Making a 2 Tiered Kitchen Basket Stand

How to take a 3 tiered metal stand and create a 2 tiered kitchen basket tray stand.

I am going to show you what I semi-handmade over the weekend. My goal was to add a little bit of fall decor in the way of texture and organizing to my kitchen.

I always enjoy tinkering with items such as the 3 tiered tray stand in the photo below. I like to see if I can come up with something new, using a part of it, then swapping another part out or even completely repurpose it. I would love to design a line of decor items someday that go with all the ideas in my head.

unassembled 3 tiered white metal stand.

This is exactly what I did with this white 3 tiered metal stand that I use when entertaining and for the holidays in my kitchen. It was a gift from a friend when we first moved to the lake – Thanks Gail. :-)

The stand comes apart easily, so playing around with it didn’t damage it one bit. I can always put it back together in a minute when Fall is over and it goes back into holiday mode.

Colorful Kitchen Counter Decorating ideas

Using parts of the stand, I wanted to create a new Fall-inspired wicker basket stand to replace this silver wire stand I use to hold produce. I like this stand and will use it again, but my kitchen is small and I get bored seeing the same things. Changing it up, especially for the seasons, inspires me.

Tiered kitchen basket to make to store fruit and produce on a counter.

I took the 3 tiered white metal stand apart to make a shorter 2 tiered kitchen basket stand so it would fit under my kitchen cabinets. I used a thrift store wicker basket as the second tier.

I love baskets and get excited when I find a new way to use them around the house that not only looks nice but adds warm and cozy texture, while giving me the exact function I need. :-)

You may be thinking, “What’s that on the top – a finial?”

The answer – yes, but not just any finial, but a custom-made one using a tiny detail from nature that I collect.

How to Make a Tiered Kitchen Tray & Basket Stand

I realize that you will not have the exact same items I used to make my 2 tiered fruit basket stand, but I wanted to show you what you can do with any tiered stand you may have.

Do you have a tiered stand of any kind? Maybe one made with ceramic or china plates? These types of stands are easy to take apart and reassemble. They can be found at most thrift and antique stores. Even if you don’t like the design, color or pattern of the plates, the stand part can be repurposed to your needs.

Time needed: 20 minutes


How to Make a 3 Tiered Stand into a Shorter 2 Tiered Kitchen Basket and Tray Stand

tools and supplies needed:

Tiered stand or parts from a plate stand
Metal washers
Large screw and nut
Twine
Tacky Glue
Hot Glue

  1. Gather Your Parts and Supplies

    I took the stand apart. I only needed the pedestal, the rod, the rod covers and bottom round tray. I also used a round wicker basket into which I made a rod sized hole in the bottom with an awl.

    One section of 3 tiered kitchen stand with base, rod and a round wicker basket.

  2. Use Machine Screws

    screw and nut used to make stand

  3. Create a Stopper to Secure Center Dowel

    I screwed the rod to the pedestal base and then added the largest round tray from the original stand, the larger rod cover, my wicker basket and the narrower rod cover.

    Doing this, the screw end of the rod was just short of the top of the second rod cover.

    To make the stand secure, I had to find a nut that fit the threads at the end of the rod. Then I was able to insert the screw into the top half of the nut.

    Once the nut was on the rod, the screw that I had on hand to fit into the nut was a little too long, even when tightened. I didn’t want to see the screw threads so I added washers to cover the threaded section of the screw.

    Once the screw on the top was tightened, the entire assembly was secure, creating a very stable stand.

    Metal washers on top of a 2 tiered fruit basket getting ready to be covered to make a finial.

  4. Hiding the Washer to Create a Finial

    To hide the washers, I brushed tacky glue to the sides of the washers and wrapped twine around them. I placed the ends of the twine in the channel on the top of the screw.

    Wrapping twine around screw and washer on the top of a tiered produce storage basket for a kitchen counter.

  5. Secure Twine


    To secure this, I used a dot of hot glue. (Note: If you want to take the stand apart some day, don’t put glue where screw meets the washers.)

    Twine wrapped around top of newly reassembled 2 tier stand with hot glue on top.

  6. Attach Top Section of an Acorn


    Using another dot of hot glue, I attached the top section of an acorn.

    Top of real acorn found in nature made into a decorative fall finial for a 2 tiered countertop fruit basket.

  7. All Done

    Close up of finished acorn and twine finial on top of a 2 tiered countertop fruit basket.

My Semi-Handmade Countertop Fruit Basket

White metal 2 tiered stand with wicker basket on kitchen counter.

I love, love, love my DIY’ed tray and basket stand. It is exactly what I envisioned. Best of all, I did it in my own style and it didn’t cost me anything to make since I used items I already had.

DIY tiered kitchen fruit basket using a white metal stand and a thrift store basket.

When making the finial top, I didn’t have twine. So I applied a retail display trick (where we had to be super resourceful when creating displays for the store). Did you know that removing strands from burlap, which I did have – gives you pieces of twine. :-)

Do you have a tiered stand in your home that you are not using? Can you redesign it to fit a new need or for the season? Maybe use two baskets if you have them. That is what is so nice about DIY’ing – you get to be a designer.

On another note…. I know my bananas are spotty, but I let them get that way. I freeze the spotted bananas and use this Frozen Fruit and Banana Whip Maker to make Banana Berry Whips or Chocolate Nice Cream. It makes it easy to make a variety of plant-based alternatives to ice cream. So I always have bananas getting spotty in my countertop fruit basket.

If you like to see baskets or tiered stands on your kitchen countertop, here are a few I found:

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18 Comments

  1. Futura Interiors says:

    Thanks for sharing this.
    We are leading corporate interior designers in chennai providing the most creative work environment you just need for your office through our services

  2. Jennifer Dynys says:

    Super cute and creative! I love changing things up as well! What a great way to “make” something new! Thank you for sharing at Embracing Home and Family!

  3. Becky in 'Bama says:

    Without creative thinking people like you… the world would be a stagnant place. I NEVER change anything once I get it where I like it. Probably because I have worked outside the home for 45 years, and I don’t really look at my ‘stuff’ during the week, and by the weekend arrives, I’m too tired to care where anything is. :) Hope to retire next year, and maybe stir up some creative juices. Thank you for all the ideas. NOTE: I did use Fusion paint on an old chest (during COVID quarantine) – a product I saw on your blog!

  4. Kim | Shiplap and Shells says:

    This is such a cute idea! Very creative. Thank You for sharing with Charming Homes and Gardens. Pinned!

  5. Cindy@CountyRoad407 says:

    Oh My Soul, this is the cutest tiered stand I’ve seen! I love the details and the added basket. I hope I can do this! Pinned.

    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Cindy – thanks. If you have any problems or need clarification on anything, let me know. I did miss getting a photo of the top before I place the washers on but depending on the parts you have, you may not even need them.

  6. What a great idea!!! I love having things in containers such baskets. I got a wooden trot I had made many years ago as a gift for my husband and end up in our kitchen to hold produce but its far too big. I got to have lots of fruit and veg at the time for it to show full.
    I will look for cake stands from now on

    Thanks for all your lovely ideas. I only subscribe to one home decor newsletter and that’s yours.

    Regards!
    Valeria

    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Valeria – Whenever I go to the thrift store I always see the plate stands in all different sizes. I hope you find one. Thanks for subscribing – made my day to hear that my blog is the only one that you do. XO

  7. Jaye M Brown says:

    You’re so Clever! Love it. Wish we were there.

    Happy Fall YA’all!

    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Jaye – Thanks – XO Happy Fall Y’all to you also. I will send you some leaves to stomp and crunch. :-)

  8. My brother was very sick as a child with a weird disease. Out family doctor sent him to Illinois Research Hospital in Chicago to be treated. I remember my brother’s doctor telling my mother one year that the only bananas that were fit for human consumption were ones that were almost black. So, you are doing the right thing.

    1. It’s a perfect spot to separate the onions from the fruit! Love it both ways you could even add a basket on the bottom too! ?

      1. Diane Henkler says:

        Great idea Gail. Will have to go on the hunt for another round basket.

    2. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Pam – That is good to hear! :-) Thanks for telling me.

  9. Diane, you keep outdoing yourself! So creative. Thank you for this idea!

    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Thanks Terry – I truly enjoy creating. Even if I didn’t have a blog I would always be making something.