No More Boring Fruit Baskets: Simple Clothespins Make A Cuter One

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Few decorative displays are as naturally gorgeous as a simple basket of fresh fruit sitting on the counter. It isn't any wonder, then, that so many designers concentrate their efforts on creating baskets for fruit that are nothing short of miniature museum exhibits. The good news is if you want to decorate your home with fruit, you don't need to go to a museum gift shop to find something that supports this luxe aesthetic. You can DIY a display piece that's simple yet elegant and made from some surprising and budget-friendly materials: clothespins, a repurposed thrift store plate, and a jar lid. 

The best clothespins for this DIY will be something like these Amazon Basics Birch Wood Clothespins. A package of these will have about a hundred pins, and that will likely be enough, though the exact number required will depend on how big you make the clothespin basket. A medium-sized side plate, like these Strawberry Street 7.5-inch Catering Round Salad Dessert Plates, will give structure to this piece. You'll also need a lid from a container, like a mayonnaise jar or peanut butter jar. It should be large, ideally with a lip that's quite tall. Finally, you may want to have some Scotch Super Glue Liquid on hand if you intend to use this bowl long-term.

Start by clipping clothespins all the way around the lip of the plate. You may need to adjust each clothespin as you go to make sure the distance between each one is equal. Once the plate's outer rim is covered, you have the option to glue the clothespins into place using the Super Glue if you want them to be attached to the plate permanently.

Next, you'll clip a series of clothespins around the lip of the lid, just like you did with the plate. These can be glued on as well. Set it down with the lid side up like a table. Finally, you'll place the clothespin-lined plate on top of the lid, which acts as a base for the plate to stand on. The two separate pieces — the plate and the lid — can be glued together as well, although they don't have to be. Leaving things unglued can also come in handy; grab a clothespin whenever you need to close up a bag of chips, rice, or flour.

Despite being simple in concept, this DIY fruit basket's design has the potential to be quite interesting and dramatic. For example, paint or pick up a package of black clothespins, like HONGYUTAI Black Wooden Clothespins. When you're adding the clothespins to the plate and the lid, alternate between the light-colored clothespins and the black ones. The resulting design will look like the black and white keys on a piano. Or, if you want to upcycle a thrifted plate with an interesting pattern or print, use that to inspire your clothespin colors. It's a fun way to switch things up for the holidays or introduce a pattern into your fruit display.