Coasters are nifty little items that help inject style and function whilst protecting our tables. But if you adore your pretty coasters too much to simply use for water-mark prevention, there are other ways to put them in play.
Instead of subjecting them to household wear and tear, extend their use to other parts of the home with these five brilliant ideas for alternative uses from our coaster designers and makers.
You can easily increase their function beyond the usual addition to beautiful tablescaping ideas.
1. Use them in a tile installation
Coasters bring with them the broad luxury of choice, whether it's simple, eccentric, or bespoke, likelihood is you can find one in any shape, color and material you seek.
This abundance of creativity and design means coasters of certain materials can make the perfect addition to your tile installations, bringing an amazing accent piece for extra wow factor on your wall.
Laurie Freivogel, owner of Kiku Handmade, handcrafts screen printed coasters and has seen her work used in all kinds of ways around people’s homes. She explains, ‘My coasters are screen printed, fused glass but I also have silicone, cork, and marble coasters in my home, plus I have seen them made of wood, paper, resin-topped cardboard, rubber – you name it. I even know some customers who have used my coasters in tile installations.’
So perhaps if you're looking to spruce up your tiling (and know how to tile a wall), shop for beautiful coasters made of ceramic, tile, and glass to use as an interesting accent tile.
2. Use them as a small tray
Some coasters are completely flat whereas others have sides to help hold the base of your drink in place. These coasters with added depth can serve as lovely little trinket trays, ideal to place on your bedside table or vanity.
‘Coasters can be a great place to store rings, earrings, and other small jewelry to keep it organized and accessible,’ says Alex Haven, president of Havens Luxury Metals.
In the same way, deeper coasters have the potential to become the next best home for your keys, the spot to stash loose change from your pockets.
3. Use them to catch wax or water drips
If you’re looking to step up your room’s decor, why not find coasters to match the vibe of the space and use them to sit your candles on? Whether your coasters are flat or have depth, either option could house a tea light or become a seat for your favorite scent.
Just make sure to be mindful of the heat emitting from your candle and consider the best material option for your coaster (cardboard would be a no-go). Alternatively, you could always sit a fake candle on a coaster as a way to make your LED candles look like the real thing!
‘Coasters can serve as a stable base for candles, catching wax drips and preventing heat damage from impacting the surface the candle is sitting on,’ says Alex. ‘In the bathroom, coasters can be repurposed as soap dishes, keeping counters clean and dry.'
If you have a small plant and wish to stop water drips from flooding your windowsill, coasters can also be a great option. When it comes to washing them, hand wash using soap. Be careful of using a rough sponge, scourer or chemicals if hand painted.
4. Make your coasters into wall art
This is for the beautiful coasters you really don’t have the heart to use. Who said your gorgeous coasters aren’t gorgeous enough to be hanging on your wall? You could mount them, frame them or put a group of them together to create a piece of artwork from multiple coasters. They work particularly well to fill little gaps in gallery walls.
‘You can arrange a collection of decorative coasters on a wall to create a unique and customizable piece of art,’ says Alex.
‘Some of my customers have framed their coasters or hung them up on their walls,’ adds Laurie. ‘I love the fact that coasters are a little, functional piece of art.’
Learn how to hang a gallery wall in our expert guide for a stunning result.
5. Use them as a desk organizer
Your next study session or long work shift can be that bit more organized with the inclusion of a coaster on your desk. Say goodbye to rummaging endlessly for paper clips or a new roll of tape for your dispenser, as you can simply sit them in your coaster and reach for them, stress free.
‘A coaster can be the ideal place to keep office supplies like paper clips, thumbtacks, and rubber bands organized,’ says Alex.
While you’re working hard, why not grab a second coaster and use it to store a few small snacks?
Made from handcarved stone, these beautiful coasters really are like miniature works of art. If you love the look and want a bigger one, you can nab the matching Betsey Cheese Board.
Made from natural Acacia wood and cork, this set of four coasters nests into each other when not in use and would work perfectly for little matching trinket trays. The absorbant cork however makes them unsuitable for an area that will be constantly wet, such as a soap tray as the scum will be hard to clean without chipping away at the cork.
Stylish in black, this handy coaster and holder set can double up function any time. Stack on your dining table for traditional use, or nab one for your vanity or bathroom.
Doubling up on function is a brilliant way to make sure the items you have in your home are not cluttering up your space unnecessarily. For coaster inspiration, delve into our pick of Black-owned Etsy businesses with impeccable homeware ranges.
