Got an old canoe lying around that’s never used anymore? Give it a second life by transforming it into something completely different—and visually appealing to boot. Here are some great ideas for upcycling your canoe that will never let you see it in the same way again.
Design & DIY
7 cool ways to repurpose a canoe
Shelf
Turn your canoe on its side—or cut off one end for it to stand vertically—and convert the seats into shelves to make it a decorative yet useful storage space for holding books or knick knacks.
Overhead light fixture
Install some lights and hang your upside-down canoe from the ceiling to turn it into a unique light fixture.
Cooler
Fill your canoe with ice, bottles and cans of your favourite beverages, and presto—instant party cooler for you and your guests.
Planter
A canoe can make for a beautiful planter for your garden; just add soil and your choice of plants—herbs, flowers, vegetables—the possibilities are endless.
Sandbox
Create the box by filling the canoe with sand and toys. You can even create a small partition and fill it with water to keep kids entertained with sandcastle-building projects.
Pond or water garden
Instead of keeping water out of your canoe, flood it to create your own water garden (just make sure it’s completely sealed first). Add some pond plants and fish, perhaps some Japanese koi or goldfish, and now you have a lovely landscaping focal point.
Child’s bed
Split the canoe in two so that one piece is the foundation for the mattress and the other is the headboard to make a very novel bed for a kid.
