Growing up, I played pretty much every sport you can imagine. From basketball to baseball to badminton, there wasn’t an athletic activity I didn’t participate in. Over the years though, I accumulated enough equipment to make any sporting goods shop jealous.

Recently, I was cleaning out my garage and stumbled upon gear that was clearly past its prime. Instead of throwing out the chipped hockey stick and weathered baseball glove, I began to think of ways to upcycle them. Athletic equipment is often made out of high quality materials (leather, wood, titanium) and it seemed like a no-brainer to use them for household décor.

As it turns out, I’m not the only one who has had this idea. Over the years, DIY Network has featured reimagined sports equipment as well as a number of additional creatives on Pinterest and other sites. I’ve sorted through the treasure trove of great ideas and highlighted some of my favorites below.

Bowling Bag Planter

Turning your retro bowling bag into a stylish planter couldn't be any easier. Place a vase inside the bag and pad it with paper to keep it from moving around. Line the bottom to protect from spillage and then simply zip up the sides.

Water Ski Chair

No lake house is complete without Adirondack water ski chairs. Follow these step-by-step instructions to make your own at home.

Bike Gear Votive

A quick and simple way to add steampunk style to any room. Get the step-by-step instructions on how to make a bicycle gear votive holder here.

Tennis Racket Chairs

Add an athletic touch to your dining area with wooden tennis rackets and felt lettering. 

Baseball Bat Nightstand

The perfect nightstand for any baseball fan. See how to make the table here.

Tackle Box Planter

Turn a tackle box into a unique container. Display some lures in the upper tray or plant those sections too.

Golf Club Wine Rack

Wooden golf clubs may have fallen out of favor with the pros decades ago but you can still put them to good use.

Tennis Racket Mirrors

Check out this grand slam of an idea to turn an old tennis racket into a wall mirror. If your racket has seen better days, try painting over the original design to a color of your choice.

Ski Wall Design

This idea comes from the designers who remodeled legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk's mountain retreat. Using old skis, they staggered the placement to mimic the mountains outside the window.

Hockey Stick Coat Rack

Hockey is king in many cold weather climates and what better way to hang up your coat than a rack made from wooden hockey sticks?