Reusing old, mismatched, or chipped plates is a fantastic way to blend sustainability with creativity. While classic ideas include turning them into tiered cake stands or wall art, some of the most original and clever upcycling concepts breathe entirely new life into them:
1. The “Kintsugi” Garden Mushrooms or Plant Stakes
Instead of hiding cracks, lean into them.
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The Idea: If your old plates are broken or chipped, use a modern gold epoxy or the traditional Japanese art of Kintsugi (repairing breaks with gold lacquer).
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How to use them: Glue whole or pieced-together vintage ceramic plates on top of sturdy metal rods or wooden dowels to create whimsical, glossy “ceramic mushrooms” or statement art stakes to push directly into your garden soil or potted indoor plants.
2. A Floating Tiered Bird Feeder
Give your old dinnerware and saucers back to nature.
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The Idea: Combine an old dinner plate, a smaller saucer, and an upside-down teacup or mug using waterproof outdoor adhesive (like E6000) to construct a multi-tiered feeder.
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How to use them: Suspend it from a tree branch using sturdy twine or mount it on a wooden post in your yard. Fill the tiers with birdseed or water to create a chic backyard birdbath and feeder.
3. Hand-Painted Whimsical Line Art (The Rob Strati Method)
If you have plain white plates or plates with faded patterns that aren’t quite pretty enough to display on their own:
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The Idea: Use a fine-tip ceramic or porcelain marker (or permanent black ink) to draw whimsical, continuous-line illustrations directly over the surface—turning cracks, chips, or faded spots into part of the drawing. For example, a chip on the rim can become the mouth of a sketched animal, or cracks can turn into spiderwebs, tree branches, or abstract cityscapes. Bake the plate according to the pen instructions to seal the ink.
4. Statement Jewelry Trays with a Personalized Map/Photo Transfer
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The Idea: If the front glaze of the plate is worn out or dated, use Mod Podge to decoupage vintage map cutouts (such as the map of a city where you got married or grew up), sheet music, or family photographs onto the flat center of the plate.
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How to use them: Seal it with a glossy, waterproof finish and place it on your entryway table or nightstand as a catch-all dish for keys, rings, and loose change.
5. Unique Garden Edging or Mosaic Pathways
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The Idea: If plates are completely shattered beyond simple repair, don’t throw them away.
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How to use them: Press the colorful, patterned ceramic shards halfway into wet concrete or garden soil to outline flower beds, create a vibrant mosaic border along a pathway, or surface the top of an old garden stool or side table. The glossy glazed patterns catch the sunlight beautifully outdoors.
Do you have whole plates you are looking to decorate with, or are you sitting on a pile of chipped/broken dishes that need a creative fix?
