Beautiful old teacups and decorative china plates are frequent finds in many thrift shops. Available from every past design era, they often appear on shelves in incomplete sets, separated from their matching saucers. While some appreciate a formal tea set, most contemporary homes prefer other types of mugs for their tea, leaving these charming vintage china pieces sitting unloved. Fortunately, there are numerous creative ways to repurpose old teacups and plates, so you might want to grab a few that catch your eye. Many online DIY enthusiasts showcase how they transform simple porcelain teacups and plates into delightful tiered trays and vessels.
These compact tiered trays are ideal for organizing items in any room. In the kitchen, they can hold tea supplies, mints, or toothpicks, or even serve sweet treats with style. They also make stunning centerpieces when paired with plants or flowers. In the bathroom, they provide a perfect solution for creating extra storage and organization by holding essentials or acting as a dresser-top jewelry organizer. If you use animal-safe materials, these tiered trays can also function as charming bird feeders for your garden.
Creating a Tiered Teacup Tray
There are a few different methods for this project. One involves using a drill bit to create holes in the cups and other dishware to attach tiered tray hardware, which can be purchased on Amazon, such as the Mothinessto Tiered Tray Hardware in gold. When drilling a hole in the center of each plate or teacup, use a diamond drill bit and plenty of water (in a sponge) to keep it cool while drilling, starting at an angle to create the hole. Then, follow the instructions for your tiered tray hardware kit to assemble it. Design your tray from the bottom up, using a wider layer like a plate or saucer as your base. This approach is ideal for trays meant for food or animal feeding, as it avoids chemical adhesives.
The other method involves using a strong adhesive like E6000 or Gorilla Glue to adhere one tier to the next. If using adhesive, many upcycled items can connect the levels, including candle holders, stemware, glass candle sconces, and inverted teacups. You can create multiple layers using porcelain pieces in descending sizes as you build upwards, finishing with a single teacup on top.
