Save Old Plastic Lids: Make A Cute Space-Saving Storage Solution For Your Bathroom

Chances are, you have some takeout containers lying in your home somewhere. With food delivery apps at our fingertips, many of us enjoy the convenience of ordering food. The result? Loads of takeout containers stacked in our kitchen cupboards, waiting to be reused or recycled. With some creativity, you can put them to good use beyond food storage. For instance, you can transform takeout containers into countertop organizers, craft boxes, planters, and more. But guess what? The lids are almost always left out of such DIYs. Lids are just as useful, however, and you can repurpose them to craft a space-saving tiered tray for your bathroom countertop.

This DIY idea comes from YouTuber Merry Craft, who used the lids as the tiered tray's shelves, with an old woven placemat acting as a supporting frame. If the thought of doing another complicated DIY project gives you jitters, just know that this one is quite simple and worth your time and effort. In addition to two round plastic lids and a placemat, you'll need a piece of cardboard, some fabric scraps, some jute rope, a pair of scissors, and a hot glue gun.

With its practical and thoughtful design, the semi-circular tiered shelf is sure to keep clutter out of your bathroom — and plastic lids out of the landfill. Use it to store toiletries, skincare, diffusers, and more. If this has given you inspiration for reusing plastic lids, you may end up making more than one.

To start, cut the cardboard into two circles and attach them to the lids to make them sturdier. Cover each one with the fabric scraps and glue them securely. You can add the rope as a decorative trim, though ribbon or lace would also work. Next, glue one of the shelves to the bottom edge of the placement, carefully curving the mat as you do so. Finally, glue the other shelf a few inches below the mat's top edge. Once done, take a moment to admire your amazing handiwork.

Though cute as is, this tiered shelf can be tweaked to suit your personal style. For instance, you can swap the rustic look for a cottagecore aesthetic by choosing a floral fabric for the shelves. If you have a bohemian inspired bathroom, try block-print fabric. You can also change the frame by choosing different placemats, but bear in mind that thin fabric placemats will not be strong enough to hold the shelves in place. Vinyl mats are another great option as they're waterproof and easy to clean. Whatever you choose, make sure it matches the fabric you're using on the shelves. Additionally, in place of jute rope, you can use cotton cords in different colors, such as the Loops & Threads macramé cotton cord.