14 Creative Ways To Repurpose Your Old Vintage Doilies Around The House

Vintage doilies can be a common sight at second hand venues like thrift stores, antique retailers, and flea markets, where they can often be secured at a bargain. Most lovingly handcrafted by a crocheter, these doilies have become less popular in recent decades for their original role in protecting tables and other surfaces. However, you can still find them used as decorative accents in cottage style and Victorian-inspired homes. If you've found yourself with a stash of pretty doilies and were wondering what to do with them, there are a number of fun DIY upcycling projects that you can create, from pretty holiday ornaments and lampshades to curtains and stenciled furniture. 

This is a great use for old doilies you may have at home that have seen better days or heirlooms you want to preserve in some form. A great vintage-inspired find for your modern home, most doilies are made from cotton or linen embroidery thread, so they are washable and can be dyed with fabric dyes or left in their original color. Over time, you may notice browning or yellowing on doilies, which can be left for a vintage look or cleaned up with soft detergent and water. For stubborn stains, use a small amount of bleach mixed with water or a stain remover, keeping in mind that there is a risk of damaging the piece. 

Turn your doilies into pretty hanging décor like windsocks and dream catchers with the addition of a wooden embroidery hoop. Just string a doily around an embroidery hoop and tie on slender pieces of ribbon and fabric dangling from the bottom. These make great accents for a porch or for a dreamy nursery or kids room. You can also use an embroidery hoop to make a mobile featuring doilies in various sizes suspended from string or twine.

Add some doilies to an ordinary curtain for a charming and romantic touch. Doilies are one of the items you can easily repurpose into stylish curtains that give privacy but also allow the light and air to flow through. Just lay them out flat and sew them together where they touch. A valance made entirely of doilies can be a pretty layer to create an eclectic, boho curtain look.

Turn old doilies into beautiful holiday ornaments using styrofoam or wood ball ornament blanks. Affix the doily to the surface using glue or spray adhesive, then add ribbon or other decorative details. You can also coat the doily liberally in Mod Podge to harden and flatten it to the surface. Tie on some fishing line or twine to hang them from the tree, where they will look like snowflakes.

Add a doily as an accent to any pillow in your home for a chic upgrade that can be accomplished in a few minutes. Just tack the edges of the fabric with 1 to 2 stitches, or use fabric glue to affix the doily as a patch. You can also create some additional charm on towels or bed pillows by applying an applique doily to the front. Sewing on a doily can also be a fun way to cover up a stain or imperfection. 

Use an upcycled glass jar of any size to create a pretty doily lace lantern. Apply a spray adhesive or Mod Podge to secure the doily around the surface of the jar. Place a votive candle or LED inside for a soft glow. It works perfectly as a centerpiece addition or alone on your table or mantel. You could also make a hanging version for outdoor use by looping some wire or twine around the top.

If you're lucky enough to stumble across an old globe in your thrifting expeditions, cover up an outdated or ugly one with some burlap and several doilies. Wrap the entire globe in burlap strips secured with adhesive, then add small doilies and other decorative accents to create continents. For a cute and rustic installation, make several in different sizes for the top of your bookshelves. 

Beautiful doilies can be, on their own, a work of art you can hang on your walls. This may be the best idea for sentimental pieces. If you have a beautiful vintage or heirloom doily, consider mounting it in a large frame. Or use Mod Podge to assemble doilies in layers on a canvas panel. Leave the doilies natural for a neutral aesthetic or dye them with fabric dye to create some soft color. For a bolder look, use acrylic paint over the doilies after they are applied, leaving only the texture visible underneath.

Doilies make great stencils for adding texture and interest to furniture. Just secure one to a surface and use a stencil brush to fill in the holes of the doily, then remove it. This DIY is pretty for tabletops, wood chairs, and the sides of larger pieces of furniture. You could also use stenciling on an accent wall as an alternative to rag-rolling or sponge-painting for more defined markings. The painted doily could then be used for another project, too.

Use spray adhesive to wrap a doily around a bottle to make a chic, textured vase. Or, use one on a planter or small votive holder. For a larger bottle, use several small doilies patchworked together in pieces that fit together for full coverage. You can also paint over the doilies, just leaving the texture created by it visible through the paint.

Create a center to your wreath by adding a doily in the middle. This gives the wreath more visual presence and can be beautiful when paired with a woven wreath in natural materials. Use some stitches or knots to affix it to the wreath or, if the back will not be visible, use a staple gun to secure it. Then, fill in the rest of the wreath with whatever you desire, from lace ribbons to florals.

Cut up old doilies to make a string of cute bunting that you can use for special occasions or all year round. Just sew the doily pieces to a ribbon, a length of twine, or a strip of your favorite fabric. Include elements like napkins, vintage hankies, and other bits of textiles to fill out the garland. Cut them into heart or star shapes to create holiday-themed bunting.

You can turn any doily into a small dish by dipping it in glue to make it stiff before wrapping it around the outside of a bowl or round mold. When it dries, it will retain the rounded out shape. This DIY works with any sized doily and any sized bowl. Use a larger one for decorative objects or fruit. Or make smaller, delicate bowls perfect for holding things like accessories and jewelry.

Add some doilies to an existing lampshade to create a bit of cottage-style charm. Assemble them in a patchwork with fabric or spray adhesive. If you have a wire frame, you can also make a shade from pieces of doily sewn together and stretched over the wire. The doilies will not only give your lighting a pretty romantic look but can also cast interesting patterns on the wall when lit.

Create adorable floral accents with doilies cut and assembled in layers. Cut your doilies into flower shapes, then sew them together in the middle to make tiny rosettes. Sew a vintage diamond button or pearl in the middle for a little bit of extra glam. These flowers can be used as pretty accents on pillows, tablecloths, curtains, or walls, where they will add texture.