diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 2cea63a..5075deb 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog][kac], and this project adheres to
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Added
+- Added `useRefs`
+
 ## [0.4.3] - 2024-01-31
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/src/Runtime.lua b/src/Runtime.lua
index 6568597..dc2e9c6 100644
--- a/src/Runtime.lua
+++ b/src/Runtime.lua
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ type StackFrame = {
 	discriminator: string | number,
 }
 
+export type RefTable = { [string]: Instance }
+
 local stack: { StackFrame } = {}
 
 local recentErrors = {}
@@ -269,7 +271,7 @@ end
 	`useInstance` returns the `ref` table that is passed to it. You can use this to create references to objects
 	you want to update in the widget body.
 ]=]
-function Runtime.useInstance(creator: () -> Instance): Instance
+function Runtime.useInstance(creator: (ref: RefTable) -> Instance): Instance
 	local node = stack[#stack].node
 	local parentFrame = Runtime.nearestStackFrameWithInstance()
 
@@ -279,6 +281,8 @@ function Runtime.useInstance(creator: () -> Instance): Instance
 		node.refs = {}
 		local instance, container = creator(node.refs)
 
+		table.freeze(node.refs)
+
 		if instance ~= nil then
 			instance.Parent = parent
 			node.instance = instance
@@ -297,6 +301,26 @@ function Runtime.useInstance(creator: () -> Instance): Instance
 	return node.refs
 end
 
+--[=[
+	@within Plasma
+	@return { [string]: Instance } -- Returns the `ref` table
+	@tag hooks
+
+	Returns the `ref` table that is attached to the current `useInstance` call.
+
+	This hook can only be used inside `useInstance` and will error if done otherwise. You can use this instead
+	of the `ref` parameter if you're using nested functions that returns instances and don't want
+	to pass the table to a descendant via prop drilling.
+]=]
+function Runtime.useRefs(): RefTable
+	local node = stack[#stack].node
+	if node.refs == nil or table.isfrozen(node.refs) then
+		error("Runtime.useRefs cannot be used outside Runtime.useInstance", 2)
+	end
+
+	return node.refs
+end
+
 function Runtime.nearestStackFrameWithInstance(): StackFrame?
 	for i = #stack - 1, 1, -1 do
 		local frame = stack[i]
diff --git a/src/init.lua b/src/init.lua
index 6398906..7210611 100644
--- a/src/init.lua
+++ b/src/init.lua
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ return {
 	widget = Runtime.widget,
 	useState = Runtime.useState,
 	useInstance = Runtime.useInstance,
+	useRefs = Runtime.useRefs,
 	useEffect = Runtime.useEffect,
 	useKey = Runtime.useKey,
 	setEventCallback = Runtime.setEventCallback,
diff --git a/tests/plasma.spec.lua b/tests/plasma.spec.lua
index c71b764..10016f5 100644
--- a/tests/plasma.spec.lua
+++ b/tests/plasma.spec.lua
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ return function()
 	describe("plasma", function()
 		it("should create and destroy things", function()
 			local folder = Instance.new("Folder")
-
 			local root = Plasma.new(folder)
 
 			Plasma.start(root, function()
@@ -21,7 +20,6 @@ return function()
 
 		it("should create and destroy from a single start point", function()
 			local folder = Instance.new("Folder")
-
 			local root = Plasma.new(folder)
 
 			local function start(visible)
@@ -39,5 +37,80 @@ return function()
 
 			expect(folder:FindFirstChildWhichIsA("TextButton")).to.never.be.ok()
 		end)
+
+		it("should support `useRefs` hook", function()
+			local folder = Instance.new("Folder")
+			local root = Plasma.new(folder)
+
+			local refsTable
+
+			local function DescendantComponent()
+				return Plasma.create("Frame", {
+					[Plasma.useRefs()] = "baz",
+					BackgroundColor3 = Color3.fromHex("#00f"),
+				})
+			end
+
+			local function AncestorComponent()
+				local ref = Plasma.useRefs()
+				refsTable = ref
+
+				return Plasma.create("Frame", {
+					[ref] = "foo",
+					BackgroundColor3 = Color3.fromHex("#f00"),
+					-- children
+					Plasma.create("Frame", {
+						BackgroundColor3 = Color3.fromHex("#0f0"),
+						-- children
+						DescendantComponent(),
+					}),
+				})
+			end
+
+			local frame = Plasma.beginFrame(root, function(tbl)
+				expect(Plasma.useInstance(AncestorComponent)).to.equal(tbl)
+			end, refsTable)
+
+			Plasma.continueFrame(frame, function(refs, red, blue)
+				expect(refs.foo).to.be.ok()
+				expect(refs.bar).to.never.be.ok()
+				expect(refs.baz).to.be.ok()
+
+				expect(refs.foo.BackgroundColor3).to.equal(red)
+				expect(refs.baz.BackgroundColor3).to.equal(blue)
+			end, refsTable, Color3.fromHex("#f00"), Color3.fromHex("#00f"))
+
+			Plasma.finishFrame(root)
+		end)
+
+		it("should disallow `useRefs` outside `useInstance`", function()
+			local folder = Instance.new("Folder")
+			local root = Plasma.new(folder)
+
+			Plasma.start(root, function()
+				Plasma.useInstance(function()
+					return Plasma.create("Folder")
+				end)
+
+				expect(Plasma.useRefs).to.throw()
+			end)
+		end)
+
+		it("should disallow mutating the returned refs table", function()
+			local folder = Instance.new("Folder")
+			local root = Plasma.new(folder)
+
+			local refs
+
+			Plasma.start(root, function()
+				refs = Plasma.useInstance(function(ref)
+					return Plasma.create("Folder", { [ref] = "test" })
+				end)
+			end)
+
+			expect(function()
+				refs.test = true
+			end).to.throw()
+		end)
 	end)
 end