Trivets are handy for protecting surfaces from hot pots, pans, and dishes. It is especially important to use them when placing hot items on countertops and furniture made of wood and other sensitive materials. While a doubled up dishtowel or a potholder may work in a pinch, having a couple of trivets around is still a good idea. Besides, they look much nicer.
You can purchase inexpensive trivets at most department stores, discount centers, and home shops, but you can also make your own. You can start with a ready made trivet and embellish it to your taste, or if you want one that coordinates with your kitchen or dining room decor, or you can make one from scratch.
Wooden Trivet
You can find a great selection of shapes cut from craft wood that can be stained, painted, or otherwise decorated to make a fun trivet. It is important to apply a tough, protective coating over any embellishments. Using heat resistant paint is also a good idea. If you don’t find a shape you like, you can draw something onto a piece of wood and cut it out with a jigsaw. Be sure to sand the edges until they are smooth. If using a jigsaw is not your cup of tea, try piecing together strips of wood to make a trivet.
Tile Trivet
Look for a great piece of tile in the discount area of a tile or flooring store or in a home improvement center. Since you only need one tile, you could splurge and buy a great natural stone or ceramic tile, if the place you shop offers single tiles. A 12″ x 12″ will make a perfect trivet for average size pots and pans, while an 18″ x 18″ is just right for larger ones.
Cork Trivet
You can cut an interesting shape from cork to use as a trivet, or simply cut a large circle, or a square or rectangle similar in size to the tiles mentioned above. The cork should be about ½” thick. Use a cork tile or purchase a larger piece of cork so you can make more than one trivet.