10 Simple and Stylish Ways to Decorate a Leather Bag

Co-authored by Joy Cho and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: August 25, 2021 References

A basic leather bag is the perfect accessory to take with you to school, work, or out on the town. However, if your bag is feeling a little too plain, decorations can really spruce up your look. Pick one (or a couple!) of these DIY methods to make an old leather bag feel like new again.

1

Metal chains

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Add some bling to the front of your bag with a few metal chains. Find a few gold or silver metal chains and clip them onto the buckles of your leather bag. If your bag doesn’t have buckles, clasp the chain to the hardware on the straps instead.^{[1]
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- This is the perfect way to reuse old or unwanted necklaces.
- If your bag has removable straps, unhook them and thread the chain around the straps for a fun way to spruce up your handles.

2

Charms or tassels

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Attach a few dangly, 3D decorations to the outside of your bag. Pick out charms and/or hanging tassels with your favorite colors or characters on them. Tie the tassels to your straps and let them hang over the front of your bag for a decoration that’s sure to catch people’s attention.^{[2]
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- If you’ve got a graduation tassel laying around, this is a great way to show off your alma mater.

3

Patches

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Cover your bag in patches for a vintage look. Grab some leather and suede glue and apply a thin layer to the back of the patch. Press the leather onto your bag and let the glue dry for about 30 minutes before you use your bag again. Add 1 or 2 patches for a subtle look, or be bold with a bag covered in them.^{[3]
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- You can find leather and suede glue at most craft stores.
- Patch glue won’t be easy to get off, so only use it if you want to keep the patches on your bag forever.

4

Pins

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Mix and match your decorations whenever you want. Pick out a few fun acrylic pins and stick them all throughout your leather bag. Cluster them all in one group for a more subtle decoration, or add them all over your bag for a nice, bold look.^{[4]
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- The pins will make tiny holes in your bag, so you might want to avoid this decoration if your bag is expensive.
- Try looking in craft stores or online marketplaces to find pins that you like.

5

Rhinestones

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Bedazzle your entire bag to really make it stand out. Grab a bottle of gem glue and apply a thin layer where you’d like your gems to go.^{[5]
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Joy Cho
Designer & Style Expert, Oh Joy!

Expert Interview} Use fake rhinestones and diamonds from the craft store to cover your entire bag for a fun, feminine look.^{[6]
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- Let the glue dry for at least an hour before you use your bag so you don’t start losing gemstones.
- This is a fun way to cover your bag up if you aren’t a huge fan of the color or pattern on it.
- If you don’t want to cover your entire bag, try making a monogram with your initials instead.

6

Fabric

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Give a plain bag new life by adding patterns or pictures. Find a swatch of fabric you love and cut out a design or character from it. Add a thin layer of Mod Podge to your bag, then carefully press the fabric on top. Seal the fabric with another layer of Mod Podge and let it dry before heading out the door.^{[7]
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- There are tons of fun, printed fabric designs that you can find at most craft stores. Look for ones with animals, angels, or plants on them to give your bag new life.
- Mod Podge is a craft glue that you can find at most craft supply or home goods stores.

7

Paint

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Add shapes, characters, or even words! Grab a paint brush and acrylic paint and freehand your designs. If you have a particular idea in mind, make a stencil out of cardstock and use a sponge to dab paint onto your bag. Try doing stripes, polka dots, or waves for an easy way to spruce up your bag.^{[8]
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- Pick contrasting colors so your designs stand out. If your bag is black, go for white or primary colors. On brown leather, reds and blacks will really pop.

8

Guitar strap

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Give new life to your old leather handles. Cut off your old handles and clip on a thick patterned guitar strap instead. This works great for larger handbags, but it will totally rock and roll on smaller purses, too.^{[9]
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- And if you don’t want to break the bank, look for old guitar straps at thrift stores near you.

9

Scarf

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Grab a bright, bold scarf to give your bag some color. Wrap it tightly around the handle of your bag and let the ends flow freely. Silk scarves work best for this, but cotton ones work too!^{[10]
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- Plus, with this decoration, you’ll always have a scarf handy if you need one.
- If you have a fun bandana, use that instead!

10

Ribbon

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Get rid of an old, fraying strap and replace it. Grab a thick ribbon in any color you’d like and take the handles off your bag. Knot the ribbon twice around the hardware that the handles were attached to and cut the excess off before heading out the door.^{[11]
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- If you really want to make sure your straps are secure, run a needle and thread through the knots a few times to keep them in place.
- If you’re worried about your ribbon fraying, add some super glue to the edges with a paint brush.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How can I embellish my leather purse?

Joy Cho
Designer & Style Expert, Oh Joy!
Joy Cho is the Founder and Creative Director of the lifestyle brand and design studio, Oh Joy!, founded in 2005 and based in Los Angeles, California. She has authored six books and consulted for creative businesses around the world. Joy has lectured on business, leadership, and entrepreneurship at conferences and companies such as AltSummit, Pinterest, Target, and Hallmark, while her home and studio have been featured in magazines such as House Beautiful, Parents, and Domino. She has also been named one of Time's 30 Most Influential People on the Internet multiple times and has the most followed account on Pinterest with more than 14 million followers.

Joy Cho

Designer & Style Expert, Oh Joy!

Expert Answer

If you want to make something that looks really custom, use pearlized beads or gems, which you can find at any craft store. Attach it with fabric glue, or sew them on if you find beads or buttons that have little holes in the bottom.

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Tips

Keep in mind that glues and paints are permanent! If you don’t want your decorations to stay there forever, stick with charms, tassels, and scarves.

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