Leftover Tiles don’t mean that you’ve miscalculated how many you would need for your home renovation project. In fact, all experts recommend that you add an allowance of at least 10% when estimating to make up for damage and scrap cut-offs.

Now, the question is: what do you do with that stack of unused tiles collecting dust in your garage after you’ve completed your flooring? You could give them away or try to sell them back to your supplier, but where’s the fun in that? We have some creative ideas that make fun DIY projects and can help you make the most of your supplies while also transforming your home in beautiful and clever ways.

All of these ideas work with ceramic or porcelain tiles.

Create a Gorgeous Mosaic Backsplash

A mosaic backsplash can instantly upgrade your kitchen or bathroom with a bit of eclectic charm. Not only are mosaic backsplashes trendy, but they also make a fun yet simple DIY project for you and your family. All you have to do is break up your leftover tiles into smaller pieces, arrange them in a mosaic pattern, and apply adhesive. Once dry, you can grout them and clean them to reveal your beautiful mosaic creation. Using tiles with contrasting colors will them even more eye-catching.

Make Some Stunning Coasters

Coasters are important for protecting wooden surfaces from damage from liquids and you can save money by making your own. Using leftover tiles to make coasters is a smart way of creating cohesion by matching them to your floors or walls. You can also get creative with shapes, choosing anything from circles to squares and even hexagons. Simply cut your leftover tiles into the desired shape that’s big enough to support most glass sizes, sand the edges until they’re smooth, glue some felt to the bottom, and seal the top to protect them from dust and liquids.

Use Them For Tile Art

If you’re dying to express your creative side, you can even use your leftover tiles to create art for your home. It helps to plan your design by outlining it with chalk before you start to put it together with your leftover tiles. Use broken-up tile pieces of different sizes to make your piece look more dynamic. Alternatively, you can go for a more freeform abstract design if planning it out doesn’t work for you. Break up your tiles, use adhesive to stick them to something strong like a piece of wood, grout them and clean them, and then frame your work of art. Make sure you hang it somewhere your guests will notice it.

Design a Custom Tile Tabletop

If you have an old table somewhere in your house that could use a bit of a lift, tiles are the perfect accessory. Following the same process as the mosaic backsplash and tile art, you can create gorgeous designs that can turn a drabby piece of furniture into a brilliant feature in your living room, patio, or dining room. Tiled tabletops aren’t just stunning showpieces, but they’re much easier to clean than wood so you’ll also save time on maintenance in the long run.

Make Beautiful Planters

Why buy planters when you can make your own? All you need to do is glue the edges of five square leftover tiles into an incomplete cube (the top has to be open). Next, drill a hole into the bottom tile for drainage and you’re ready to add soil and start planting. The size of your leftover tile will determine how big your planters are but you can always cut them into smaller squares depending on what you need.

Create One-of-a-Kind Frames

Do you have pictures in your home set in frames that simply aren’t as special as the memories? You can upgrade them easily with your leftover tiles. Cut them into small hexagons and create a beautiful mosaic border or choose any other pattern that you like. For an extra creative touch, you can paint the tiles before you add adhesive to create unique designs that will make your photos pop. Tiled frames can also make excellent gifts for friends and family.

Make Tile Magnets For Your Fridge

Fridge magnets often come in unimaginative colors and designs and are sold more for practicality than aesthetics. Now you can add some flair to them. Measure and and cut your leftover tiles into the exact size of store-bought fridge magnets then superglue them on top. You can use them to hold Polaroids, shopping lists, and chore charts on your fridge. Not only do they do the same job as regular fridge magnets but they also match your floors, making you look like an interior design genius.

Tile The Back of Your Bookcase

Revamp your bookcase by tiling the back panels. This creative touch adds depth and personality to your bookshelf, making it a stylish focal point. You can follow the same steps as the backsplash or tile art but ensure you have enough leftover tiles so that you don’t run out halfway down the back panel – the idea is to use what you already have and not to buy more. You can even save more time by turning this into a DIY ceramic tile project for the whole family!

Turn Them Into Upscale Platters

Larger leftover tiles can be easily upcycled into stylish platters, especially if they come in interesting shapes such as hexagons. If they don’t, you can always measure and cut them to create something special. Adding some felt to the bottom will ensure that they don’t scratch your counter or table tops, and drilling or supergluing handles onto them makes them more practical. Your new tile platters can be used to serve drinks or as fancy cheeseboards.

Line Your Garden Pathways

Transform your garden into a charming oasis by lining your pathways with leftover tiles. Beyond their visual appeal, tiled pathways offer practical benefits by preventing weed growth and creating a stable surface for walking. You can choose colorful ceramic tiles for a vibrant and eclectic look, opt for natural stone tiles for a rustic feel, or even mix and match different tile shapes to create a unique mosaic pathway.

There are endless possibilities for repurposing leftover tiles and these ten ideas are an excellent place to start. Browse our selection of tiles that are gorgeous enough to make statement floors, backsplashes, fridge magnets, picture frames or anything else you can imagine!