Although your lidless sugar bowl and your wobbly chair no longer serve their original purposes, they’re far from useless. You can eke a second life out of idle treasures by assigning them new functions — and, in so doing, add style to the surfaces they grace.

Sugar bowl

A topless sugar bowl (shown) is just the right size to use as a vase for a single cluster of hydrangeas or a half-dozen sweetheart roses. Set it on a bookshelf or a small side table.
RS Tip: Crop the stems very short so the bouquet is tight, full, and spilling over the sides.

Saucer

Use the lone remaining saucer from your starter set of dishes to hold hand soap in the powder room.
RS Tip: A dish with some decorative trim provides a discreet accent, especially on a white porcelain sink.

Bread plate

A seldom-used bread plate from your grandmother’s formal china set, placed under a small houseplant, will dress it up while serving the practical purpose of catching excess water.
RS Tip: Pair the plate with a terra-cotta or other plain pot that won’t compete with the china pattern. You can also place a bread plate or a small serving tray near the front door as a catchall for keys and change.

Mugs

Coffee mugs make an earthy, less generic-looking alternative to those divided plastic utensil holders for buffet tables and kitchen cupboards. The handles make them easy to transport.
RS Tip: Use mugs without writing or cartoons, which can junk up a table setting. Glass tumblers and small vases can also work well.

Chair

Seating too rickety to sustain an adult’s weight works well as a bedside table, providing a useful yet unobtrusive surface in a small room. The back of the chair can serve as a place to hang a light robe.
RS Tip: If there’s a hole in the caning, place a small tray on the seat of the chair to hold an alarm clock, a reading lamp, and a glass of water.