9 Ways To Decorate With Vintage Demijohns: Farmhouse Decor Ideas
Maybe you have a collection of demijohns, or maybe you are wondering what a demijohn is. I recently began collecting vintage demijohns, and I’m smitten. These unique vessels possess a rustic charm, thanks to the old glass and aged patina of the wickerwork that protects them. They are a dream for farmhouse style decorating, but can be stylish in any home. I can’t wait to show you the 9 ways I’ve been using my meager collection around The Ponds Farmhouse. If you don’t already own one, I’m sure you will be on the hunt for some after today. Let’s get started.
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What is a Demijohn?
When I talk about decorating with demijohns, I get questioned as to what a demijohn is. A demijohn is essentially a large glass bottle, characterized by its bulbous or rounded body and a relatively short, narrow neck. They are often covered in a wicker or woven encasement that was initially used to protect while transporting and to prevent light exposure.
Historically, demijohns were primarily used for transporting and storing liquids, such as wine, olive oil, spirits, and even chemicals.
Today, vintage demijohns are cherished in home decor due to their…
- Unique shapes and sizes: They come in various capacities, from smaller jugs to very large vessels, and often have charming imperfections from their handmade origins.
- Aged patina and color variations: Older glass may have subtle hues of green, amber, or clear glass with natural clouding or air bubbles.
- Rustic charm: Their history as utilitarian containers gives them an authentic, storied feel.
Today I’m sharing nine ideas for decorating with vintage demijohns. See them displayed empty as sculptural elements, used as oversized vases for branches or flowers, or grouped in collections to add visual interest and a touch of farmhouse or vintage style.
Use Demijohns To Create A Centerpiece
When grouped together or with other vintage decor, demijohns are stunning additions to table centerpieces.
# 1 – Dining Table Center Piece with 3 Demijohns
Now that I have three demijohns, creating a tablescape using the collection as a centerpiece added just the right rustic touch to our screen porch table. I love decorating this table with unique vintage finds and filling the DIY light fixture with seasonal decor.
To create a dining table centerpiece, I gathered my three demijohns, some thrifted candlestickholders, and vintage breadboards. I stacked the two breadboards as a riser and nestled the candlesticks around the demijohns. While two of the demijohns are stand-alone decor, the wide-mouth vintage find is filled with fresh zinnias and takes center stage on the breadboards. Adding a vintage vegetable creamer and fresh apples helps to add more color to the centerpiece.
The buffet-style table setting includes vintage dishes, silverware, green glassware, and a lovely wicker cloche serving tray to protect appetizers while complementing the wicker on the demijohn centerpiece.
Mixed Vintage Elements With Demijohns
Another stylish way to display demijohns is to mix them with other vintage pieces for amazing texture-filled vignettes.
# 2 – Vintage Demijohn & Amber Bottle Coffee Table Centerpiece
With fall approaching, it’s time to pull out my amber bottle collection. The vintage demijohns mixed with the bottles provide a captivating coffee table display.
To create this mixed element centerpiece, I used a stack of coffee table books to add height to one of my old amber bottles. With autumn black plum leaf stems, chippy architectural elements, and vintage books, the centerpiece adds visual interest to my living room coffee table.
# 3 – Fall Mantel With Vintage Demijohns
The mantel is another great spot for the demijohns to shine.
This simple mantel display consists of several old amber bottles, old books, a candle, LED battery lamps, a metal bird trinket dish, and a single demijohn with leaf stems. I balanced both ends of the mantel by grouping the demijohn with small bottles, while the opposite end holds a trio of larger vintage bottles. The vintage books help to vary the heights of items to create visual interest.
# 4 – Mixed Kitchen Island Vintage Centerpiece
I also mixed these woven treasures with a vintage basket to create a creative kitchen vignette a few weeks ago. You can see the details for this basket centerpiece at 3 Vintage Basket Centerpiece Ideas.
Demijohn Vase Decor
Using a demijohn as a vase is one popular way to decorate with these unique vintage finds.
# 5 – Demijohn With Simple Greenery Stems
A single demijohn filled with a loose gathering of faux stems adds textural significance to an open shelf vignette. The small openings of most demijohns are perfect for simple stems with leaves or sparse flower buds. Another idea is to use foraged bare branches to fill your demijohn bottles for a rustic approach.
# 6 – Wide Mouth Demijohn Bottles
My first demijohn find was a rare wide-mouth version. The wide mouth allows for a more complex flower arrangement. A combination of faux greenery and freshly gathered zinnias from the garden creates a stunning centerpiece for the screen porch table.
Group A Collection Of Demijohns For A Sculptural Display
Vintage demijohns are great as a stand-alone display without any enhancements. Just group your collection on your countertops or add them to the top of a cupboard or entry table.
# 7 – Cabinet Top Display
The top of my hutch is a great spot for displaying vintage treasures. The French antique gathering basket and cheese board create a stunning backdrop for the three collected demijohns. Depending on the height and size of your cupboard, you can add large or small elements to enhance your demijohn display.
# 8 – Sofa Table Vignette With Demijohns
You can display your demijohn collection in any room of the house. Here I’ve added my collection to the bottom shelf of the living room’s sofa table.
They draw attention to a lower shelf that can be easily overlooked in the living room. For additional vintage charm, a thrifted wooden bowl holds moss spheres to break up the trio of demijohns.
# 9 – Single Demijohn Rustic Element
A single demijohn can be displayed as a standalone statement piece. The old porch pedestal column is the perfect perch for a wide-mouth demijohn with double handles. Positioned next to the dining room plate gallery wall, the single demijohn provided more texture and architectural interest.
Where To Shop For Vintage Demijohns
Y’all, I used to see demijohns every time I went vintage shopping. Naturally, when I started looking for them, they were nowhere in sight. However, I found my first one at the consignment shop in Wilmington, NC. I was thrilled to discover this unique piece at a great price, which sparked my hunt for more. I finally found my second one at an antique mall in Asheboro. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t find any more. So I broke down and ordered one online at Payne Gray. I was a little worried that I wouldn’t like it since you only get to choose the size you want, but it turned out to be just what I was looking for.
Prices are all over the place, so I suggest shopping around. The more unique the demijohn is, the more you will pay. I didn’t spend over $100 on any of my treasures. However, I knew the minute I saw the wide-mouth version, it was a steal. I’ve seen similar ones for upward of $500.00. Here are my favorite places to shop.
- Thrift Stores
- Consignment Shops
- Antique Shops and Malls
- Payne Gray
- Etsy
- EBay
Resources: Shop This Post
Conclusion
If you are starting to collect demijohns or already have a collection, I hope these 9 ideas will help you style your collection. Vintage demijohns instantly add character to any home decor style and can be displayed for any season. Within these 9 ideas, there are so many options.
- Dining Table Centerpiece
- Coffee Table Centerpiece
- Fall Mantel Decor
- Kitchen Island Centerpiece
- Simple Vase for Greenery Stems
- Flower Arrangements
- Cabinet or Cupboard Top Vignettes
- Sofa Table Display
- Rustic Single Vintage Demijohn Decor
Insider Tip – Holiday Ideas
With each of the ideas I shared today, consider how you can use these ideas each season. Here are a few ideas I’m already considering as we move into the holiday season.
- Use demijohns to hold evergreen stems or holly branches
- Create a holiday tablescape with demijohns and small Christmas trees.
- Add a demijohn collection to your mantel with lots of battery operated candles.
- Surround the base of large demijohns with greenery wreaths and add berries or small ornaments.
- I’m sure I’ll be sharing some of my ideas as the holidays approach. So stay tuned.
I look forward to sharing more vintage-inspired decorating ideas with you soon!
Welcome home Rachel…..I pray you heal fast and can get back on your feet soon. You are the most important person in your life right now so take care. 🥰
Cindy,
Thank you for your messeage and continued prayers. I’m blessed to have you cheering for me.
I’m so glad you feel up to doing this, Rachel! I’ve been reading your story and am rooting for you. You have creative and imaginative decorating ideas which I just soak up like a sponge! Keep on being the blessing that you are! With love from Donna
Donna,
You brought happy tears to my eyes. Thank you for you sweet compliments and for your continued support. This means so much to me.