15+ Repurposed Kitchen Items to Thrift & Upcycle for Eclectic Style

Here are 15+ creative ways to repurpose and upcycle everyday kitchen items. Thrifted kitchen items can be so much more than purely functional. These 15+ repurposing ideas will give your home fun, eclectic style with a little DIY and creativity.

Have you ever noticed how full the kitchen themed aisles are at the thrift store? Everyone’s got kitchen items from all eras, and they often end up being given away. Whenever there’s a lot of something and it’s cheap…or free, my brain starts coming up with ways to repurpose it-give it new life! Hopefully this 15+ Repurposed Kitchen Items to Thrift & Upcycle for Eclectic Style will inspire you to do the same!

15+ Repurposed Kitchen Items to Thrift & Upcycle for Eclectic Style

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Repurposing Dishes and Glassware

When I hit church sales or the thrift shop, I head straight for the dishes isles. I’m a dish-a-holic. Dishes and glasses can be the backbone of your seasonal decorating. They can be used for so much more than eating!

In “10 Pretty Display Ideas to Turn Your Dishware into Decor” I share how you can use plates and glassware for so much more that eating. I like to collect platters for each season and feature them in different places in our home. {“Collecting Vintage Platters for Seasonal Decor”} I’ve even decorated oval platters to look like giant Easter Eggs. {“Upcycled Oval Platter Easter Eggs How To”}

Pretty glasses can be placed in a window to enjoy their beautiful designs, or to feature fresh snips from the garden.

Pretty plates can be enjoyed in different designs on walls in any room of your home. Create a linear shape or go freeform. Different types of plate hangars make it easy (find them HERE).

Or you can use one simple plate rack and switch it up creatively for the seasons: “7 Simple Plate Rack Decor Ideas for Thrifty Style”.

Upcycled Bakeware

Bakeware is another plentiful item found thrifting. From small tart mold tins to large Bundt pans and muffin tins; you can repurpose it all!

Muffin tins are a great desk organizer. Fill with paperclips, push pins, safety pins, barrettes, etc. Fit them into a shallow desk drawer for easy, functional access.

Small tart and jello molds can be upcycled into all sorts of fun decor items. Glue two together to make a pumpkin or add a spindle to make a little pedestal. Group several of them together to create upcycled art for the holidays. Look for small molds like these in the baggies at thrift stores.

“Repurposed Tart Mold Pumpkins How To”

See “5 Fun Ways to Repurpose Old Bakeware” for more ideas.

Upcycle Flatware in Unique Ways

Flatware, or silverware can be upcycled in many ways. I’ve bought bracelets and necklaces made with vintage utensils that I love wearing. Silverware can be pounded flat and turned into art and stamped for plant stakes. The tines of forks can be bent forward and backward to create an easel. Here are a few of the projects I’ve upcycled with silverware.

“Vintage Silverware Art for the Kitchen”

“DIY Stenciled Rolling Pin Display”

Repurpose Vintage Food Containers

Before plastic, food packages had charming graphics. Vintage wood and metal containers can be found inexpensively if you look in the basement or garages at estate sales. Once cleaned and sealed, they can be upcycled and repurposed into handy organization.

“Upcycled Old Tin Organizer DIY”

“17 Easy and Fun Ways to Decorate with Vintage Wooden Crates”

Repurpose Old Pitchers

Pitchers come in all shapes, sizes, and materials. They were used for water, cream, lemonade and sweet tea. But you can use them for so much more! I’ve totally lost count of how many I have-maybe they’ll figure it out at my estate sale;)

“Beautiful Ways to Decorate with Old Pitchers”

Don’t Overlook Salt and Pepper Shakers

Salt and pepper shakers can be the perfect mini vase for flowers; they even have a built in flower frog for thin-stemmed flowers. Dainty lily of the valley and violets are absolutely charming in s & p shakers on your Spring windowsill. Replace them with nasturtiums, cosmos and zinnias in the summer. Even better en masse!

Vintage Metal Trays

Vintage metal serving trays come in all kinds of charming, nostalgic patterns and colors. Hostesses used them for every holiday and event. I like to use them as seasonal decor and a pop of color. They can also be combined for a unique tiered tray.

“Vintage Metal Tray Tiered Stand”

Old Colandars

Old colanders are a fun thrifted find. I found three green enamelware ones at an estate sale recently. When I get Mr. Fix-it’s undivided time, I’m hoping we can figure out how to combine the three of them into a tiered stand with old spindles. Think it would be so fun to corral craft items in my studio. Stay tuned!

Is your head spinning with ideas? I hope so! Hopefully you’ll see the kitchen aisle at your local thrift store in a whole new way…bursting with potential!

Thanks for reading 15+ Repurposed Kitchen Items to Thrift & Upcycle with Eclectic Style. If you enjoyed your visit, be sure to Become an Insider so I can send the ideas right to you! You can Sign Up HERE.

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Today’s post is part of our bi-monthly Lifestyle of Love series, hosted by Cindy from County Road 407. You’re going to get so many more amazing repurposed kitchenware ideas from these talented, creative ladies; hope you can enjoy them all!