9 Surprising Ways To Use And Style Thrifted Napkin Holders

Thrifting is a favorite pastime for bargain hunters, stylists, home decorators, and anyone who's looking for one-of-a-kind items at affordable prices. Even if you're not looking for anything in particular, thrift shops can be a go-to spot to restock your vintage craft supply stash. Filled with an endless array of bits, bobbles, and knick-knacks, thrift stores are a treasure trove for those with an open mind and creativity.

While there are a handful of things that you should never buy at the thrift store, there are plenty of other items that can be salvaged and repurposed into something fashionable, functional, or both. Among popular prime finds at thrift shops are napkin holders. The dining room staple can be made into more than just a paper holder. Paired with a few crafting items and tools, wire napkin holders can be repurposed into an organizational tool that can help declutter your kitchen cabinets. If you stumble upon a unique napkin holder that you just can't walk away from while thrifting, here are nine surprising ways — from a book end to a makeup organizer — to use and style it to justify your purchase. Note, these work best with a vertical, standing holder, not the napkin containers that lie horizontally.

Instead of paper napkins, place your latest tech gadgets in your thrifted find. E-readers, tablets, and even game consoles can fit perfectly within the brackets of a vintage napkin holder, keeping them upright, organized, and easy to find. Depending on the design of the vintage receptacle you find, you could even charge your electronics while they're stored in it.

Just as they can be used to hold tablets and other electronic devices, a thrifted napkin stand can also house charging cables. Simply place it wherever you choose — whether it be a coffee or bedside table, TV stand, or desk — wrap or coil your wires, secure them with an elastic band or zip ties, and place them in the holder. If you find a napkin holder that doubles as a utensil holder, you can also use it as storage for rechargeable batteries or as a charging station for your electronics. 

Napkin holders can also be used as a book or magazine rack. Stand your publications vertically or horizontally within your thrift shop find. You won't need to invest in a new bookshelf to house your small literary collection. You can even keep your TBR pile or current reads handy. Nestled within the napkin bracket, any surface can become your new book or magazine display space. 

In a similar vein to the above use, if you find yourself with two (or more) eccentric and thrifted napkin holders, you can do more than just place books or magazines in them; you can also style them to use as book ends. Whether you stumble upon a mismatched pair at a resale shop or find a matching set, with some additional weight, they can make the perfect book ends for any bookshelf.

Moving to the kitchen, use the paper product holder to keep stray and scattered sheet pans organized. Place thrifted napkin holders inside a cabinet or on a shelf, and slide your sheet pans into it. You can stand the holders upright or, if you find more basic-looking ones, secure them to the walls of your shelf or cabinet to create a rack system for your baking pans.

Declutter your highly valued kitchen countertop space by creating a spot for cutting boards. Napkin storage can become cutting board storage. Simply place your thrifted napkin dispenser on your counter or kitchen island surface and arrange your cutting boards to fit between its brackets. For thicker cutting boards, this storage idea might not be as efficient since fewer boards can fit in a napkin holder. If you have plenty of smaller, thinner boards, this can help free up valuable surface area in your kitchen.

If your vanity or bathroom countertop has become lost amidst an array of makeup palettes, relocate a napkin holder from your kitchen to a bathroom, closet, or bedroom. Gather a stack of eyeshadow, bronzer, or blush palettes and stand them upright in the holder. Not only does this organize and store your collection of palettes, it can also serve as a unique, thrifted decor piece for your vanity.

Add a thrifted napkin stand onto your desk to help declutter an office space. Napkin holders can be used to hold files or loose pieces of paper. Additionally, a thrifted napkin storage unit can be used to house stationery for those who still find joy in writing letters and sending out postage. Envelopes, letter paper, and even stamp booklets can fit in a napkin holder perfectly.

To prevent warping or damaging vinyl records, it's often recommended to store them vertically and upright in order to maintain their longevity. As vertical napkin holders are meant to keep their namesake items stored upright, they can also be used to keep vinyl standing and properly stored. Prop your napkin receptacle on a shelf or mount it on a wall, and place a select few vinyls into it. You'll want to ensure you don't pack too many records within a napkin stand, either, as that could also warp your music collection.