20 Thrift Store Silver Plate Upcycling Ideas

20 Thrift Store Silver Plate Upcycling Ideas

Head into any thrift store and you’ll find shelf after shelf of silver plated serving pieces.  When Grandma and Grandpa used to serve their Sunday dinner they would break out the silver.  Even if they couldn’t afford sterling silver, silver plated serving dishes would work just as well.

Just like their more expensive sterling silver counterparts, silver plated items still needed to be detarnished.  These pieces are beautiful when they are all shined up, but they often have a blackish, grayish patina.

Now when the grandkids come along…do you want grandma’s silver?…heck no.  It’s way too much work.

I can’t blame you.  I have one super large serving tray that I use for the Thanksgiving turkey, but every time I break it out I first have to shine it up.  Just a little rub and buff with the Tarn-X but it still takes more effort than a non-silver piece.

Besides Tarn- X I’ve also shown you how to remove tarnish with salt and baking soda on some old silver plated goblets in the past.  Lots of work  every time you want to use a silver piece.

While you could  hold an afternoon tea, there are so many ways to upcycle those old pieces.  Time to head to the internet for some ideas.  FYI, while I was searching I was pinning on my Pinterest page with a new subheading of Upcycled Silver Plate.  So far I have over 50 pins.  Below are some of my favorites silver plate upcycling ideas.

If I could find an original poster or creator I’ve included the link, otherwise, just enjoy.

Add black chalk paint to the center of a small silver plated tray, screw into an old board, add hooks and you have a key holder.

These necklace beads were created from the cutoff ends of old butter knives.  These were created by Dishfunctional Designs.

This bracelet holder was created from a 4 pronged candlestick.

I can’t really say that this tray is repurposed, because it is still being used as a tray, but it is now styled so that it can be used every day, not just for special occasions.  This one is from French Broc, who posts on Facebook.

Chat GPT tells me this is a silver plated wine cooler, I would have just assumed it was a fruit bowl.  Look how beautiful this is set up for the winter season or holidays.

More cutoff silverware  pieces are now beautiful keychains.

 

Set your cookbooks on the counter surrounded by this casserole dish holder.

Stick photo holders in old salt and pepper shakers to create one of a kind photo displays.

Class up your work space area with pen and pencil holders from silver cups.

Cut off forks  stuck in the ends of old doorknobs are now upcycled place markers for a table.  Or use to label food on a buffet.

 

Use old sugars and creamers to create a succulent garden.

15 trays and silver dishes make up this wall display.  it looks like this pin was taken directly from a magazine.

For bathroom wall decor, consider a collection of old handheld mirrors.

I believe these are champagne buckets  but are now being repurposed to hold the owners collections.

This one is from Brooke Johnson at the Junk Parlor.

A teapot is not just for tea anymore.  Sometimes it’s for your collection of wooden spoons.

Another chalkboard tray.  Look for one with nice scalloped edges.

 

For the bird lover, or for Easter, these candle holders and slim vases hold a variety of bird related goodies.

This post was from Hometalk on how to make Easter eggs from plaster of paris.

This 3 tiered server is made of 5  pieces of old silver plate. I can see this loaded with tea sandwiches or desserts.

Another smaller tiered server holds all the sewing knickknacks.  A silver plated sugar bowl is now a repurposed pin cushion.

This tiered tray was added by Todolwen.

Small creamers hold a variety of makeup brushes on a dressing table.

If you can find the original posters for the photos that have been left unlinked to an original poster , please let me know.  I believe  a lot of people are just including things on their Pinterest boards with no link backs or they are just pinning a picture they found.

Do you like silver plate?  Do you think it’s making a comeback?  Do you like it super shiny or with a blackish patina? Once again, head over to my Pinterest page for over 50 upcycled silver plate ideas.  I’ll keep adding pins as I find them.

Until next time.  Stay inspired.