Asked on Jul 04, 2014

What can these decorative newels post be used for?

Was given a 70's style headboard that included these newel posts (I upcycled to a very modern style). Can't bear to get rid of them, but cannot come up with a project to use them. Ideas?
(For clarification, there are two sets of two each style, the are just stacked on top of each other for space reasons.)
  33 answers
  • Donna Arsenault Donna Arsenault on Jul 04, 2014
    What about some tall candle holders? Or as legs for a table, entry table or vanity table etc
  • Donna Arsenault Donna Arsenault on Jul 04, 2014
    Or a tree for hanging a welcome sign
  • Teresa Schroepfer Teresa Schroepfer on Jul 04, 2014
    Flip them upside down and use for table legs
  • Donna Byram Donna Byram on Jul 04, 2014
    You could use parts of them for finials for garden gates, fence posts or hand rails. use to add decor to a plain cabinet, bookcase or piece of furniture. I had a dresser that had spindles on them that were cut in half length-wise for decor.
    • Donna Byram Donna Byram on Jul 05, 2014
      @Donna Byram Had another idea. Add the longer spindles to the corners of a plain bathroom vanity to dress it up a little or add as legs under existing cabinets.
  • Lex263207 Lex263207 on Jul 04, 2014
    I agree they could be table legs. Depending on how large they are, you could also make some great ornaments by turning them upside down & painting them I'm various colors. Even if they are larger than traditional ornaments they could still adorn a doorway, a stairway, or be hung together on a doorknob. Hers an example using a smaller furniture piece.
  • Lu Ann Watson Lu Ann Watson on Jul 05, 2014
    I would use them for ottoman legs myself. they are very nice. @Julie Benson-Grant
  • Jane White Jane White on Jul 05, 2014
    @@Julie Benson-Grant Make a tuteur out of wood, chicken wire or turn a tomato cage upside down, pull the 3 point together and connect a finial at the top. Train a vine to grow on it or paint and stand in the garden for a focal point.
  • Gina C Gina C on Jul 05, 2014
    They would make beautiful lamps! They already have the channel up the middle (minus the round part at the top). Just buy a lamp kit and run the cord up the middle and add a harp, lampshade and finial.
  • Cindy Hinds Cindy Hinds on Jul 05, 2014
    I would use them for coat hooks by a door
  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Jul 05, 2014
    I would use them as legs on a low table, nightstand or ottoman.
  • Cora Cora on Jul 05, 2014
    candle pillars holders, or votive cup holders
  • Valerie Valerie on Jul 06, 2014
    I would agree that they can be used as table legs - they are lovely!
  • Judy Adams Judy Adams on Jul 06, 2014
    How about the ends for a wooden curtain rod . a finishing touch that will show off the beauty of the woodwork and still be useful .
  • Debra Debra on Jul 06, 2014
    Fix them to the ends of a shelf to be used as book ends, or a a decorated piece on the mantel, hutch, unused fireplace or ?
  • Cheri Dittler Cheri Dittler on Jul 06, 2014
    you could cut them in half lengthwise and atatch them as accents on cabinets, mirrors, bookcases,etc
  • Jcw Jcw on Jul 06, 2014
    I have seen ppl put legs on trunks for table/stg that look really good. They may need altered a little if they don't sit solid with the rounded tops, but could put screw through bottom and find nuts to fit and rubber boot to protect contents
  • Shirley C Shirley C on Jul 06, 2014
    You may not want them outside but they'd be great gate accents. Or shelf supports for a double shelf, perhaps in your pirch with plants in them.
  • Kristina Kristina on Jul 06, 2014
    If you can somehow connect them/stack them...with colorful paint and artsy patterns, it would make an eye-catching totem pole for a garden accent. I can't wait to see what you come up with :)
    • Julie Benson-Grant Julie Benson-Grant on Jul 06, 2014
      @Kristina I don't really garden, per se, but I have a strawberry patch and The Kid is growing pumpkins. Maybe when I rebuilt the desk later this year...
  • Judith Gorman Judith Gorman on Jul 06, 2014
    I just have the one so I have it on the wall in my sewing room holding embroidery hoops.
    • Julie Benson-Grant Julie Benson-Grant on Jul 06, 2014
      @Judith Gorman I love this idea! I have about 15 hoops and they are just piled in a drawer. That should use two of them, at least!
  • Judi Johnson Judi Johnson on Jul 06, 2014
    My answer is kind of like the others. But I would find a board big enough to mount them on, you can stagger them up and down or just straight across. Mount near front door or back door to hold coats, hats, purses, umbrellas. could space them with drawer pulls and use the pulls to hold keys
  • Tuzwoo Tuzwoo on Jul 06, 2014
    I love these, that said I would get a board large enough to cover my stove top, then attach the legs on the bottom and finish the top, when I bake or have company I could cover the top of the stove for additional counter space. you could paint the top or use tile and grout top finish it off. ask the handy man in your life if the legs can be on a folding hinge for easy storage. space. the legs are tall enough that you can see under them. we did this at our church when I suggested it and it works like a charm.............who doesn't need extra storage space. it can double as a place to work on a puzzle or for a tiered look on the holiday table. good find!
  • Jean Ann Henry Jean Ann Henry on Jul 06, 2014
    We took 2 sets of cabinets from 2 homes on our property and built one custom kitchen-with antique buffet for kitchen sink & positioned cabinets randomly with some jutting out-topped all with crown molding & painted all French country cream-in the mix, my husband built me a cool dish rack with pillars on each side of the front. These would have worked great for that.
  • Elizabeth Poteat Elizabeth Poteat on Jul 06, 2014
    Years ago they were cut, a hole bored in top and used for candle holders. You always had a pair of each different shape.
  • Betty Betty on Jul 06, 2014
    Get large dowels, drill holes in the ends, screw in the finials and walla, you have curtain rods!
  • Susan Fillmer Susan Fillmer on Jul 06, 2014
    Candle holders possibly.
  • Brenda Smith Brenda Smith on Jul 06, 2014
    I have one large newel-type post similar to yours, I have it in a grouping of baskets and ceramic pieces on top of an old upright piano...Gives height to the collection of items and the dark brown stain goes well with the piano..I've gotten lots of compliments on it and those commenting on liking it always ask where they can get one.
  • Therese C Therese C on Jul 06, 2014
    Free standing chunky candle holders!!
  • Tammy Lanes Tammy Lanes on Jul 06, 2014
    Feet for an ottoman. I'd paint them gunmetal grey and use a bold chevron fabric on a large flat ottoman.
  • Pop Pop on Jul 07, 2014
    Legs for repurposed furniture. Pieces cut off of them fit to other pieces. Sit back and let them talk to you, they will let you know what they want to be... Mike
  • Rose Rhyner Rose Rhyner on Jul 07, 2014
    I used four as corner posts between two sheets of shelf laminate wood. (cut plywood would work too) The top piece holds the TV and the bottom piece holds the receiver, surround sound speakers, and room for pair of ceramic angels. The posts are tall enough to allow for air flow = cooling space for the electronics - we added the top knobs to make it look finished, then stained it and set on top of a taller dresser with four drawers. We have height, storage and matching colours on the stand and dresser :) Good all around! sorry - not able to post a pic at this time
  • Growreuserepurposeit Growreuserepurposeit on Jul 08, 2014
    I have four and have just painted them. Plan to drill holes in the bottom to insert stakes, and larger ones in the top to insert the tops of 3 lumin solar lights. 3 lumin lights are more expensive but much brighter than the dollar store variety. Then I'll stick them in the ground around my entryway.
  • Karen powell Karen powell on Jul 08, 2014
    Painted in method of your choice shabby chic flowers , solid , Makinzy Childs , Mary Ingelbright . Then use for hat stand . mount on a flat circle of wood for a base .
  • Connie Shurtz Connie Shurtz on Jul 08, 2014
    I have made dragon fly's out of post and table legs for the body and I used ceiling fan blades for the wings. They were painted in a variety of bright colors and used in the garden or on a fence.