21 Unique Ways To Use A Tree Stump As Decor In Your Home

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Removing a tree stump from your yard isn't the most fun landscaping task, but there are plenty of reasons it may be necessary. Maybe the tree was diseased, fell down in a storm, or was simply growing too close to your house. Whatever the reason, once the stump is removed, you're often left with chunks of wood, thick sections of stump, or oddly beautiful pieces that feel too good to throw away. Instead of hauling everything off to the dump or turning it all into firewood, you can give these natural materials a second life inside your home. With a little creativity and, on occasion, some elbow grease, the leftover pieces from a tree stump can become surprisingly beautiful and functional decor. Plus, tree stump decor is one of the easiest ways to add warmth, texture, and rustic charm to your space.

You can repurpose your old tree stump by DIYing any of these creative projects, but you don't have to do it all yourself. Some companies will make custom products from your old tree stumps if you're willing to pay for their craftsmanship. Whichever option you choose, tree stumps can be repurposed into functional decor like coffee tables, end tables, or even dinner tables. Smaller pieces can be saved for shelving, centerpieces, or plant stands. For something truly unique, use knotted or twisted pieces as artistic features for mirrors, trays, or wall art. Or, you can add LEDs in creative ways for light-up stump accents. No matter your style, these ideas can help you turn your leftover raw wood into something that is uniquely yours.

Turning an old tree stump into a sink may not be as hard as you think. That being said, if you plan to hollow out a tree stump, you'll want to make sure you have the right tools, like a chain saw, chisels, drill, and belt sander. To make the sink, hollow out the basin and drill a hole for the drain and faucet. Sand it well and seal the wood with a waterproof coating. Install the hardware and add the sink to any base with quality plumbing.

The design possibilities for tree stump tables are endless. In this case, we're talking about full-size tables that will become the center of attention in your dining room. You can use interesting stump pieces as the base or legs for the table, cut long strips with natural edges and fill the center with epoxy, or create a unique design with multiple slaps fitted together like a jigsaw puzzle. In any case, be sure to sand the wood well and treat it with oil or a glossy finish to prevent rot, pests, and damage.

If you're interested in decorating your kitchen with rustic elements, this tree stump knife block is for you. This works great for smaller tree stumps that are 6 to 12 inches in diameter. The easiest way to make a knife block is to slice it in three sections. Cut slots for the knives in each section perpendicular to the slices, then glue the sections back together. Sand down the surface and finish with wood oil or a sealant. Slot in you knives and enjoy!

You can easily add some storage to your living room, bedroom, or study with a tree stump book shelf DIY. Remove the bark and sand down the surface of the tree stump. Use a chainsaw to cut out square sections from the stump to create shelves, taking care not to slice through the sides. You can use this method to create shelving from short stumps that can double as end tables or taller stumps for a more unique, standing shelf feature.

You can convert any dead tree stump into an indoor plant stand, as long as you can remove any rot first. Thinner stumps can be sanded and finished into small corner stands for potted plants. On the other hand, short tree stumps can be sliced into slabs a few inches thick, finished, and attached to a metal or wood stand to add style to your indoor garden or living area. If you want something more interesting, you can hollow out the stump and turn it into a planter.

Slices of rustic wood pieces are well-known features for country wedding decor, but you can use the same idea right in your home, and it's so easy. All you need to do is use a saw to cut sections of the tree stump into wheels. Most people leave them a few inches thick, but you can cut them to any height to match your centerpiece design. Leave the wood raw or finish it with an oil or gloss to enhance the style. Top it off with flower arrangements, candles, or your favorite table decor.

Making rustic candle holders from small tree stumps is pretty simple, especially if you have a drill and a spade bit or forstner bits. There are two common ways to turn your old tree stump into a candle holder. First, take a section of the stump and stand it upright. Drill a hole in the center of the wood large enough to hold your favorite candles. Alternatively, you can cut the stump in half and lay it on its side, bark side up. Drill as many evenly spaced holes as you want for a multi-candle holder.

If you've got a larger stump on your hands and some quality woodworking tools, you can dress up your home with a unique tree stump bench. For the most simple method, all you need is a chainsaw, a sander, and a steady hand. Cut two stumps to equal heights and cut a large notch in the top. Cut another stump down the middle for the bench and lay it over the notches. Of course, with more advanced tools, you can make all sorts of bench styles with any size stump.

Sometimes, when you remove a tree stump from your yard, you're left with twisted, intricate pieces. When these pieces have large holes in the center from the stump decaying, it makes for the perfect frame for a statement piece, like a mirror. To turn a tree stump into a mirror, prepare the frame by sanding it and finishing it with your preferred stain. Then, cut the mirror to fit and secure it to the wood with glue and fasteners. Alternatively, you can use plywood as the backing and secure it to the natural wood with fasteners. 

Tree stumps can sometimes exhibit dense knots that even a master woodworker couldn't mimic. You can turn these stunning pieces into functional decor by finishing the wood or sealing it with epoxy and using it as a serving tray. Or, you can slice a log into planks leaving the natural edges for your trays. Piece together different colored sections of the stump to create a unique, dynamic design. Add handles to finish off the look and add more function to the tray.

LEDs can turn even the most common place items into stunning decor pieces, and tree stumps are no different. You can use these lights to illuminate any kind of tree stump decor. For shelves, you can line them with LED strips to create a stunning display space. If you have a stump with cracks in it, you can install the lights in the cracks and fill it with epoxy for unique lanterns that double as stools. Or, you can install LED lights in tables or trays filled with epoxy to make a statement.

Add rustic design in you kitchen with a touch of sophistication when you use the roots of an old tree stump to create a unique wine rack. Select a section of the stump or roots that have enough space to hold a wine bottle. If you're lucky you may find a section that can hold multiple. Level off the bottom or attach it to a flat piece of wood. If needed, carve out a space to fit the bottle and finish it with wood oil or a sealant to achieve the desired aesthetic.

Whether you've got a smaller, stool-sized tree stump or a massive stump that measures several feet in diameter, you can use it to personalize your seating area. Instead of building a bench, you can add legs to make a stool or carve out a seat for a more stylish chair. Depending on the shape of the stump, you can turn it into various seating options such as a reclined lounge chair or a sturdy arm chair. You may need a chainsaw, chisels, belt sander, and other specialized tools to get the job done.

On occasion, you may find yourself with a massive tree stump with beautiful wood that would take more work to dispose of than to repurpose. Of course, converting a massive chunk of raw wood into a functional bath tub is quite an undertaking, but one that is well-worth it for a nature-inspired bathroom remodel. Flatten off the bottom and hollow out the center of the stump until it resembles a tub shape. Add holes for plumbing, sand, and seal with a waterproof sealant.

One of the simplest DIY options on the list is to turn the dead tree stump from your back yard into a rustic end table you can make great use of. Use a section of stump that is cut to the ideal height for an end table, usually between 24 and 32 inches. Use a chisel to remove the outer layer of bark. Once it is clear of debris, sand down the entire surface of the sump. 

Turning a leftover scrap tree stump into a rustic storage shelf is a simple DIY that is surprisingly customizable. One of the most appealing parts of using tree stumps in your decor is the natural edge. There are several ways you can go about using that natural edge to your advantage with wall shelves. Cut the stump into disks, or planks. Then, cut one side flat so it lays flush against the wall, leaving the outer edge alone. Sand the surface and mount the shelf with your favorite mounting hardware.

Slices of tree stumps can be used in home decor in countless ways, but this one takes the cake. Wood disks are commonly used as centerpieces for tables, but what about functional pieces of the table setting? By slicing them thinner, you can make them into easily movable place mats for holidays or rustic garden parties. For a more durable option, finish it off with a stain or waterproof sealant for easy clean up.

Countertop shelves are another way to use slices of your tree stump inside your home. You can use a single disk to create a countertop plant stand or decorative spice rack by adding feet to the bottom. On the other hand, you can turn multiple disks into a stunning tiered shelf for storage or decor. You can use the same concept to build larger standing shelves from bigger tree stumps for the floor.

Just like a kitchen table or an end table, tree stumps can be used to create stunningly beautiful and unique coffee tables. Large stumps, especially uniquely shaped ones, can be cut into the ideal top for a coffee table. On the other hand, stumps with holes in the center can be filled with decorative accents, epoxy, and even LED lighting. For a simpler approach, you can refinish the base of a tree trunk and cut it to coffee table height.

For those more unique pieces, you may want to upcycle the intricate knots into wall art, especially if they make an particularly artistic shape. Finishing it off with a sealant, stain, or even paint can take it from a piece of wood you pulled from your yard to a stunning work of art. But interesting pieces aren't the only type of tree trunk scraps you can turn into wall art. For example, disks with natural edges make a great canvas for rustic paintings.

Sometimes, tree stumps have such a stunningly unique design to them that can only come from nature. These designs can appear so artistic, it would be a shame to diminish them by processing the stump into multiple pieces or tossing it in the fire. Even worse, hiding it under a table where it can't be appreciated would defeat the purpose of keeping it. However, placing a glass table on top of it turns the unique designs into the focal point of the space.