Vintage family heirlooms are often delicate, beautiful pieces you want to hold onto forever. However, if you’re honest with yourself, you likely don’t have much practical use for wedding china, Victorian table lamps, or clip on costume jewelry. Below is a helpful list of ideas to inspire practical repurposing of your beloved heirlooms.

4 Ways to Reuse Family Heirlooms

1. Turn Silverware Into Drawer Pulls

If you have inherited pieces of beautiful, authentic silverware from your family, consider turning them into unique handles and pulls for your kitchen cabinetry. This simple DIY project can be done by using a rubber mallet to carefully flatten spoon and fork heads. From there, you can bend the handle into a curve. Finish your custom pulls by drilling holes into either end and affixing them to your drawers and cabinets. The result is sure to inject plenty of personality into your space.

2. Sew Vintage Handkerchiefs Into a Quilt

While they may not be in fashion anymore, handkerchiefs were once quite popular, which makes them a common family heirloom. If you have an assortment of these taking up storage space in your home, you can sew them together to create a beautiful quilt. In addition to adorning a guest bed or keeping you warm during the winter months, this is a great way to showcase vintage pieces you don’t have any use for otherwise.

3. Decorate Your Walls With Vintage Platters

China and silver platters were another popular item in past generations. While they may seem out of place for their intended use in a modern kitchen, you can pick your favorites and turn them into beautiful wall decorations using heavy-duty adhesive and wall hooks. If you don’t want to use glue on your antiques, you can use plate hangers instead, which cause no damage to the piece. Depending on your home’s style, feel free to mix and match patterns, designs, and colors, arranging the hangings in artistic clusters that line your hallway or kitchen wall.

4. Repurpose Large Items Into Functional Floor & Table Lamps

You can take larger heirlooms to a custom lighting expert to have it crafted into a functional lamp. Examples include a vase, figurine, or piece of pottery, all of which provide unique lighting options for any room of your home. If you’re looking for a pair of attractive table lamps, consider using a pair of antique andirons as your base. You can even get creative, transforming something like a vintage golf bag or umbrella holder into functional floor lamps for your living room.

Whether you need your table lamps repaired or are seeking custom lighting solutions for your beloved family heirlooms, Lamp Arts, Inc. is Atlanta’s premier source for high-end custom lighting solutions. In addition to their impressive showroom, their knowledgeable team has made a reputation for their top-notch customer service and one-of-a-kind lighting fixtures. To speak with someone directly about your custom lighting needs, give them a call at (404) 352-5211 or visit their website to learn more.