Okay, so I found myself with a whole bunch of tea cups and saucers recently. Mostly from my Nan’s place after she downsized. You know how it is, you inherit this stuff, and it’s pretty, but what do you actually do with it all? I don’t host fancy tea parties. They were just sitting in a box, gathering dust.
First thing I did was get them all out. Spread them across the kitchen table. Some were really lovely, delicate bone china. Others were chunkier, everyday sorts. A few mismatches too, you know, orphan cups and saucers. Gave them all a good wash. Felt better seeing them clean, at least.
Then I just sort of… looked at them. My first thought was maybe a shelf? I tried putting one or two on the bookcase. Looked a bit sad, honestly. Too spaced out. Didn’t feel right.
I needed a plan. I remembered seeing pictures somewhere, people using them for things. Not just tea. So I started messing around.
What I Tried
- Tiny Planters: This worked surprisingly well for the smaller, sturdier cups. I grabbed some small succulents and cacti – the kind that don’t need much water. Put a few pebbles in the bottom for drainage (important, learned that the hard way once), then the soil and the plant. They look really cute on the windowsill.
- Candle Holders: Some of the prettier cups, especially the wider, shallower ones? Perfect for tea lights or small votive candles. Just pop one inside. Looks lovely in the evening, especially grouped together on a tray. Made sure they were sturdy enough not to tip, obviously.
- Jewelry Holders: On my dresser, I used a couple of the saucers by themselves to hold rings and earrings. And one particularly fancy cup now holds my bracelets. Much nicer than just chucking them in a drawer.
- Stacked Display: This took some fiddling. I picked a few sets that looked nice together and stacked them. Cup on its saucer, then another saucer on top, then another cup. Kind of like a mini tiered stand. Put it on a side table in the living room. Added a bit of height and interest. Had to make sure it was stable, wouldn’t get knocked over easily. Used a bit of that museum putty stuff underneath just in case.
- Wall Art (Almost!): I even thought about hanging some on the wall. Saw people doing that. But honestly, drilling plates? Seemed like a lot of effort, and I worried about them falling. So I skipped that one. Maybe later.
It wasn’t super complicated. Mostly just moving things around until they looked good to me. I tried putting a whole load together on the dining table centerpiece, but it felt cluttered. Less was more, I reckon. Spreading them out in little groups in different rooms worked better.
One cup, this little blue one with a chip? That was my Nan’s absolute favorite for her morning tea. Couldn’t possibly put a plant in that one. It just sits on my desk now, holds paperclips and little bits. Feels right having it there.
So yeah, that’s what I did. Didn’t cost anything, used up stuff I already had, and actually made the place look a bit more personal. Better than them staying packed away. They’re little pieces of history, aren’t they? Nice to see them out and about, even if they’re not holding tea.
