Upcycled Newspaper Bin: From Rusty Relic to Stylish Entryway Accent

An old, rusty newspaper bin was transformed into a useful and elegant entryway accessory through careful restoration and a little creativity.

I had planned to upcycle a newspaper bin for more than a year. The idea first caught my eye in a Waverly ad in House Beautiful, and as someone who has spent a career in journalism, a printed-word project felt especially meaningful. While stationed at Fort Hood and working on the post newspaper, I wanted to create a lasting memento that would reflect those years.

My team at the paper was incredible: editors, photographers and designers who made every issue better. Their passion inspired me to take an old, discarded object and turn it into something beautiful for the home.

After contacting the publishing company, they located an old retired bin. I picked it up in February and set it in the garage, unsure what the finished project would look like or how much work it would take.

The bin’s structure was solid, but it was in rough shape: the plexiglass was unsalvageable, rust appeared inside and out, and the whole piece needed thorough cleaning and repair. Because I usually work with wood, repainting metal felt intimidating, and the lack of a clear design held me back for a few more months.

Memorial Day weekend finally provided the push I needed. I started by sweeping away cobwebs and giving the bin a general scrub. The coin slot proved especially grimy and required Goo Gone and a razor blade to remove built-up residue.

Removing the old advertising plate revealed more rust. I treated it with rust remover, a steel brush and steel wool until the metal felt clean and stable. Once the surface prep was complete, I set up a plastic drop cloth in the driveway and began priming.

I used Rust-Oleum Universal paint and primer in gloss white for the base. It took several cans and multiple coats inside and out to ensure rust would stay sealed. After letting the paint dry overnight, I applied thick painter’s tape to mark the areas I wanted to keep white, measuring carefully to create even stripes around the bin.

For the stripes I chose a soft yellow. The first coat was Valspar Whipped Apricot (satin) spray paint; to mellow the brightness next to the white, I did a light topcoat of Valspar Hotel Ivory (gloss). High temperatures caused some of the white to lift when I removed the tape, but instead of ruining the finish, those small imperfections softened the contrast and gave the bin character.

To unify the surface, I sprayed a very light veil of white from about 14–18 inches away, then followed with a subtle layer of Rust-Oleum Metallic Pearl Mist. After a few hours of drying, I smoothed any debris with 150-grit sandpaper and finished the piece with a coat of Rust-Oleum polyurethane for protection.

For the ad slot, I measured the opening, designed a simple insert in Photoshop and had it printed on glossy paper. The final challenge was replacing the plexiglass. I bought acrylic sheets and tried scoring and snapping, but that didn’t go smoothly. A Dremel, some protective gear and patient cutting produced usable pieces after a few practice runs. The cuts were rough at first, but with some sanding and careful shaping, the plexi fit the frame.

I secured the plexiglass with screws, placed favorite magazines inside, and moved the finished bin into the foyer. The result is a functional, attractive entryway accent that honors my time at Fort Hood and celebrates the printed page.

Now the bin stands as a practical piece of decor and a lasting keepsake, proof that thoughtful restoration and a few supplies can turn a discarded metal box into a polished part of the home.