Clever DIYers Transform Broken Dishes Into Unique Patio Tables

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Many thrift stores and some kitchens are overburdened with beautiful dishes that aren't being put to good use. Also, your patio table could use a refresh. Turns out, there's a solution that can help with both these problems. There's a DIY project idea doing its rounds on social media: Making a mosaic patio table from pretty dishware. This DIY uses broken dishware, so don't fret if you've cracked a favorite or sentimental plate — with this project, you can put it to good use.

The general steps of this project include creating a design from broken dishware, gluing it to the tabletop, and finishing the project with grout. You will need to collect enough dishes (that you're willing to break) to create your piece. Ideally, you want the creation to sit as flat as possible, so plates and platters will offer the most usable pieces. Choose dishes of similar thickness, so you don't end up with a very uneven surface.

Next, ensure you have a suitable patio table. Between the dishware and the grout, the weight of the mosaic can add up, so you need something sturdy. As long as it's strong enough, both for the weight of the tile and for outdoor use, wood, plastic, cement, and metal tables are all suitable. Glass tables are not since they're more fragile. If you love the idea of this project but can't do it on your patio table, you can mosaic a bird bath with secondhand plates or turn old plates into garden stepping stones as alternatives (or as matching accessories).

Once you have your dishware and a suitable table, you can go about putting the pieces together. To break the dishes, wrap one in a towel or pillowcase and hit it with a hammer to break it into irregular pieces. Shards and sharp edges are part of the process, and this step will help them from getting everywhere. Use gloves to protect your hands. To cut out more specific pieces and shapes, use a tile tool called a nipper. The medium-sized Speedwox Tile Nippers, available for around $14 on Amazon, will do the trick.

To adhere the pieces to the tabletop, some creators use a construction or other heavy-duty adhesive. But for an outdoor patio table, cement-based, thin-set mortar is a better choice. Once the design is stuck on and set, use grout to fill in the gaps and create a usable table surface. It's important to follow both the mortar and grout directions: Between making the mosaic and waiting for the mortar and grout to set, this project will take several days. YouTubers Our Little Nest and AtHomewithAshley walk through these project steps in more detail.

Arguably, the most exciting part of a mosaic project is the potential for creativity. Creator athomewithashley uses vintage china plates, cutting around floral patterns and scenes to maintain their original design. She places these medallions across her table to create an antique-inspired piece ideal for homes with vintage style. In another video, maddieveller uses random irregular pieces all over her tabletop, creating a more abstract, contemporary pattern. You can also sort your tile pieces into colors and make a specific design, like shown by curlywavypatty, who makes a tomato mosaic. These are just a few ideas to get you started, and there are so many design possibilities.