If you’re looking for an inexpensive home decor hack, don’t overlook something so obvious and common – kitchen towels! Whether it’s a dish towel, tea towel, hand towel – you can turn that functional staple that’s in your home into a beautify piece of home decor! Check out 6 ways I’ve done it!
Hand Towels, Tea Towels, Dish Towels, Kitchen Towels: AKA Secret Home Decor
It was sometime last spring that the light bulb went on for me to use kitchen towels as raw material for home decor and crafts. I mean, they are super fun and spectacular in the kitchen – hanging from oven handles or on towel bars. But so many are so cute, I felt like there was so much more potential.
My obsession with hand towels started at Target in the Bullseye’s Playground area – you know, that Dollar Spot in the front. Every season, they would bundle such adorable towels. I just couldn’t resist without walking out of there with some.
Then, I was in Hobby Lobby one day and saw a wall hanging that, for some reason, clicked in my head as something I could make with a dish towel.
Sure, not on that size and scale, but I loved the rustic and vintage idea of creating a craft with them.
Since then, my mind has exploded with different ways to use them.
6 Easy Hacks to Use Kitchen Towels as Home Decor
Here are my top 6 favorite ways to use kitchen towels as decor. I’m sure I’ll be adding more pictures and ideas to the list down the road.
1| No-Sew DIY Wall Hangings
After I saw that Hobby Lobby piece of decor, I created a few versions of my own. You can get the entire tutorial for the no-sew towel wall hanging here.
These are super-easy to make, and once you get the hang of it, the process is super-fast as well. It’s an inexpensive way to update decor each season!
2| No Sew Pillows
I’ve been making placemat no-sew pillows for a while now, but why not use towels, too?
After I made the fall wall hanging, I had an extra towel from the set. I thought that would be a great idea for a pillow! (See the same image from the wall hanging above?!?)
Basically, you just need to cut the towel to the size you want, two equal-sized pieces. Then lay them as to what would be ‘inside out,’ with the patterns facing each other.
Hot-glue three of the sides together. Turn right-side-out, stuff with pillow stuffing, and then glue that last edge together!
You can also find patterned kitchen towels and make small pillows as filler for baskets!
Easy and adorable!
3| Basket and Tray Liners
Sometimes, a coffee table tray or basket just needs a little something else. This is where a festive towel can come in. You can fold it neatly and lay it across the whole tray, like I did here.
Or, if there’s text, you can definitely display that, like I did here!
Or, you can go for a cozier look and casually lay it in the basket as a decorative liner, as I changed up the above rope tray.
4| Vignette Anchor
Not only can you place a towel on inside of a tray or basket, but also on the outside!
Sometimes, there’s a space where you want to place a vignette, but you don’t have the right anchor – a tray, basket, riser, etc. A dish towel makes a wonderful substitute!
It adds interest and details and can help you group together a few elements of decor without needing a separate base piece. It also adds some softness in a way a wood tray or riser can’t.
Here’s how I used it on a dining table, when I didn’t want to use a table runner for our everyday use. A towel was less invasive, yet still brought the tablescape together.
{I always encourage ironing first, but you can see here, I don’t always take my own advice.😉 }
And here’s a Valentine’s Day version on my coffee table, using a cute towel as an anchor:
5| Place Setting Napkins
You absolutely can use linen napkins at place settings for special occasions. But I think a varied mix of kitchen towels look amazing as well!
Here’s how I used some for Valentine’s Day (you can see the same material I used for the mini-pillows!).
And this is how I used them for fall!
6| Wall Art
Yes, you can absolutely frame a cute tea towel! Liz Marie first introduced me to this idea, and I thought it was just brilliant.
I love to find vintage frames at thrift stores or yard sales. They make the perfect setting for a pretty hand towel!
Here’s the towel I thought would look amazing in a frame (even though I was a little partial to just having it hang right here in my kitchen!).
Here’s a vintage frame I had laying around, and I thought the moody colors would coordinate perfectly with it! (Sorry for the photo quality – it’s so hard to get a proper photo when there is a glare on the glass!). But you get the idea!
Favorite Places to Buy Towels
This post contains affiliate links. See Disclosures for details.
Of course, if you can score some unique ones at thrift stores, those would be my first recommendation. I always think something original is best.
Next, in person Target Bullseye’s Playground has a fabulous selection most seasons.
If you need to buy hand towels online, here are some of my favorite options:
Amazon Decorative Kitchen Towels
Walmart Decorative Kitchen Towels
TJ Maxx Decorative Kitchen Towels
Extra decor hack: Any kind of patterned fabric you love can be substituted for these decor uses as well! Think about what you might have on hand (scarves, old shirts, pillowcases or sheets…), and be creative!
Simple & Pretty Uses for Kitchen Towels: Budget-Friendly Hacks
I’m always all about fun and simple ways to use common objects in home decor. Not only is it helpful when you’re on a tight budget, but there’s also something so rewarding when you display something you’ve created yourself.
I love, love, love the creative process – one of my favorite ways we’ve been made in God’s image – and I love when it’s put to use in creating a warm and welcoming space in your home for family and friends, whatever your income is.
More Creative Budget-Friendly Home Decor Ideas
If you enjoyed this post, here a few more you might find helpful:
25 Budget-Friendly Farmhouse DIY Home Decor Projects (Updated!)
How to Decorate Your House on a Tight Budget {Farmhouse Style!}
Easy Dollar Tree Farmhouse DIY Projects (done in 1 sitting!)
If you try any of these ideas, I’d love to see them! Please tag me on Instagram @100affections or leave a comment on Pinterest.
Other thoughts? I’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below!
Leave a Reply