distinct look. Check out this tutorial from Refinery29 to find out how.
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Refinery29
20) Add Crystals
Glue long crystals to the front of your old purse to make a new-age handbag. Follow this simple tutorial to learn more.
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Fashion Diva Design
21) Donate It
If you can’t find a use for your old purses that are in decent shape, someone else will. There are lots of places you can donate them, such as Handbags of Hope.
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The Lovers Cooking
22) Make it Like New
Using leather cleaner, recondition the leather on your old purse to make it look like new. Check out this simple tutorial from Franish the Blog for more.
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Franish the Blog
23) Use the Material to Make Jewelry
Use the leather from an old purse as material to make jewelry.
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Pinterest
24) Add Sequins
Add sequins to your old purse to give it a new, sparkly look. Check out a tutorial for this project here.
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Leblogdartlex
25) Use it as Hanging Storage
Affix your old bags to your wall in places where you need some handy storage, such as the laundry room.
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CatFly
26) Add Pearls and Gemstones
If you have some extra jewelry lying around, repurpose it to add an elegant look to an old purse.
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Pinterest
27) Needlework Carrier
You can use an old purse you no longer use to carry your needlework supplies, including needles, thread, and extra needlework canvas and hoops.
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Buderim Craft Cottage
28) Sell It
This is the best option for designer purses and pocketbooks you spent a lot of money on. There are tons of websites and apps that allow you to sell used goods on, like Facebook, eBay, Tradesy, and Gone.
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MilitarySpouse
29) Clothes Pin Holder
When an old purse has outlived its usefulness as a part of your wardrobe, simply repurpose it as a clothes pin holder. You can even attach the purse to the line using a clothes pin to keep them handy when hanging your wet clothing out to dry.
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Max Pixel
30) Sewing Kit
Use an old clutch or purse to store your needles, thread, and other sewing items.
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CatFly
31) Tool Carrier
Another optional use for an old purse is as a tool carrier. Place the tools you use most often in the purse, and keep it in an easy-to-reach location.
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The Spruce
32) First-Aid Kit
A great use for an old purse is to fill it with essential first-aid items, such as bandages, gauze, and ointment, and make it into a first-aid kit.
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Thinkpoint
33) Outgoing Item Holder
Never forget anything before you leave the house again. Attach your purse to your door handle, and fill it with items you need to take with you, like those letters you keep forgetting to mail. This will help you to remember them.
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Mother Earth News
34) Add Fake Flowers
Simply glue on some fake flowers and give your old purse a new floral design.
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Gliternglued
35) Hanging Planter
Purses also make great hanging planters.
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Mother Earth News
36) Beach Bag
Need a bag for the beach? Simply grab an old tote purse. Totes are large enough to carry a variety of beach supplies, including sunscreen, a towel, and a book to read.
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Lil blue Boo
37) Book Bag
The versatile large tote also lends itself as a book bag to carry your books back to the library or for taking with you when visiting the bookstore.
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Express
38) Make-Up Bag
Smaller purses are great for carrying makeup with you so that you can touch up during the day.
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Pens and Pencil Skirts
39) Diaper Bag
You can also turn an old purse into a diaper bag. Many, larger purses are big enough to hold diaper-changing supplies.
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Kristen Mee
40) Gym Bag
Another use for an old tote purse is as a gym bag. Most totes are large enough to hold a towel, change of clothing, and items for showering.
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Tuff Togs
41) Get Strappy
If it’s the strap that is no longer functioning on your purse, it’s not the end of your handbag’s life. Revitalize your bag by adding a new strap all together. Get creative with it by using a string of pearls, a fun piece of fabric, or a patterned piece of leather.
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Wikimedia
42) Add Faux Fur
Give your old purse a new ‘cozy’ look by adding some faux fur. If the leather on your purse has lost its luster, just use a hot glue gun or leather glue to adhere whatever style or color of faux fur that you’d like. It’s an adorable bag to wear during those cold winter months.
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PxHere
43) Break Out The Puffy Paint
Whether it’s a canvas purse, a leather handbag, or a polyester tote – you can continue to use and wear it even when it appears to be past its prime. If art deco is something you’re into, this look will be perfect for you. Get crazy with some puffy paint and create an abstract work of art on your worn out handbag to make it eye-catching and attention-grabbing again.
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Flickr
44) Make Hair Barrettes
A lot of the time, famous designers have very recognizable patterns on their handbags. If you’ve spent lots of money on one of these designer bags, it’s hard to let them go. But, if you’ve worn it out beyond repair – it doesn’t mean you still can’t hang on to it. Cut a piece of leather from your purse and glue it onto a barrette piece. Now, instead of over your shoulder, a memory of it is worn in your hair.
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Wikimedia
45) Use A Head Scarf
Here’s another great hack to try if it’s just the strap that has worn out on your favorite purse. Find a head scarf that matches well with the purse and simply tie it at one end of the strap. Wrap the scarf around the handle until you reach the other side, the tie again! Think of all the beautiful patterns, colors, and floral designs you can use.
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Flickr
These out-of-the box ideas can help you repurpose your old purses for a variety of uses.