What To Do with Old Fence Boards – Reuse Guide

Do you have weathered fence boards on your hands and can’t figure out what to do with them?

They might be an eyesore but don’t get rid of them just yet.

You could dust off the rust and stain and use them for a unique DIY project.

Nothing should ever go to waste as long as you’re creative and willing to put in the effort and special touches.

The possibilities of repurposing any old wood, including fence boards, are endless.

Lucky for you, we have found a few do-it-yourself (DIY) projects that will turn those old boards into something beautiful, practical and useful.

What to do with old fence boards 12 amazing ideas

Wood is recyclable and is easy to work with and doesn’t take much to create something interesting for your home.

More and more people are inclined to reuse or repurpose old items in an effort to reduce waste and save money.

Here’s how to turn old fence boards into useful items for your home:

Make a rustic coffee table

Rustic furniture has a way of making any room or home feel cozy and inviting.

It’s not only a timeless design but also a perfect way to reuse old fence boards and get a brand-new look.

Even the shabbiest boards can easily be transformed into a table with the right finishing touch.

And the best part is that anyone can do it if they’re willing to put in the effort and get their hands dirty.

You’ll need a couple of boards and some decent-sized nails (1 1/2 inches or 3 x 1 inch will do).

For an added touch, you could paint or stain the table to match your room’s décor.

Place a gorgeous vase on top of the finished table for a chic and elegant look and to serve as a centerpiece.

You can get creative with the vase, too.

DIY headboard

You may have seen people spend chunks of cash on their old headboard and here’s a way to get the same look for very little.

You can have a beautiful headboard out of fence boards in no time.

The materials are inexpensive and it doesn’t take much time to install.

All you need are the old fence boards to make the headboard, a saw, stapler and some nails.

Make sure you measure the height of the boards so it’s not too long or short for your bed.

When it comes to the design of the headboard, the options are limitless.

A picket fence headboard will be the perfect addition to a home that has a colonial style.

For something softer, you can go for the pearl headboard, which is a popular choice in modern homes.

You can also make your headboard high enough to serve as an accent piece in your room.

Sunburst fence mirror

Mirrors tend to accentuate a room’s décor and are a great way to bring light to an otherwise dark area.

It’s easy to see the difference in a room that’s brightly lit and one that doesn’t have a mirror.

In this case, take the time to make a sunburst mirror with just some old boards and a saw.

The sunburst design would give an old fence board the look of antique mirror without having to spend much money.

A sunburst mirror can also be used in other ways since it doubles as decoration and décor for your room.

It works well as a bar or a wall mirror.

You could also paint the frame of the mirror to give it a chic but simple touch.

Rustic wooden clock

Among the things that can really change the feel and atmosphere of any room is a clock.

There’s nothing better than getting up in the morning and seeing one of those majestic beauties on your bedroom wall or nightstand.

You don’t have to break the bank to get a good-looking clock, you just need some old fence boards and you’re set for a home décor item with a rustic touch.

It won’t take that long to make a beautiful clock out of wood and you can even get creative in the design itself.

You can opt to paint the clock or leave it natural.

Since it’s made out of wood, you can also add some metal accents and make your clock look more intricate and nice-looking.

Birdhouse trellis

No garden is complete without a birdhouse.

Birdhouses bring in birds and that means there’ll be a lot of chirping and singing.

You can build your own birdhouse to give it a unique touch.

An easy way to do it is to take old fence boards and use them to make the birdhouses.

For added design and décor, you can also stain the boards or paint it with outdoor paint.

Hanging the birdhouse from an existing trellis will give your home garden a rustic look that’s bound to impress even the most meticulous gardeners.

Your yard will surely attract all the beautiful feathered creatures.

As a result, the birds will be provided with a safe and nice place to live and make their homes.

You can also build a unique trellis to give it an appealing look.

It won’t take that much time or money to do this and it’s also a great way to repurpose old fence boards.

Make fence signs

If you’re having a party or hosting an event, then a welcome board is a must in any home.

There are so many great ways to make one, but using old fence boards would be unique and beautiful.

You can also do it in different ways so it doesn’t look like you’re always making the same thing.

For example, you can make your own rhyming welcome board with a theme or word.

You can also opt for something that could be customized uniquely to your needs and options.

Fence signs can look beautiful and you don’t need to spend a fortune or hours working on them.

All you need are some old boards and a pickaxe (optional).

You can make fence signs that have seasonal themes, like Christmas, Halloween, or Valentine’s Day.

Hang it at the entrance of your party venue to welcome your guests, or hang it as a plaque outside your home.

You’ll end up with something that’s literally out of this world in no time.

DIY shelf

Every home requires a shelf and an old fence board can be an awesome choice for this.

You don’t have to go with a specific design; you just have to keep your shelves minimal and functional.

For example, you can make a shelf that’s just enough for your essentials using old boards.

Another way to do it is by using the boards as a base and then adding more with various sizes of new planks and lumber.

You could also opt for pallets or other types of materials underneath it.

This can be perfect for storing your various books, plates, and other stuff.

If you’re getting tired of looking at the same thing over and over, then this is a perfect solution for you.

It’s unique, simple, and super easy to do, so you’ll be able to get a nice shelf in no time.

Garden bench

The truth is many people spend too much of their time indoors that they don’t realize how beautiful the outdoors is and how much they’re missing.

You can make a garden bench out of old fence boards to give you and your family a nice place to sit outside.

You don’t have to spend a fortune or get bored with a bench that doesn’t have a lot of character.

Just revive and upgrade an old wooden fence board into something interesting.

A garden bench is so much better than the typical lawn chair because it gives a unique look and feel.

It also provides a place to relax and get some fresh air, which is guaranteed to bring a smile on your face.

Customize it according to your needs and preferences.

You can opt for a picnic table or a bench that fits in your garden perfectly.

However, it’s still up to you on what kind of look and design you want for your garden furniture.

DIY bar cart

There’s nothing more awesome than having your own bar cart in your home.

Bar carts are great additions to any home, especially if you’re living in a small space.

Old fence boards can be transformed into one of the most unique and amazing bar carts.

The thing about this project is that it’s both unique and simple.

It will serve as an entertainment center for you and your guests, a place to store your alcoholic beverages, and also a pretty decoration piece that’ll match the other décor in your home.

You can keep all kinds of stuff there, such as glasses, bottles of liquor, bottles of beer, glasses for juice, and other drinks.

No matter what kind of bar cart you end up making, it’s bound to be unique and eye-catching.

Fence board planter

Some of the vegetables and herbs we buy from the grocery stores are not entirely fresh and a lot of them come from far.

You can make your own garden at home, and it can be easily done by using old fence boards.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to do this for the whole fence board, just a part of it to make small planter boxes.

You can start by putting some soil in the planter boxes and then planting your vegetables or herbs.

This way, you’ll be able to get fresh produce from your home garden and save more money on food.

Anytime you want to cook, you can just get whatever you need right there in your own backyard.

It’s also a fun project to do because you’ll have to choose what kind of vegetables you’ll plant.

You can even change the planter boxes according to your needs.

You could use bigger planter boxes if you want to grow more and smaller ones if you only want a few things at home.

It’s entirely your decision on how many planter boxes and what kind of vegetables or herbs you’ll put inside it.

DIY wine rack

A wine rack is a wondrous and beautiful thing that you can make at home.

It’s also an easy DIY project and one that will bring a lot of joy and beauty to your kitchen (or any room in your home).

You just have to gather a bunch of old fence boards, some nails, paint, and other materials.

You can make a wine rack that’s just a few planks high and use it in your kitchen.

This way, you won’t have to dig deep into your pockets just to buy wine racks or cabinets for your home.

Don’t worry if you don’t like the look of it when you put all the boards together.

Paint them with any color that you want and it would be an entirely different thing altogether.

Towel bar

A towel bar is a great addition to any bathroom and will make it look more organized and neat.

There are various designs you can use for your towel bars, but the best thing about it is that they’re very affordable.

It’s something that will enable you to keep everything you need for your daily routine in one convenient place.

Use your unwanted picket fence boards to make it and you’ll end up with a nice addition to your bathroom.

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to spend a fortune on unique and interesting home décor.

Utilize the skills and resources you already have at your hand to make something that you can be proud of.

Bring some life back into the old boards with paint, or create something original like making shelves or jewelry displays.

The list of options is endless.

Allow your creativity and hands-on skills to guide you and you’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish without breaking the bank.

FAQs

Can you reuse old fence boards?

Yes, you can.

You can reuse old fence boards to make several items for your home.

The above examples will give you an idea of what you can do with old boards.

Do not throw them away because there are lots of things you can do with them.

What can you do with a wooden fence?

Some fences are made of wood that lasts for so many years and even when it starts to fall apart, there is still so much integrity to the fence that you can even reshape it and reuse some of the boards to make other items.