Before and after of a door with a decorative floral design.

35 Genius People Who Fixed Broken Things Instead Of Replacing Them

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Nate ArmbrusterByNate Armbruster

I’ve got a little storage space in my building that’s full of stuff I refuse to throw away because I’m convinced I’ll fix it eventually, someday, with tools I currently do not own and skills I have not yet learned. But there’s a real kind of person out there who actually follows through on that instinct, who looks at something broken and sees a puzzle instead of trash.

Just a roll of tape, a spare screw, and pure stubbornness. Some of these fixes are pretty clever, some are held together by what can only be described as blind faith, and either way I respect the creativity.

These genius people looked at something broken and decided throwing it away simply wasn’t an option.

1. Broken Birdbath Repaired With Recycled DVDs

Colorful mosaic art pieces and a repair kit for broken items.
via reddit

2. Broken Pot Turned Into DIY Fairy Gardens

Three images of broken pottery and a plant in a decorative pot with succulents and flowers.
via reddit

3. “Creative Kid. More Creative Mom.”

Before and after wall repair with a decorative floral design.
via reddit

4. This Guy “Fixed” His Car With Art

Three images of cars with different types of damage and repairs.
via designyoutrust

5. LEGOs Used To Repair Broken Walls

Colorful LEGO bricks used to repair or decorate broken or damaged structures.
via janvormann

6. Broken Wood Furniture “Fixed” With Translucent Materials

Chair with a broken leg, showing a clear crack and a temporary fix with a transparent adhesive.
via Tati Freitas

7. Lace Used To Repair Torn Couch

Before and after repair of a torn sofa arm with decorative patch.
via reddit

8. Russian Urban Interventionist Andrey Syaylev Fixed Library Walls With Old Books

Books stacked in a makeshift repair in a damaged wall corner.
via facebook

9. Polymer Clay Used To Repair Broken Mug

Red mug with a bent handle resembling a hook, decorated with a green leaf and red berry ornament.
via flickr

10. “My Boyfriend Fell Down Our Stairs On Thanksgiving Day. Instead Of Fixing The Hole, We Got Creative”

Framed hole in wall with a plaque below reading 'First Thanksgiving 2015, Medium: Hand, Drywall'.
via reddit

11. Crystallized Geode Installations Repaired Walls

Broken wall with copper and gold foil patches for repair.
via thisiscolossal

12. Creative Water Damage Repair

Broken wall with a power outlet and a plug, toys inside the hole.
via reddit

13. Fix Ruined Heels With Glitter

High heels with glitter on the heels and a pile of glitter in a bowl.
via wobisobi

14. Cracked Wall Turned Into Camels Journey Through The Desert

Cats painted on wall with green grass below and a white fence above.
via harry-hilders

15. Chicago Doesn’t Fix Its Potholes, So This Artist Fixes Them With Ice Cream Mosaics

Mosaic art on pavement showing a red and blue figure and a yellow object.
via jim bachor

16. Making The Best Out Of A Bad Situation

Broken car bumper with a miniature scene inside the hole, including small figurines and toys.
via reddit

17. Broken Doors Fixed

Humorous door repair with a face peeking through a hole in the door.
via oakoak

18. Chipped And Pitted Sidewalk Repaired With Intricate Patterns In Multiple Forms

Intricate lace-like pattern on cracked pavement with graffiti and bricks nearby.
via behance

19. Broken Vases Repaired By Sewing Them With Gold Thread

Broken ceramic vase with blue and white pattern, and a damaged decorative lamp.
via hangingbyathreadembroidery

20. Cover The Cat Scratches On The Sofa With Flea Market Doilies

Close-up of a sofa with crochet doilies and a striped pillow.
via flickr

21. Heal Your Jeans With A Monster Mouth Patch

Two images of jeans with playful, cartoonish face patches, one torn with a monster face and the next.
via offbeathome

22. Bike Seat Repair With Duct Tape

Bicycle with a colorful chevron-patterned seat cover and a damaged seat.
via thecraftyblogstalker

23. Open Bottom Chairs Have A Chance To Be Useful Again By Repairing Them With Tightened Belts

Various furniture repairs and DIY projects including a chair, a bed frame, and belts.
via facebook

24. How To Fix A Cracked Mirror

DIY mirror with mosaic frame and glue bottle on table.
via positivelyamy

25. Don’t Have The Money To Fix It? Improvise

Silver car with a comic-style 'POW!' sticker on the side door.
via reddit

26. How To “Unbreak” Broken Ceramics With The Ancient Japanese Technique Kintsugi

Hands holding a broken ceramic bowl, with images of repairing and decorating ceramics.
via One Kings Lane

27. Mend Moth Holes With Cute Patches

Close-up of a woman wearing a dark cardigan with butterfly pins.
via flickr

28. Repair Cat Scratches On Couch With The Colored Yarn

Colorful embroidered patch on a red sofa armrest with scissors nearby.
via Helena Wroblewska

29. DIY Custom Repaired Toms

Fixing shoes with glue and fabric patches for creative repair.
via ashleyannphotography

30. The Proper Way To Fix A Dent

via reddit

31. Cracked Sidewalk Repair With Knitted Bricks

People repairing a cobblestone street with pink and white foam blocks.
via Luis Malheiro

32. Cat-Scratch Fever To Cool Bespangled Couch

Upholstered sofa with colorful pillows and a sequin-embellished armrest in a cozy living room.
via craftster

33. Broken Ceramics Repaired With Embroidery

Tea cup with a floral fabric patch and matching fabric on a plate.
via Michelle Taylor

34. “Potholes Filled With Braided Strips Of Colourful Fabric”

Colorful yarn art pieces on cracked pavement, resembling maps and abstract shapes.
via flickr

35. “Roommate Punched A Hole In His Door. I Fixed It”

Person smiling behind a torn hole in a door.
via reddit
Nate Armbruster

Nate is a writer and stand-up comedian living in Chicago. He enjoys finding the internet’s funniest corners so you don’t have to.