DIY A Beautiful Decorative Bowl For Your Coffee Table With This Common Thrift Store Find

It's the common thrifter's dilemma: you see something that catches your attention, but you're not sure what to do with it. That's especially true for those common thrift store items, like housewares, photo frames, and bedding. But sometimes you just need a little creative inspiration, and that's just what we found in a boho-chic bowl created by Tina Le. The thrifted item she used to make it? A set of woven coasters! She weaves raffia through the fibers to tie the round coasters together into a bowl shape. They go together perfectly to create a decorative woven bowl with Anthropologie vibes.

Round, rattan-style coasters are ideal for this project. You can fit raffia ribbon or thread through the spaces between the rattan. But you can make other round coasters work as well. Look for a lightweight material — the outer ring of coasters sits upright, so ceramic or similar materials might be too heavy to stay put. Woven cotton coasters are common. The inspiration project uses seven of the coasters — one in the center and six for the outer bowl rim. 

If you don't want to tie or sew the coasters together, you can also use hot glue. Either way, the bowl is more decorative than functional, as it won't be super sturdy. It also has large gaps between the coasters, so small items will fall out. Think of it as a decorative accent to style your coffee table. And while the original only uses the coasters, you can add other detailing to the bowl, like tassels or pompoms along the top edge or a wooden platform on the base. 

If your thrifted coasters are dirty, brush or vacuum the loose debris. You can also wipe them with a soft cloth dipped in soapy water if necessary. Soft materials like rattan can mold if they stay wet, so limit how much moisture you use. And let the material dry completely before you sew them together and potentially trap moisture between them.

Thread raffia or thread through a needle, and weave it through the edge of the coaster. Put another coaster next to it, and push the same piece of raffia through that coaster. Then, tie the raffia to secure the coasters side-by-side. Repeat with a third coaster to create a row of three coasters. The remaining four coasters go on either side of the row of three. Offset them so the two coasters on each side fall between the three center circles. Repeat stitching them together.

Next, you'll stitch the sides of the outer ring of coasters together to hold them in a bowl shape. To get the shape correct, drape the coasters over a bowl. Use tape between each pair of coasters to get the positioning right. Then, stitch all of the coasters together where the edges of the circles meet. Using two separate stitches at each joint gives it a little more stability. You can also attach rope or ribbon around the outside of the bowl to help hold the shape. Set the bowl on a coffee table and use it for decorative objects. And if you're looking for unique ways to display your plants, set a small potted houseplant in the center of the bowl.

If you want a little more customization on what the coasters look like, make these cute DIY rope coasters for the bowl. You can adjust the size and choose the type of rope you use for the creation. Even if you stick with premade coasters, consider making mini rope coasters to glue over the gaps between the larger rounds to fill the gap and add more depth to the design. 

Or, add embellishments to the woven coasters you thrifted — beads, bows, and fabric cutouts are examples. To make the coasters more defined, consider gluing a piece of rope around the edges of each one before assembling them to have a framing effect. When the bowl is assembled, you can glue trim along the top edge — macrame-style fringe adds to the boho effect. Gluing beads along the top edge or in the dips where the coasters meet incorporates more dimension into the design.

Another variation is to thrift a rattan placemat or a vintage wicker paper plate holder to use as the base. This gives you a sturdy, wide foundation for your bowl. Attach the woven coasters around the base and to each other — you may need more coasters for this design, depending on the diameter of the base. If you want to elevate this version, add wooden beads, small wood blocks, or a wooden platform to the bottom.