How to Turn Vintage China Into a Mosaic Table

Give a tired china pattern new life with this unique display idea.

Updated on June 15, 2023

If your collection of antique china spends more time collecting dust on your shelves than it does on the table at dinner parties, consider upcycling it into a gleaming accent with this tutorial for a china mosaic table. This project was inspired by the Japanese philosophy of wabi sabi, in which imperfections are considered beautiful. Shimmering gold leaf highlights the flow between small pieces of broken china, drawing attention to the negative space and complementing the china pattern. (If taking a hammer to your heirloom set just feels wrong, source colorful vintage pieces from a thrift store instead.)

This tutorial lays out the process of safely breaking the china, carefully arranging it, and delicately adorning the resulting mosaic to create a beautiful and practical decorative table for your home.

DIY Vintage China Mosaic Table — Martha Stewart

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

Hammer
Safety gloves
Protective eyewear
Sponge
Towel or cloth (large enough to wrap the dishes during breaking)

Materials

China plates, cups, saucers, or other pieces
Grout
Small side table
Gold leaf
Gold leaf adhesive

Instructions

Break your dishes:

Martha Stewart

Fold a towel around your a piece of china, completely enclosing it with fabric so that all the pieces will be contained after you break it. Wear protective goggles and gloves, and use a hammer to split the china into small and medium-sized pieces. Remove the pieces from the towel; repeat with the rest of the dishes.
Plan your layout:

Martha Stewart

Still wearing gloves, lay the small pieces of broken china on your tabletop, arranging them to fully cover the area while leaving space between pieces for the gold leaf accent. When you've confirmed which pieces will be used in the finished product, remove them from the table and place nearby.
Set the pieces:

Martha Stewart

Cover the tabletop with an even layer of white grout, and then set the pieces of china back into their spots. When all the pieces are arranged, cover with a second layer of grout to fill in between the china fragments. Immediately remove excess grout from china pieces with a damp sponge and let dry.
Add gold leaf:

Martha Stewart

Use a small brush to apply gold leaf adhesive to the grout lines in between the china pieces. Working in sections while the adhesive is still wet, apply sheets of gold leaf and use a clean, dry brush to remove the extra.

How to Turn Vintage China Into a Mosaic Table

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

Materials

Instructions

Break your dishes:

Plan your layout:

Set the pieces:

Add gold leaf: