Charity shops overflow with old picture frames — ornate, chipped, mismatched, and cheap — and they're a decorator's secret weapon. Empty out the frame and it becomes a tray, an organizer, a chalkboard, or a tiny greenhouse.
A lick of paint ties a mismatched set together into something that looks deliberate. Here are the most creative ways to repurpose and upcycle old picture frames around the home.
First, refresh the frame
Clean it, lightly sand it, and paint or gild it for a cohesive look. Keep the glass for some projects and remove it for others.
The best picture-frame projects
Trays and surfaces
- Serving tray — add handles to a flat frame with a solid backing.
- Chalkboard — paint the glass or a backing board with chalkboard paint.
- Dry-erase planner — write your week straight onto the glass with markers.
Organizers
- Jewelry organizer — stretch wire or mesh across the frame and hang earrings from it.
- Memo and photo board — a corkboard or a lattice of ribbon inside.
- Key and mail catcher by the door.
Decor and greenery
- Shadow box or pressed-flower art.
- Terrarium front or mini greenhouse from glued frames.
- Mirror — swap in a cut mirror panel.
Table and party
- Table-number or menu holders from small frames.
- A foliage-wrapped wreath base.
A few tips
Remove or keep the glass depending on the project, and sand any cut edge smooth. Paint a mismatched set one color for cohesion, hang everything securely, and add felt pads where a frame rests on furniture. Odd, delicate frames pair beautifully with other vintage rescues like mismatched teacups and saucers.
Given an old frame a new job? Share it in the comments at ecoxee.com — the more unexpected, the better.
Keep reading: How to Make Shelves From Wooden Crates, How to Turn Wine Bottles Into Vases and Lamps, and How to Upcycle Old Denim Jeans.
