Don't Toss Old Frying Pans — DIYers Upcycle Them Into Farmhouse Patio Decor

There comes a time for every frying pan when it just isn't good for frying anymore. Maybe the handle has broken off, or the coating is flaking, or something got stuck to it that you can't get off. Whatever the reason, you can turn that cookware tragedy into cute farmhouse-style decor for your patio. TikTok creator @thecutestlittlething shared her technique for painting and decoupaging an old frying pan to give it a second life. In addition to your frying pan, you'll need some paint, Mod Podge or a similar glue, a paper with your picture of choice, wax or sealant, and, interestingly, some cinnamon. You may also need some coffee or tea to stain your picture if it's in black and white. The paint will provide a solid background for your decoupaged picture, while the cinnamon provides a faux rust look.

By adding a picture to the center, you're essentially turning your old frying pan into a picture frame. The handle of the frying pan makes it easy to hang on a nail or hook on your patio or porch, but don't stress if the handle is missing. It would still look nice propped up or mounted. The faux rust and paper staining give the final piece a nice weathered look without the fragility that comes with real rust or aged paper. If you aren't ready to give up your cookware, you should be able to find a suitable pan or skillet at the thrift store. Just make sure you aren't upcycling a surprisingly valuable antique, like a vintage Griswold cast iron skillet!

Wash your frying pan to get rid of as much food or grease as you can. The paint and paper will adhere better to a clean surface, plus you won't need to worry that it'll attract bugs to your patio. Next, give it a coat of paint. The original crafter used black chalk paint, matching the color of her frying pan, hiding any silver showing through scratches. While it's drying, prepare your pictures for the inside. You can use decorative napkins with pictures, print pictures on regular printer paper, or repurpose your old magazines if you like.

To give your pictures a faux aged look, brush coffee or tea over them. Add a layer of Mod Podge or glue to the inside of your frying pan and affix the picture. Give it another layer of glue over the top to seal it. You can cover as much of the frying pan as you like with cinnamon, but leave some metal exposed if you want to add to the rusted look. In order for the cinnamon to stick properly, the surface needs to be wet and sticky. Sealing wax made for protecting paint is perfect, as it will keep the surface safe and keep the cinnamon in place, as long as it is sprinkled over the surface before the wax fully dries. You can also use Mod Podge or glue if you prefer. Add a coat of spray sealant to protect it while it's outdoors, then use the handle or twine to hang it.

@thecutestlittlething

Let's upcycle some old frying pans into beautiful farmhouse decor! #farmhousedecor #thecutestlittlething #thriftflips #upcycling #diyproject #diyhomedecor

♬ original sound – The Cutest Little Thing

The basis of the craft is actually pretty simple, but there are so many ways you can make it your own. The picture you use for the center is perhaps one of the easiest ways to customize it. Instead of standard farmhouse decor imagery you could print out a photo of your pets, family, garden, or something similarly personal. You could even swap out the image entirely for something patterned, like a classic plaid picnic blanket. If your farmhouse decor tends to be more colorful, you could use a cheerful blue or sunny yellow instead of black paint. The cinnamon rust may not show up as well on certain farmhouse paint colors, but you could use some sandpaper to lightly scuff the paint for a more distressed look or add the cinnamon to the handle instead. If you don't have any cinnamon, you can also try nutmeg.

The handle is another good place to add personal touches. Wrapping the entire handle in twine will give it a rough, rustic look, and you can use the twine to make hanging your frying pan easier. Leather or hide strips are another good choice if you have more livestock-themed touches in your decor. You could also add ribbon to the handle or as a decorative element to the body, along with flowers or other seasonal decor. You can even add text or wooden letters to turn it into a cute patio sign.