From Tea to Décor: 25 Gorgeous Projects to Upcycle Old Teacups

The earliest record of people drinking tea is dated in the 10^th century BC in China, although, since there are so many interesting myths and legends about how this wonderfully aromatic elixir came about, its true origin is tough to pinpoint.

To me, tea has always been relaxing in a way that coffee just isn’t – people drink coffee to get that kick start in the mornings so that they can go go go, whereas tea has more of a calming and soothing effect.

Regardless of whether you prefer tea, coffee, or both, though, there’s no denying how beautifully decorated some teacups can be, and as soon as I see an everyday object like that, my mind immediately starts spinning with ideas on how to repurpose it and integrate it in my home.

Jump to:

• Cake/Cupcake Stand
• Flying Flower Teacups
• Curtain Tiebacks
• Teacup Candles
• Sconce Planter
• Lamp Stand
• String Lights
• Bird Feeder
• Bird Bath
• Makeup Stand
• Jewelry Stand
• Pendant Light
• Wine Glasses
• Wall Art
• Herb Garden
• Jewelry Organizer
•  
• Hanging Candles
• Garden Feature
• Pretty Pincushion
• Teatime Centerpiece
• Indoor Fountain
• Planter Candelabra
• Vintage Chandelier
•  
•  
• Quirky Clock
• Terrarium

Plus, if you have any chipped teacups that you simply can’t bear to part with, here’s your chance to make something of them!

Cake/Cupcake Stand

You may as well start rounding up your friends, because once you’ve made yourself these teacup cake and cupcake stands, you’ll want to invite everyone over for some high tea! Your yummy snacks will look absolutely perfect when served on your newest tea-themed creations.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – ABeachCottage and LaChicaDeLaCasaDeCaramelo

Flying Flower Teacups

With some clever placement of a strong piece of wire cable and some fake flowers, you can make this gorgeous decorative piece that’ll look lovely on a mantelpiece or as a centerpiece.

I just love the floating illusion that make it look as if the flowers are spilling out.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – DIYEnthusiasts

Curtain Tiebacks

This is, without a doubt, one of the cutest and most creative teacup uses I’ve ever seen! All you need to do is drill a hole through the bottom of the cup so that your curtains can slip through comfortably. It’s such a small touch, but it certainly doesn’t go unnoticed.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – WikiHow and BetterHomesAndGardens

Teacup Candles

I quite like making your own candles because it’s such a clever way to use old candles and crayons … and teacups, it seems. On the whole, the project is a very simple one, yet it comes out looking so gorgeously elegant! These would make perfect gifts, too.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – MelindaHartwright and ElizabethAnneDesigns

Sconce Planter

A decorative sconce serves as a fantastic starting point, much like the chandelier of the previous project. Instead of light bulbs, though, this time your cups can hold herbs, flowers or other plants that can be beautifully displayed either inside or outside on the porch.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – IntelligentDomestications

Lamp Stand

You may have seen something like this for sale before, and I’m sure you noted the high price tag that came along with it, so here’s your chance to make a budget-friendly version of your own. Get creative with the arranging and painting so that your unique lamp stand really stands out.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – Retropolitan and VintageRevivals

String Lights

So I’ve seen teacup lamp stands before, but never before have I seen—or even considered—teacup string lights, and I must say, I’m blown away! Imagine having these illuminating, decorative cups wrapped around a wall or pipe in your home. Superbly innovative!

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – LuziaPimpinella

Bird Feeder

If you love to hear the joyful sound of birds chirping in your garden then maybe all you need is a way to feed them in style. These teacup birdfeeder ideas are so cute and so easy to make; just think how much it’ll brighten up the outdoors!

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – IntimateWeddings and Bushel&APeck

Bird Bath

If you’re going to be feeding the birds then you may as well give them somewhere to bathe as well, so you why not continue with your outdoor tea theme and build an interesting bird bath?

Not only does it serve a function, but it really is an interesting standout piece. You can also make this using terra cotta pots.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – Morena’sCorner

Makeup Stand

Wouldn’t this just look perfect on your vanity? It’s a clever and special way to keep your makeup (and perhaps some jewelry) neatly organized in a special holder. That glass knob on top really finishes it all off so well – it just gives it that little bit of glamor.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – DesignsByStudioC

Jewelry Stand

Not only can you house your makeup in a teacup stand, but you can also display your jewelry in a creative way. You can use the vintage teacups as they are, or pick up some cheap, plain cups from the dollar store and paint the whole thing in a bold color.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – ElBrooklynTaco

Pendant Light

I am so in love with these teacup pendant lights that I’ve already planned on where in the kitchen I want them to hang! You can hang a few of them individually, or you could cluster a few together to make one statement light. Gorgeous!

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – Hometalk and GoodHousekeeping

Wine Glasses

I can’t really think of anything better than combining my two favorite beverages in the world: tea and wine.

These teacup wine glasses certainly are unique and they look so chic, and it’s actually a clever way to put your broken wine glasses to good use. The best version, in my opinion, is the real vintage teacups perched atop clear glass stems.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – HalfAssChicCrafts and TwiggStudios

Wall Art

If you manage to find an absolute gem of a vintage teacup in a thrift store or in your grandmother’s storage, you may just want to display it on its own. In these cases, instead of making something elaborate that centers around the cup, make the cup a standout piece on its own by simply hanging it on the wall.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – TattooedMartha

Herb Garden

Vintage teacups make excellent planters for your herbs, so instead of a whole big planter box, why not plant each herb individually? You can still keep these outside, or perhaps rest them on a windowsill where they sun will reach them.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – IntimateWeddings

Jewelry Organizer

You don’t always have to craft and glue and stitch and build all so much; sometimes you can use something as is, just for a different purpose. These teacups and saucers provide a really simple way to hang your earrings and store your necklaces—tangle-free—in a visually stunning manner.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – SartoriDesignsForLiving

 

Hanging Candles

If you’re planning on spending the evening outside, then why not light up your garden with some hanging teacup candles? These can hang from trees, porches, or wherever; the twinkling is sure to add a touch of magical wonder.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – LaurenByDesign

Garden Feature

I’ve always found the garden to be the best area for playful decorations, and this teapot and teacup feature has just the perfect blend of quirk and whimsy. That dripping crystal really is the perfect finishing touch, don’t you think?

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – ConfessionsOfASerialDIYer

Pretty Pincushion

Turning a teacup into a pincushion is one of the easiest things you can do, and just look how pretty it is! If you’re contemplating making this as a gift, I’d suggest the lovely cupcake-looking one made from felt – it just gives you that little something extra.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – SincerelyKinsey and Instructables

Teatime Centerpiece

A repurposing project doesn’t always have to end with a highly functional object; sometimes, transforming something old into a purely decorative piece is the way to go. This delicate yet bold tea set sculpture can really just stand there and look pretty all day.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – TheCottageMarket

Indoor Fountain

Water features aren’t just for gardens, you can make a precious tea-themed fountain to grant you that wonderful sense of tranquility that running water seems to provide so well. The project itself is not complicated at all, you just need to be prepared to wait a few days for the waterproof sealant to set.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – Instructables

Planter Candelabra

The creative brains behind this lovely project calls it a planterabra – isn’t that just the perfect name? I love the simplistic innovation of displaying your succulents in such a decorative manner, especially since it really is such an easy thing to accomplish!

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – Instructables

Vintage Chandelier

A teacup chandelier is really simple to make since all you really need to do is a find an old one that can be cleaned up and given a makeover. From there you can arrange your teacups, add the bulbs, and paint or decorate it however you see fit.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – TheMoesFamily and ForeverDecorating

 

 

Quirky Clock

I find myself staring at the clock all too often, so I may as well make sure that, visually, the large timepiece actually is nice to look at. If you can find 12 teacup sets that you really like (I love the variety mismatching), then you can create a really stunning and unique clock for your home… or as a gift for someone else’s home.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – DIYnCrafts

Terrarium

The thought of having a whole ecosystem in something as small as a teacup really is fascinating to me, so I just love this idea of a little indoor water garden. The glass allows you to see what’s going on there, but I’m sure that it’ll look great regardless of what kind of teacup you use.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – RadMegan