Never Skip Thrift Store Spoons: 12 DIY Ideas To Try

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How often do you walk past the cutlery section of a thrift store and not even take a look? Sure, you probably have all of the spoons you need at home already. How many spoons does someone need, really? It turns out that within that messy bin of mismatched cutlery there are spoons you can use for some stunning DIYs. Whether they're wooden spoons for cooking, small metallic teaspoons, or ornate dessert spoons, there are tons of ways to turn this overlooked thrift store find into something that looks great and adds personality to your home.

For example, you can craft a hanger for mugs, a coat rack, or even a serving tray using small spoons. You can use spoons in the garden to make bird feeders, wind chimes, and plant labels. Peruse the DIY ideas listed below, and you'll never look at spoons the same way again.

For some of these projects, you'll need to cut, pierce, and bend metal spoons. There are a few tools you can use to cut metal: pliers, metal saws, or wire cutters. To drill into the bowl of a spoon (the round, hollow part you eat from or scoop with), you'll need an electric drill and the right drill bit. For solid silver, high-speed steel twist drill bits work well. For stainless steel, cobalt drill bits are best. If you're not sure what a spoon is made of, hold it near a magnet. If the magnet sticks, it's not silver. For some of these DIYs, you'll also need a hammer or mallet to flatten the spoon, as well as pliers to bend it into shape.

You can transform old spoons into a unique storage rack to put your coffee mugs on display. First, flatten the bowl of a metal spoon with a rubber mallet. Drill a hole into the center of the flattened bowl, then curve the handle of the spoon into a U-shape, forming a hook. Screw the transformed spoon into a plank of wood. Do this with two, four, or more spoons, and mount them to the plank either in a straight line or offset from one another, and you're done!

This DIY employs a similar method to the mug rack: You turn old spoons into a coat, hat, and bag rack. To complete this project, take a long plank of wood and mount it to the wall near your entryway using your electric drill and some heavy-duty screws. Make sure it's very secure since coats can be heavy, especially when they're damp. Curve the handles of the spoons into a hook shape and drill a hole into the flattened bowls. Then screw them onto the wooden plank in a straight line.

Did you know that you can use a few spoons to DIY an effective bird feeder? You'll need a small plastic soda bottle and three T Legend Disposable White Plastic Chinese Soup Spoons. Cut three holes about the width of a soup spoon handle in the plastic bottle with a sharp knife. Push the handle of your spoons into the holes. When the handle meets the opposite side of the bottle, cut another slit and push it through. Screw or glue the bottle onto a wide base for stability and fill it with birdseed.

You can easily DIY a bird feeder with some household objects from the thrift store — all you need is a spoon and a jar. For this hack, a wooden serving spoon with a long handle works best. Place the spoon's handle against the the jar; the bowl of the spoon should face outward from the mouth, acting as a perch. Secure the handle of the spoon to the jar by wrapping it with wire or twine, leaving extra to hang the birdfeeder from a tree or pole. Fill the jar with birdseed and you're done!

The handles of some vintage metal spoons are adorned with engraving. You can take advantage of this detail when creating stunning accent pieces for your home. For example, you can cut the bowl off an old spoon and drill a small hole into the neck. Loop a CooBigo Mini Split Ring through the hole — the findings used in jewelry making — and attach the converted handles to the end of your ceiling fan pull chain. This works for any appliances featuring a pull chain, like desk lamps or exhaust fans.

If you're cutting metal spoons in two to use the handle for a DIY, don't toss out the bowl. You can use it for some stunning projects, like a beautiful wind chime. If there's some handle left, curl it into a loop, or you can drill a hole into the top of the bowl. Then thread some fishing wire through the loop or hole, followed by some OuMuaMua Colorful Crystal Glass Craft Beads. Hang these from a bent slotted spoon, and you've got a unique wind chime.

If you've collected lots of wooden spoons from thrift stores over the years, turn a few of them into quaint home décor. Wash the spoons well and let them dry before painting the inside of the bowl with Dixie Belle Paint Company White Chalk Mineral Paint. Then, use floral decorative transfers to add details or hand-paint small floral details onto the bowl with a fine brush or use Fgisar Vintage Rub On Transfer Stickers. You won't be able to use these spoons for food anymore unless you seal them.

If you stumble upon an old wooden spoon at the thrift store that looks highly functional yet decidedly boring as-is, consider giving it a DIY makeover. Apply paint to the wooden spoon's handle — starting at the end and finishing about halfway down the length. Don't paint the bowl or anywhere hot food from cooking or serving may reach. Then dip the painted handle in colorful epoxy resin. To make it extra smooth and remove air bubbles, use a heat gun to warm the resin before leaving it to cure.

For this nifty DIY, cut the handle off a metal spoon, leaving about ¼ inch of the neck attached. Then glue cute beads, bejeweled chains, charms, and any other decorative elements you wish to the spoon's bowl. When you're happy with the look, glue an Obsede Flat Pad Pendant Bail to the neck of the spoon. Voilà! You have a one-of-a-kind pendant you can wear out for dinner that very night.

If you made the aforementioned spoon bowl pendants, you'll have at least one leftover spoon handle. You can make a ring with it! Simply bend the spoon handle into a circle using a Nwkxnrt Ring Bending Tool for about $42 — or similar machine. As you can see, these contraptions aren't cheap when purchased new, but you might find a more affordable second-hand machine on sites like eBay. This DIY works best with sterling silver or solid metal spoons with engraved handles.

You can turn thrifted metal spoons into reusable plant labels. For this DIY, you'll need a Wkstool Heavy-Duty Steel Stamp Alphabet Punch Kit. Make a list of the vegetables, herbs, or flowers you commonly grow, and stamp the names into the bowls of the metal spoons using a hammer. Then simply push the handles into the ground next to your freshly sown seeds. After the plants have grown, take them out and wash them, ready for reuse next season. You can also use these labels for potted plants.

Turn old metal spoons from the thrift store into handles for a wooden serving tray. Bend two spoons into the shape of a traditional cabinet pull, ensuring they match exactly. Drill a hole into the end of the handle and the bowl. Place one spoon at either end of a finished wooden board and attach them using a CChiai Pure Copper Decorative Screw Set. This DIY works best with long serving spoons — you need to be able to grasp the handle comfortably even after the ends have been bent to accommodate the screw holes.