20 Creative Ways to Repurpose Doilies
If you have a stash of vintage doilies tucked away in a drawer, inherited from a grandmother, or picked up for pennies at a thrift store, you might be wondering what on earth to do with them. These delicate, lacy pieces have a reputation for being fussy or old-fashioned, but the truth is that doilies are one of the most versatile craft supplies you can own. With a little imagination — and sometimes just a hot glue gun — you can transform them into something genuinely beautiful, functional, or surprisingly modern.
Whether you are a seasoned crafter or just someone who stumbled across a bag of doilies at a garage sale, this guide is for you. Below are 20 creative ways to repurpose doilies, ranging from home décor projects to wearable art, gift wrapping ideas, and beyond.
1. Frame Them as Wall Art
One of the simplest and most stunning ways to repurpose a doily is to frame it. Place a single doily against a contrasting background — deep navy, dusty sage, or rich burgundy work especially well — and hang it in a simple frame. The intricate lacework becomes almost architectural when displayed this way, and you can create a gallery wall using doilies of different sizes and patterns. Spray-starch the doily first to stiffen it, and use a bit of fabric glue or pins to keep it flat against the backing. The result looks like something you would find in a boutique home décor shop, but costs almost nothing.
2. Make Doily Bowls
This is a project that never gets old. Mix equal parts white glue and water, soak a doily in the mixture until it is fully saturated, then drape it over an upside-down bowl that has been greased with petroleum jelly. Let it dry completely — usually overnight — and you will have a stiff, bowl-shaped piece that holds its shape perfectly. Use these doily bowls on a vanity to hold jewelry, on an entryway table for keys, or as a decorative accent on a bookshelf. You can also dip them in starch spray instead of glue if you want a lighter, more translucent result.
3. Create a Doily Table Runner
Instead of using a single doily as a coaster or placemat, sew or hot-glue a series of them end to end to create a table runner. Mix and match different sizes, shapes, and patterns for an eclectic bohemian look, or stick with matching doilies for something more polished. A table runner made from vintage doilies adds texture and warmth to a dining room table in a way that no store-bought runner quite can, and it becomes a wonderful conversation piece at dinner parties.
4. Use Them as Gift Wrapping Accents
Forget store-bought ribbon and tissue paper. A doily wrapped around a gift box and tied with a piece of twine or satin ribbon instantly elevates the presentation. You can also use a small doily as a tag by writing a message on it with a fine-tip permanent marker or a fabric pen. For an especially thoughtful touch, include the doily as part of the gift itself — something the recipient can later use in their own home. This approach is particularly lovely for bridal showers, baby showers, or holiday gifts where the wrapping is part of the experience.
5. Transform Them into Lampshades
This is one of those projects that looks incredibly difficult but is actually quite approachable. You can cover an existing plain lampshade by layering doilies over it, using fabric glue to secure them in place. Overlap them generously so there are no gaps. When the lamp is turned on, the light filters through the lacework and casts intricate shadow patterns on the surrounding walls. It creates an atmosphere that feels almost magical, somewhere between romantic and ethereal. This works beautifully with warm-toned bulbs.
6. Sew Them onto Clothing and Accessories
A doily sewn onto the collar of a denim jacket, the pocket of a linen shirt, or the hem of a skirt gives an ordinary piece of clothing an entirely new personality. You can also attach doilies to tote bags, use them as a decorative panel on a pillow, or sew them onto a plain headband for a bohemian accessory. Fabric paint or dye can transform the color of a white doily before it goes onto clothing, so don’t feel limited by the original shade. Pastel-dyed doilies stitched onto a jean jacket have a very on-trend, vintage-inspired look.
7. Make a Doily Mobile
Hang several doilies at different lengths from a piece of driftwood, a wooden dowel, or a branch. You can keep them white for a clean, airy look, or dye them in soft watercolors for a more playful effect. A doily mobile works beautifully in a nursery, above a bed, or in a sunroom where the breeze can set it gently swaying. Stiffen the doilies slightly with starch before hanging them so they maintain their shape. Add beads, feathers, or small dried flowers to the strings for extra dimension.
8. Use Them as Stencils
Even if a doily is too worn or stained to display as-is, it can still have a long second life as a stencil. Hold or tape a doily flat against a wall, a piece of fabric, a wooden surface, or even a painted pumpkin, then spray or dab paint over it. When you lift the doily away, it leaves behind a gorgeous lacy pattern. This technique works on almost any surface and gives you an intricate, repeating motif that would be incredibly difficult to replicate by hand. Use it on gift wrap, pillowcases, wooden trays, or the wall of a nursery.
9. Create Doily Lanterns
Wrap a battery-operated string of fairy lights loosely inside a large stiffened doily bowl (see tip two above), or shape starch-stiffened doilies around a balloon and let them dry into sphere shapes before popping the balloon. The resulting lantern shapes, when lit from within by a small LED light, glow softly through the lacework and look breathtaking clustered together. These make wonderful centerpieces for weddings, dinner parties, or simply as ambient lighting in a cozy corner of your home.
10. Decoupage Them onto Furniture
Decoupage — the art of gluing paper or fabric onto a surface and sealing it — works wonderfully with doilies. Apply a thin coat of decoupage medium to a wooden tray, a side table, a picture frame, or even a flower pot, then lay the doily flat on top. Smooth out any air bubbles, let it dry, and seal with another layer or two of decoupage medium. The doily becomes part of the surface itself, adding texture and pattern without any bulk. This is a brilliant way to update tired furniture or thrifted pieces without a full paint job.
11. Make Doily Earrings and Jewelry
Stiffen a small doily with fabric stiffener, let it dry flat, then cut out sections to use as the bases for earrings, pendants, or brooches. You can leave them white for a delicate look, paint them with metallic craft paint for something more dramatic, or dip the edges in glitter. Attach an earring hook or a brooch pin with jewelry-making findings from any craft store. Doily jewelry has a fantastic cottage-core aesthetic that pairs well with linen, vintage dresses, and soft fabrics. It is lightweight, one-of-a-kind, and surprisingly durable once properly stiffened.
12. Use Them in Scrapbooking and Journaling
Doilies are a beloved staple in the paper crafting community for good reason. A doily tucked underneath a photograph adds a delicate, layered look to a scrapbook page. You can also use small doilies as backgrounds for journaling, gluing them into the pages of a bullet journal or art journal and writing on top of them with a fine pen. They add texture without adding much weight to the page, and the lace pattern gives a romantic, vintage feeling that works beautifully in memory books and keepsake albums.
13. Create a Doily Wreath
Fold and gather doilies into rosette shapes, then attach them to a plain wreath form using hot glue. Work your way around the entire form, tucking in as many doilies as you need to cover it fully. You can add dried flowers, ribbon, or small ornaments between the doilies for extra interest. A wreath made entirely from white or cream doilies looks elegant on a front door for spring or winter, and you can vary the look seasonally by adding different accent pieces. This is one of the most impressive-looking doily projects relative to the amount of skill it actually requires.
14. Stiffen Them into Coasters
Rather than using doilies flat and limp as coasters — where they absorb spills and look bedraggled after one use — stiffen them properly first. Spray starch works for light use, but for something more durable, brush on a mix of white glue and water, let dry flat, and then seal with a layer of clear acrylic spray. You can also press them into resin poured into a silicone mold the size of a standard coaster, creating a permanent, waterproof coaster that shows off all the lacework detail. Resin doily coasters make wonderful gifts and look far more expensive than they are.
15. Make Doily Dream Catchers
The circular shape and open lacework of a doily makes it a natural substitute for the woven web at the center of a dream catcher. Find a doily that is the right size, attach it inside a wooden embroidery hoop or simply hang it from a piece of driftwood, and then add hanging strands of beads, feathers, yarn, or ribbon below. A large doily dream catcher above a bed creates a boho focal point that is both decorative and meaningful. These also sell extremely well at craft fairs if you are looking to turn your doily collection into a small creative business.
16. Line Shelves and Drawers
This is one of the most underrated ways to use doilies. Instead of plain shelf liner, layer doilies along the front edges of open bookshelves so that the lacework drapes slightly over the edge. It gives a cottage-style or Victorian bookcase look that is incredibly charming. Inside drawers, doilies can protect delicate items like jewelry or linens while also making the drawer feel considered and special when opened. This approach uses doilies in a functional, everyday way without requiring any crafting skill at all.
17. Press and Dye Them for Botanical Art
Soak a doily in fabric dye or even strong brewed tea for a warm, aged look, then let it dry and press it flat between the pages of a heavy book. Once fully dried and pressed, use it as the background layer in a piece of mixed-media art, framing it alongside pressed flowers, botanical prints, or watercolor illustrations. The combination of the organic dye variations in the doily with natural botanical elements creates a layered, textured piece of art that feels both antique and entirely contemporary.
18. Use Them in a Wedding or Event Décor
Doilies have enormous potential in event styling, particularly for weddings, bridal showers, and garden parties. Hang them from tree branches as decorative bunting, use them to wrap the stems of bridesmaids’ bouquets, scatter them across tables beneath centerpieces, or pin them together into a backdrop for a dessert table or photo booth. A cone of rolled cardstock lined with a doily makes an elegant vessel for flowers or candy. Doilies are cheap to source in bulk from estate sales or thrift stores, making them one of the most budget-friendly event décor supplies available.
19. Make Them into Window Decorations
Dampen a doily, press it firmly against a clean window glass, and let it dry in place. The starch in an ironed doily will cause it to cling lightly to the glass, creating a delicate window decoration that filters the light beautifully. This temporary decoration technique is popular in Scandinavian countries, particularly during winter holidays. You can use it year-round, however, changing the doilies seasonally or whenever you want to refresh the look of a room. It requires no tools, no glue, and no permanent alteration to the window whatsoever.
20. Knit or Crochet Them into New Pieces
If you have crochet or knitting skills, you can actually unravel old or damaged doilies and reuse the thread. Vintage doily thread is often made from high-quality cotton that you simply cannot find in modern craft stores at a reasonable price. Reworked into new small projects — think miniature baskets, tiny bags, fine bookmarks, or delicate hair accessories — the thread gets a brand-new life. Alternatively, if you find a doily pattern you love but the doily itself is beyond saving, use it as a template for crocheting a new one in a different color or scale.
A Few Final Tips Before You Start
Before you begin any of these projects, it is worth taking a moment to sort your doilies by size, condition, and material. Cotton doilies behave differently from synthetic ones — they take dye better, they stiffen more predictably, and they tend to hold up longer in crafting applications. Synthetic doilies, however, can be more durable for practical uses like coasters or shelf liners.
If your doilies are yellowed or stained, don’t discard them. Soak them in a solution of warm water and oxygen-based bleach for a few hours, or brew a pot of strong black tea and soak them for a warm, intentional antique look. Many of the most beautiful doily projects start with pieces that looked unpromising at the beginning.
Thrift stores, estate sales, flea markets, and online resale platforms are rich sources of doilies at very low prices. Once you start seeing their potential, it becomes difficult not to collect them. The good news is that even a large collection of doilies takes up very little space, and as this list shows, you will never run out of ways to use them.
Whether you are drawn to the nostalgia they carry, the intricate beauty of the lacework, or simply the satisfaction of turning something overlooked into something remarkable, repurposing doilies is one of the most rewarding and accessible forms of upcycling crafts available. Pick one project, gather your supplies, and see where it takes you.
