16 Ways to Repurpose Wood and Engineered Flooring Scraps

Last edited 16/6/23

Whether you tore out old flooring, have scraps from installing new flooring, or have extra planks leftover after installation, you may be wondering what to do with your flooring scraps.

Overview:

With a little inspiration and a few tools, there are endless ways to reuse leftover flooring and repurpose it into beautiful décor, useful tools, unique DIY furniture pieces, and much more!

Here are 16 of our favourite ways to repurpose flooring scraps and tips for getting started on each of them:

1. Wood Picture Frames

DIY wood picture frames are a beautiful way to add a touch of personality when displaying your photos.

To make DIY flooring scrap picture frames:

• First, cut the tongue off the length of a piece of flooring.
• Next, cut four mitred pieces (groove side in) at a 45-degree angle.
• Nail the frame pieces together and smooth the edges to finish them.
• Secure a block of scrap wood to the back to hold the glass of the frame in place.

You can customise the frame size to fit small photos or large paintings or portraits.

2. Accent Plank Walls

Using flooring to create an accent wall can create a unique focal point that brings rich character, rustic charm, and style to any space. This project will require a fair degree of research and preparation, but the result is a stunning feature that is sure to be a conversation piece in your home.

Prefinished hardwood flooring scraps, laminate flooring, or engineered hardwood flooring all have the potential to be excellent when used for an accent wall.

Here are some ideas for where to place a wood accent wall:

• Behind a bar
• Behind your bed
• On a wall in the living room
• In a game room or den
• In a home office

The layout of your DIY accent wall is not limited to horizontal or vertical lines. Play around with different patterns and layouts to create a unique, elegant look that complements your design style.

Here is how the methodology might look: 

• Research and plan the layout of the accent wall to fit in with the rest of the house
• Use prefinished pure hardwood or engineered flooring scraps for the best results
• For the best results, we recommend installing it perpendicular to the wall using adhesive and nails

*Note* Wood accent walls are not recommended for fireplace surrounds, shower walls, laundries, basements, bathrooms, kitchens, or any wall application exposed to continuous saturation or high temperatures.

3. Cabinet Doors

If you enjoy woodworking projects and carpentry, you can use flooring scraps to make lovely cabinet doors for your workshop or kitchen.

• Use unfinished groove-side floorboards to construct the frames
• Use beech plywood or glass for the centre.
• Secure with glue or screws.

4. Cleat for Hanging Objects

For a place to hang heavy objects such as mirrors or headboards, cut two pieces of flooring (tongue and groove repurposed flooring is excellent for this project). Aim for a width that is just a bit shorter than the object.

• Cut one flooring piece into two at a 45-degree angle, and also cut the width slightly shorter than what you want to hang.
• Fasten one piece to the back of the object you will be hanging.
• Fasten one piece to the wall you will be hanging the object from.
• Hang the object by resting in the grove of the wall-mounted cleat.

5. Ceiling Accent

An accent ceiling can add visual interest to any room, especially smaller rooms with neutral carpet or rooms with pitched ceilings.

• Use lightweight, pre-finished, engineered wood planks work well for this project.
• Use construction adhesive to install planks perpendicular to ceiling joists.
• Next, nail the tongue of each plank to a joist.

6. Coffee Table

You can find countless plans for coffee tables online and choose one that matches your vision. Solid hardwood flooring scraps are ideal for building a sturdy, durable coffee table.

Here are a few tips for how to make a DIY coffee table from flooring scraps:

• Fit planks together
• Secure the planks from underneath using scrap wood braces
• Cut off the outside tongue and groove
• Colour the legs to match
• Add prefabricated legs

7. Coaster Gift Set

Making a coaster gift set an ideal project if you have minimal flooring scraps of shorter length but still want to repurpose them. These coasters make a perfect, useful handmade gift for neighbours, co-workers, family, or friends.

• Cut flooring into coster sized pieces
• Shape coasters to your desire
• Sand and finish pieces
• Bundle together as a gift set

Click this link to see a detailed DIY coster gift set from leftover flooring.

8. Coat Rack

For a sturdy, rustic coat rack for hanging towels, coats, scarves, blankets, or hats, check out this excellent idea for re-purposing laminate scraps. In about an hour of work, you can have a customised coat rack to use for years to come.

Materials and tools needed:

• A leftover laminate flooring plank
• Desired Hooks
• Drill
• Goggles
• Saw
• Pencil
• Sandpaper
• Measuring Tape
• Ruler
• Clamps
• Adhesive
• Hardware of choice
• Paintbrush
• Paint

Instructions:

• Decide on the desired length of your coat rack (two feet is generally a good length as it allows for about four knobs or hooks for hanging).
• Measure your wood plank and flooring plank.
• Use a saw to cut the wood plank and flooring plank to the desired size (be sure to use protective goggles when cutting).
• Trim the lip of the flooring to keep the flooring plank flush with the wood plank.
• Sand the back of the flooring plank to make sure the glue adheres properly.
• Glue the two planks together (a strong glue such as gorilla glue works well for this)
• Clamp the two boards together, making sure to use clamps with rubber on them so the planks do not get damaged.
• Allow the glue to set for 1 to 2 hours.
• Measure and mark holes for your chosen hardware.
• Once the glue has dried, drill the holes for your hardware (screws should be roughly an inch in length).
• Add the hangers/hooks and mount the coat rack to the wall.

9. Shelving

Box shelves are a great way to use leftover wood to create functional, artistic interest in any wall. Get creative with geometric designs for extra visual interest.

• Design and measure the desired shape and size of shelves.
• Cut flooring as per measurements.
• Secure the floor the wall using brackets or other mounting options.

10. Bathtub Caddy

For an in-depth tutorial for making a customised, indulgent bathtub caddy from scrap wood, check out this wonderful, fun video.

11. Chopping Board

If you have a thicker, longer piece of solid timber flooring leftover, check out this video tutorial.

12. Bedside Table

With a saw, leftover flooring scraps, a tape measure, clamps, pocket hole kit, and drill, you can create a custom bedside table/tv tray at the perfect height.

13. Wooden Door Mat

Create an inviting, durable doormat using hardwood scraps by:

• Cutting boards to 18 inches long
• Place the boards side by side until you can cover 2 to 2.5 feet wide
• Using a 1/4 inch drill bit to evenly drill four holes through each plank
• String together with a rope
• Tie a knot between each board to use as a spacer

Place your DIY mat in a sheltered area such as a garage entrance or covered porch to protect it against the elements.

14. Tools

Scrap pieces of solid hardwood flooring can make sturdy DIY tools such as:

• T-Square – A T-square is a handy tool to keep on hand for cutting sheetrock or plywood. To make a DIY T-square using scrap wood, begin by fastening a long and short piece together with nuts and bolts at a 90-degree angle. Use a marker and tape measure to add measurement lines.
• Screed – Drag a piece of scrap wood with its tongue side down to level sand for a brick walkway or to level concrete. It is more durable than a pine 2 x 4 and offers a straight edge.
• Wallpaper Smoother – Use the tongue of a plank to run across the paper to remove air bubbles in the adhesive. Press down firmly, working from the centre to the edges.

15. Wainscoting

Add detail and complement your overall design with wainscoting.

To add wainscoting:

• Remove the baseboard
• Cut tongue and groove flooring planks to equal lengths
• Use construction adhesive to glue them vertically to the wall
• Toenail each tongue at the top and bottom
• Re-install the baseboard
• Add a top decorative moulding to finish the look

16. Display with Clips

A display with clips is an extremely simple, functional DIY project that requires minimal effort and materials. All you need is leftover wood scraps of your choice, glue, and metal clips. To make, simply cut the plank to your desired size, glue on clips, allow it to dry, and hang up important memos or photos.

Additional Thoughts

Where Can I Find Wood Flooring Scraps?

If you haven’t recently installed new flooring or tore up old flooring, you may still want to complete DIY flooring scrap projects. In this case, you can try checking with flooring stores, salvage stores, or friends and family to find leftover wood flooring scraps.

Burning Wood Scraps – Be Careful

If you decide not to use your scraps for DIY leftover flooring projects, just be sure not to burn your wood scraps. When burned, the flooring will release chemicals and toxins (unless the wood is completely unfinished).

Recycling Scrap Wood

Recycling wood for DIY flooring scrap projects offers a variety of benefits:

• Better for the environment
• Handmade projects add personality, charm, and character to your hom
• Ability to customise projects to your exact style and design preference

Can I Sell Leftover Wood Scraps?

If you have removed an entire floor or have a good deal of flooring leftover after completing a project, there is a high demand for repurposed wood.

Recycling and Repurposing Wood Floor Scraps

Have you ever reused flooring scraps and turned them into something else. Have you done any of these ideas? Have some more inspiration we missed? We would love to hear from you!

For more inspiration check out these ideas for using leftover flooring.