Upcycle Thrifted Vintage Doilies To Instantly Elevate Your Tablescape With An Easy DIY

The beloved doily has been used in households for centuries. Oftentimes, they are placed under items for decoration, to help preserve wood furniture, or laid over chairs and couches. Doilies are beautifully intricate mats that may seem outdated; however, some people are choosing to keep the tradition alive by adorning their homes with them. You can typically purchase old doilies in thrift stores and antique shops for a small price. Although they're charming decor on their own, you can craft a tablecloth-like centerpiece for your table by combining multiple doilies together.

Doilies come in various materials and designs, often resembling snowflakes. You can thrift them for all sorts of DIYs. It's even possible to repurpose doilies into cozy living room accent pieces. But for this project, the focus is on upgrading a dining table with a doily centerpiece that is quite simple to make. You'll need to pick up a variety of doilies, but how many exactly will depend on the size of your table. In the end, it'll be similar to a runner — so grab enough to go across the entire table's center. Also, pick any colors you like, whether you prefer classic white or ones that will add a pop.

Spread all your doilies out on your table and start arranging them in a way that is pleasing to the eye. If you're lucky, you'll have found some lovely handmade ones with lots of stories behind them! Overall, you want to create a piece that is both decorative and functional, since it'll help protect the table as well. After you have the doilies in place, begin stitching them together with a needle and thread. Very quickly, you should be able to see how gorgeous the final result will be. The doilies being mismatched only adds to the character.

Once you're done, you will have a centerpiece that can be spread across your table for added sophistication and a nod to the past. It's an affordable way to update your dining space while also preventing water rings, scratches, and spills from damaging your table. It can be kept on the table for everyday use, or pulled out just when you have special guests over for dinner. Surely it will spark up some conversations. 

Bring in other vintage items, such as dishware, vases, candlesticks, and embroidered napkins, to match the vibe of the doily centerpiece. While it might give you a dose of nostalgia, the one-of-a-kind cloth also offers a modern twist on the ornamental crochet mats. Hang up some thrifted vintage wall art and you'll have a very chic dining area. Your doilies, of course, will be the little stars of the show.