Advent calendars are a fun Christmas tradition for many families. It’s a great way to count down the days until Christmas day, and have mini gifts along the way.
But those disposable advent calendars are pretty wasteful, and often just contain cheap chocolate inside.
Making your own reusable Christmas advent calendar will help you reduce your waste by not having to buy store-bought advent calendars. Another plus is that you can fill your advent calendar with whatever you want!
There are many ways to fill your advent calendars, such as chocolate, candy, or any other consumable goodies. However, you can fill your advent calendar with things that aren’t food!
Some advent calendar filler ideas:
- Handwritten messages or drawings
- Date or activity ideas
- Small photos
- Jewellery
- Bookmarks
- Christmas ornaments
- Soap
- Playing cards
- A Christmas recipe to cook up
- A craft to tackle
Here are some DIY reusable advent calendar ideas to inspire you this Christmas.
1. Hanging Matchbox Advent Calendar
This easy DIY advent calendar requires matchboxes, small pieces of wood and rope to hang them.
Add small items or write down activities to do, or names of people to write like this tutorial had done.
Read the tutorial by the Merry Thought.
2. Apron Advent Calendar
Take an old apron and sew in some pockets for an awesome repurposed advent calendar. The apron can easily be hung on the wall.
This idea would also work with an old Christmas blanket!
3. DIY Hanging Jars Advent Calendar
This pretty advent calendar involves dipping bottles in paint and hanging them from wire and twine.
This reusable advent calendar is super easy and super chic.
Read the tutorial by Fall for DIY.
4. Box & Tree Advent Calendar
This easy DIY advent calendar is festive and minimalist.
All you need are boxes, small decorative trees, glue and numbered flags which you can download and print from the tutorial!
Read the tutorial by Oh Happy Day.
5. Reusable Wall Chart Advent Calendar
This reusable advent calendar is so pretty and includes pockets for activity tags, quotes, and gifts.
Although this DIY is a little time-consuming, the outcome will be well worth it!
Read the tutorial by the Painted Hive.
6. Paper Houses Advent Calendar
This DIY might be tedious but these paper houses make for a cute Christmas advent calendar.
Add your goodies under the houses or add a tea candle under each house as the days pass.
Read the tutorial by Delia Creates.
7. Hanging Paper Bags Calendar
Take some brown paper bags, tie some string to them, and hang them from an evergreen! This DIY advent calendar is perfect for small and lightweight gifts.
Reuse the paper bags next Christmas or compost them and use new ones.
8. Ladder & Buckets Advent Calendar
This ladder-turned advent calendar makes a great festive piece for any room.
If you’ve already got a blanket ladder, you can easily convert it into an advent calendar for the Christmas season.
Read the tutorial at Desire Empire.
9. Stocking Ladder Advent Calendar
Another DIY advent calendar with a ladder, but instead hang stockings off of it.
Simply screw small hooks on the ladder, hang your stockings and fill them with small presents and/or activity ideas.
Image source and DIY inspiration from Pottery Barn.
10. DIY Hanging Reusable Advent Calendar
Another take on a hanging advent calendar, this one hangs paper bags, decorative gift bags, boxes and wrapped gifts from a tree branch. The wrapping and bags can easily be reused for next year!
This is a great idea for an advent calendar for anyone who loves wrapping gifts.
Image source and DIY inspiration by La Petite Cuisine.
Don’t forget to wrap those gifts sustainably! Check out my post to get some zero-waste gift wrapping ideas.
11. Glam Pink & Gold Reusable Advent Calendar
This gorgeous advent calendar will make your Christmas shine.
Using a small shelf with wooden drawers, paint and sparkly decorations, this advent calendar can be used for years and years.
Read the tutorial by Swoon Worthy.
12. Paper Towel Rolls Calendar
Repurpose some toilet paper or paper towel rolls into a reusable Christmas advent calendar.
Glue them together and stick them into a box so they stay together. Add some paper to the front to hide the gifts.
13. DIY Upcycled Advent Calendar
This DIY tutorial upcycles an old mirror into an amazing reusable Christmas advent calendar.
Don’t have a mirror frame that you can use? Try a picture frame, or make your own custom-sized frame with wood!
Read the tutorial by Lovely etc.
14. Wood Tree Advent Calendar
Another easy DIY advent calendar that can be reused for years is this one made with wood and reusable bags!
Simply nail or screw some pieces of wood to make a tree and superglue some clothespins where you can hang reusable gift bags filled with small treats.
Final thoughts on these reusable Christmas advent calendars
Having a reusable advent calendar is a great way to incorporate sustainability and zero-waste living into the Christmas season.
If you’re interested in more sustainable Christmas tips, check out my post 15 eco-friendly gift wrapping ideas.
