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How To Decorate With Vintage Kitchen Decor

Do you love to collect vintage kitchen decor and utensils? Want to learn more about how to display those vintage rolling pins and other vintage kitchen utensils you’ve been collecting?

I love collecting vintage kitchenware and utensils. However, it can be challenging to display them.

I’m sharing some of my favorite ways to style and showcase these vintage collections in my modern farmhouse kitchen.

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What Is Vintage Kitchen Decor?

If you have kitchen bowls, utensils, rolling pins, breadboards, smashers, wooden bowls, spice jars, etc., that are over 50 years old, you have vintage kitchen decor.

Some of my favorites to collect are made of wood. Almost anything with a wooden handle is most likely vintage. This includes vintage rolling pins, breadboards and cutting boards, smashers, and old wooden spoons.

Old copper cookware, baskets, and dinnerware are also fun to collect, and they can make your kitchen look unique and interesting.

How to decorate with Vintage Kitchen Decor like vintage rolling pins and vintage kitchen utensils

Where To Shop for Vintage Kitchen Decor?

If you do your homework and love the thrill of the hunt, there are many advantages to shopping for vintage kitchen utensils.

Where should you shop for vintage kitchen decor?

  • Antique Shops – This is the most obvious and easy place to find vintage decor. However, prices may not be budget-minded.
  • Online – another easy option, but prices will vary.
  • Estate Sales – most estate sales will provide online previews so you can do your homework before attending.
  • Flea Markets – can be hit or miss, but great bargains can be found.
  • Thrift Stores & Consignment Shops – is where most of my vintage rolling pins and kitchen utensils are from. It is very hit or miss, but if you know what you are looking for and have done your homework, you can get some great bargains. You can learn more at 10 Best Tips For Thrift Store Shopping.

Insider Tip

No matter where you shop, research, consider your priorities, and compare prices before purchasing.

Best NEW Tip

Use the Google app camera to photograph vintage pieces for price comparison. You may find comparable items on Etsy, eBay, and online vintage venues.

With a little effort, you can find beautiful and unique vintage kitchen decor that will add a touch of style to your home.

How To Decorate With Vintage Kitchen Utensils?

There are several ways to decorate vintage kitchen decor, including vintage furniture, vintage lighting, and appliances.

However, you don’t have to have a 100% vintage kitchen. With these tips, you can decorate any style kitchen with vintage decor.

Insider Tips

  • Don’t be afraid to mix and match. Vintage kitchen decor doesn’t have to be matchy-matchy. In fact, mixing and matching different pieces can create a more interesting and eclectic look.
  • Don’t be afraid to get creative. There are no rules when it comes to decorating with vintage kitchen decor. Let your creativity run wild, and have fun with it!
  • Most importantly, have fun! Decorating your kitchen should be enjoyable. So relax, take your time, and enjoy the process.

Where To Display Vintage Collections?

When decorating with vintage collections, it’s good to group them together. For example, a basket filled with old rolling pins will be more impactful and decorative than a single rolling pin on a shelf.

Vintage and antique finds can be displayed on open shelving, inside cupboards, on kitchen tables, islands, countertops, over the cabinets, or hanging on the walls—basically anywhere that you have room to style them.

Insider Tip

Make your vintage collections pop by displaying them together.

You’ll notice that many of my collections are gathered together inside other vintage pieces.

Use these vintage items to hold your smaller collections:

  • Baskets
  • Crocks
  • Toolbox
  • Wooden Box or crate
  • Vases
  • Pitchers

Vintage Rolling Pins

Vintage rolling pins can be found in vintage and antique shops. You may find them in thrift stores, yard sales, and consignment shops for much less if you are lucky.

Vintage rolling pins are often made from solid wood, and they may have decorative features, such as carved handles or inlaid designs.

Decorating a modern farmhouse kitchen with vintage rolling pins

Some vintage rolling pins are made from glass, metal, and ceramic. However, a well-worn wooden one is my favorite to collect.

You can use a vintage rolling pin to roll out dough, crush herbs, and even make pasta.

However, they are also a beautiful addition to any kitchen décor.

Add a collection to a vintage toolbox, fill old crocks, or display special finds individually.

add vintage rolling pins to an old tool box to decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen.

Do you remember reading How to Decorate Above Kitchen Cabinets?

This is another excellent place to display vintage kitchen decor. Especially valuable pieces that you want to keep protected.

An example is these antique crocks. One is very rare, so fill them with vintage rolling pins, smashers, and old wooden spoons for display away from harm.

Add vintage rolling pins to above kitchen cabinets to style with vintage kitchen decor.

Breadboards and Cutting Boards

Decorating with vintage breadboards and cutting boards is a great way to add a touch of style and history to your kitchen.

Both have been added to the DIY Wall Plate Rack. The variety of wood tones against the white shiplap adds warmth to this kitchen corner.

Breadboards and cutting boards fill a DIY plate rack in a modern farmhouse kitchen.

What is the difference in Breadboards and Cutting Boards?

Although vintage breadboards and cutting boards are both made of wood primarily and are very similar in design.

However, a vintage breadboard is used primarily to remove hot bread from the oven. They are also used to slice and serve bread.

antique breadboard on open shelving in modern farmhouse kitchen add vintage charm with country chic style.

Meanwhile, cutting boards are used to chop, slice, and dice food. While most vintage cutting boards are made of wood, you will find that modern ones are made of various materials like plastic.

You will also find many decorative cutting boards in the shape of animals.

I have a small collection of pig cutting boards, and they are spread around the kitchen.

Here two are stacked as a backdrop for more vintage decor.

Pig cutting boards, better mold & copper tea pot for vintage kitchen decor decorating ideas in farmhouse.

Vintage Copper Cookware

Collecting vintage copper is an obsession of mine. I can’t get enough.

Vintage copper is trending for kitchen decor because it is a beautiful, durable, and versatile material.

It works well in any style kitchen, from farmhouse to traditional to modern.

Copper is also a sustainable material that can be recycled and reused indefinitely.

Copper molds and pig cutting board for decorating with vintage kitchen decor in a modern farmhouse.

I began showcasing this collected vintage kitchen decor on the DIY wall plate rack, and it quickly began to fill up.

DIY Plate Rack is filled with vintage utensils and more for a modern farmhouse vintage kitchen decor.

Next, we built a DIY Copper Hanging Pot Rack above the sink, instantly transforming the room.

The combination of copper and wooden pieces on the open shelving adds a warm feeling to the kitchen.

open shelving with vintage farmhouse decor in a industrial farmhouse style kitchen.

Vintage Kitchen Utensils

If you collect smaller vintage kitchen utensils, they can be even more challenging to decorate with.

These are a few of the ways I display smaller utensils in the kitchen.

Insider Tip

  • Consider adding utensils to old crocks, vases, and vintage pitchers to decorate with smaller vintage kitchen decor.
  • Mix and match on open shelves and plate racks. Tuck smaller items between larger pieces.
  • Add a collection to a large wooden bowl.
  • Or, fill a large clear vase, canister, or vintage candy jar with vintage utensils, cookie cutters, etc.

The plate rack is filled with vintage collectibles, and the smaller items are easily tucked between larger items in containers or alone.

Plate rack is filled with vintage kitchen utensils & vintage rolling pins in a modern farmhouse kitchen

A vintage wooden bowl on the kitchen island is filled with many smaller kitchen decor items.

In addition, an antique glass candy container is also filled with vintage molds, cookie cutters, and mini tart tins.

Old and Thrifted Dishes

Using and displaying old and thrifted dishes is my favorite way to add vintage charm to my tablescapes and kitchen decor.

This collection of vintage ironstone dishes was a lucky find at a Habitat ReStore. It was a large collection, and I’ve continued to add items as they are found.

Style a wooden flower box with vintage ironstone dishes and brass.

Consider adding a vintage plate wall display. Collect similar color plates and platters to create a unique wall display.

cropped-vintage-grape-hod-gathering-basket-on-wall-with-vintage-plates-1.jpg

In addition to displaying vintage and antique dishes on cabinets and cupboards, setting the table with them adds a nostalgic touch.

Decorate with vintage dishes for unique tablescape ideas in modern farmhouse kitchen.

Vintage Scales

Another favorite vintage collection is Old Scales. They are great for displaying other vintage pieces like this copper teapot.

When looking for vintage kitchen scales, remember that they are typically made from metal and come in various shapes, sizes, and styles.

In addition, some vintage kitchen scales are simple and utilitarian, while others are more ornate and decorative.

Don’t you love the color of this $10.00 thrift store find?

Vintage Scale for decorating a modern farmhouse kitchen with vintage decor beside vintage rolling pins.

Inherited Vintage Decor

In addition to the many thrifted vintage kitchen decor pieces, displaying inherited family pieces brings a sense of history and personality to your home.

I’ve included my mom’s rolling pin and meat grinder on the kitchen’s open shelves. Displaying these treasures helps to evoke many happy childhood memories.

antique meat grinder on open kitchen shelf.  Vintage rolling pins in old tool box.

Resources

More Antique & Vintage Decorating in Modern Farmhouse

Thank you for allowing me to share my passion for decorating with vintage kitchen decor. I’d love to hear your favorite pieces and how you style them.

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Vintage kitchen Utensils - Decorating Tips and Tricks.  Open shelves with concrete countertops in Farmhouse kitchen.
How To decorate with Vintage kitchen decor like vintage rolling pins, old scales, and ironstone.

Decorating with Vintage Kitchen Decor Web Story

Kim | Shiplap and Shells

Saturday 13th of May 2023

You have the best vintage collections, Rachel. I just love your kitchen.

Rachel

Monday 15th of May 2023

Thank you Kim! I appreciate your comments.

debbie-dabble

Tuesday 9th of May 2023

Rachel, Great post!! I see so many of the vintage treasures I myself have and have displayed in my Kitchen for the past 30 years...Thanks so much for sharing!! Hugs, Deb

Rachel

Thursday 11th of May 2023

Debbie, I'm glad you found this informative.

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