30 Creative Ways to Decorate Your Home Using Wooden Clothespins

The familiar wooden clothespin has been around since the 1700s. But they can do more than just hang clothes. Over the years, their simple design has lent itself to fun, budget-friendly projects for both kids and DIY-type grownups.

They can be functional, but also add a little farmhouse charm to any space.

Saga Display offers retail supplies that are both creative and practical. Here are tips for easy decorations that use wooden clothespins and simple tools.

Introduction

The basic wooden clothespin dates to the 1700s. It began as a craft among the Romani people of England, who carved a simple wooden peg that was split down the middle to grip clothes on a line and let them dry after washing. 

In 1853, a Vermont inventor patented a hinged version with a coiled spring.

Even with the advent of clothes dryers, the appeal of clothespins remains. They have a vintage charm, plus, as a clip,  they’re useful in other functions. They can hold a grocery list or a child's artwork. They can be turned into a holiday decoration or a charming picture frame. The possibilities are endless!

Here are some examples of the many things you can do with them around your house.

Decorative Wall and Hanging Displays

Clothespin Photo Frames

• Remove the back and any glass. 

• Use a staple gun to attach lengths of twine to the inside of the empty frame. 

• Clip your favorite photos to the twine. 

• Suspend your framed photo collection with another piece of twine attached to the top.

Clothespin Wall Art

• Cut a piece of plywood into a circle. This will be the base.

• Arrange the clothespins around the circle and hot-glue them into place.

• Paint the center as the inside of a flower, with the clothespins as the petals. Cheery sunflowers are a popular motif. 

• Optional: leave the center for a special photo, letting the pins be the frame.

DIY Message Board with Clothespins

• Remove the backing and glass from an old frame.

• Use either thumbtacks, small nails, or a staple gun to attach lengths of twine to the inside. You can do it side-to-side or create a fun crisscross pattern.

• Paint the pins (or even dip them in glitter!) and use them to attach messages, photos, and other daily life reminders to the board.

 Hanging Shelf Using Clothespins

• Choose a board of your desired length, and about six to eight inches deep. 

• Customize the board by sanding or painting it.

• Mark the underside of the board where you’ll place the pins, about one to two inches from the ends of the board.

• Use four jumbo pins, with two placed together for stability. The “mouth” of the pins should face outward. Hot-glue them to the board.

• Attach a hanging mechanism to each side of the board.

• Place lightweight items on the shelf, and clip photos or messages to the clips underneath.

Crafting Functional Home Decor

Clothespin Towel Rack

Using hot glue, attach a few jumbo pins to a board, then attach that to the wall with sturdy double-sided tape or screws (better for heavier towels).

Clip-on Curtains or Window Treatments

• Drape fabric over a curtain rod using clips at the back to create an instant valance with your desired shapes and folds.

• Create pleats by clipping folds at the bottom of the curtain. Leave them in place for a few weeks. After the pleats have “set,” remove them.

Clothespin Key Holder

Attach spring-loaded clothespins to a small board about 12-18 inches long. Painting or staining the board is optional. Use hot glue or wood adhesive to place the clips. Every set of keys in the home gets its own clip to stay organized.

Creative Coat Hooks

• For a single, lightweight coat, clip a jumbo clip to the edge of a shelf or the top of the door. Attach the loop of the jacket to the handle.

• Create a wall-mounted coat rack by attaching jumbo clothespins to a painted board. Secure it to the wall. Hang the coat or jacket by its loop on the handle part of the clip.

Rustic Storage Bins

• Prep a box or unused container by painting or staining it.

• Either paint or stain the clothespins before attaching them. You can also leave them “as is” for a natural look.

• Attach the pins with hot glue. Place them horizontally, vertically, or create a mix of the two patterns.

Decorative Accents for the Home

Clothespin Wreaths

• Use a 14-inch wire wreath frame.

• You’ll need 5-6 dozen clip-on clothespins. Paint them before you attach them to the frame.

• Clip the pins to the frame, alternating between the inner and outer wires. This creates a fuller look. Leave about an inch open to tie a bow or add another accent.

• Attach other embellishments using hot glue.

Clothespin Candle Holders

• Start with a small, clean can (like a tuna can).

• Attach clothespins all around, either using hot glue or by clipping them to the edge.

• Place a small votive or tea light holder inside to hold the candle.

DIY Clothespin Wall Clock

• Supplies needed include at least 24 spring-closure pins. You may need more depending on what you’re going for.

• Remove the metal spring, leaving two identical halves. Glue each half together.

• Create a clock base from wood or sturdy cardboard. Find the center and mark the hour positions. Make a hole for the clock mechanism shaft.

• Glue a pin to each hour mark. Use the rest to create a “sunburst” effect around the outside of the base.

• Install the clock mechanism.

Clothespin Vases

• Begin with a glass vase or a clean can. Cut the can down if needed to match the height of the clothespin.

• Paint the pins; let them dry before attaching them.

• Attach them around the edge, placing them as close together as possible.

Clothespin Jewelry Holder

• Choose a sturdy surface piece. Paint or stain it if you like. Do the same with the clips.

• Glue the pins to the base, with the clip side facing down. Use each one to keep your necklaces and more tangle-free!

Fun and Seasonal Crafts

Clothespin Holiday Ornaments

Reindeer: 

• Clip a brown pipe cleaner at the top and bend it into antlers. 

• Glue on small googly eyes and a tiny red pom pom for a nose. 

• Tie a thin piece of decorative twine around the “neck” like a scarf. 

• Draw a black marker line at one bottom end to make “hoofs.” Draw a thin line a little way up that same end to make it look like “legs.”

Holiday Star:

• Take apart the pins. Glue each piece together in a star shape.

• Paint the star, then attach a loop to the back for hanging.

Spring or Summer Garden Markers

Use a waterproof pen to write the name of the plant (and any special instructions, like a watering schedule). Spray the markers with an outdoor sealant.

Clothespin Easter Bunny Craft

• Paint the clothespin white. The handles will be the “ears.” Use a pink marker to add a little bit of pink inside each one.

• Use a fine black marker to draw eyes, whiskers, and a nose. 

• At the hinge, draw a little “paw” on either side. At the bottom, draw lines for “toes.”

• Use a thin bit of colorful twine as a bow around the bunny’s neck. 

Clothespin Snowflakes for Winter Decor

• Use clothespins in three different sizes. Remove the metal springs and glue the flat sides together. 

• Create a “cross” shape, then add the smaller pins in the diagonal directions using a hot glue gun.

• Use craft paint to paint the snowflake white. 

• Apply a thin layer of craft glue, then shake some glitter onto the snowflake.

Personalized and Creative Gifts

Clothespin Gift Card Holders

Glue a clothespin to a decorative base, like a stiff piece of cardstock, and use it to hold the gift card.

Handmade Clothespin Bookmark

Paint the clothespin, then decorate it with ribbons, beads, or a beautiful message written in marker.

Clothespin Gift Wrapping

Wrap your gift in paper and ribbon. Use a pin to attach details like a silk flower, nametag, or other embellishment to the bow or ribbon.  You can do the same with paper gift bags.

Clothespin Picture Clips for Scrapbooks

Decorate a clothespin with your personal touches, glue it to the page of your scrapbook, and use it as an easy way to hold certain items, like oversized papers.

Eco-Friendly Crafts and Sustainability

Clothespin Recycled Planter

Upcycle a clean can by applying decorated clothespins to the outside, then planting herbs or flowers inside it.

Upcycled Clothespin Mirrors

Glue clothespins to the edge of an old mirror for a whole new look. For example, a circular mirror can be made to look like a beautiful sunburst.

DIY Clothespin Bird Feeder

This is a fun way to get kids into nature. Cut a shape from stiff cardboard, like a heart or circle. Glue a clothespin to the back of it. Cover the cardboard with peanut butter and birdseed, and clip it to a branch.

Clothespin Vertical Garden Rack

Save an old hanging clothes rack and use it as the base. Attach pins to the top and along the sides to hold herbs for drying, garden labels, and garden gloves. 

You can also add pieces of wood to the frame and add additional pins to support lightweight plant pots (like an air plant) and other items.

Clothespin Recycling Bin Organizer

Break wooden pins in half. Use hot glue to attach them to a plastic tub.

Either varnish or paint them for a more finished look. Tie a rustic piece of rope around the top for added flair.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Some Easy Crafts

Simple Clothespin Flower Pot Stand

• Upcycle a small footstool or table by sanding, staining, or painting it.

• Break wooden pins in half; you can paint or stain them as well.

• Hot-glue the clothespins to the edge of the piece for a beautiful vintage plant stand.

DIY Clothespin Picture Frame

• Cut a piece of sturdy cardboard or plywood to the desired size. 

• Decide on each spot for your photo layout and lightly mark them with a pencil.

• Use small pins, with the handle part facing the top of the frame. Glue them to the base.

• Attach the frame to the wall with either hanging hardware or Command strips.

Quick and Easy Clothespin Art Display

•  Choose a spot for your art display, like in the playroom. Measure and mark spaces on the wall.

• Cut lengths of rustic twine to fit, leaving some slack for a cute "clothesline" effect. Attach with either mounting hardware or tacks, wrapping the twine around it to disguise and secure it.

• Decorate clothespins and attach your child's artwork or other creations to the twine. It's also an encouraging way to display school papers that they did well on.

Conclusion

Besides laundry, there are so many more ways to use clothespins around the house. You have endless options to upcycle old things instead of buy new. Kids can turn them into all kinds of creations for the house. They're a great way to display special things, and the basis for fun crafts. Use them in the playroom, the kitchen, bathroom, or almost anywhere in the house; there are multiple ways they'll change things up.

As a retail supplier, Saga Display knows that these clips come in handy in clothing displays and with scarf rings to make the styling better. Shop our selection!