Home Tree Atlas: Home Decor Ideas and Mood Boards

Vintage Storage and Organization Ideas

When it comes to storage ideas with a vintage style, some things to look for are pieces made out of metal (galvanized or with a porcelain enamel), wicker, or glass.

The Elegance of Glass Pieces

Storing anything in glass jars really recreates that vintage look and feel as seen in picture (2) – this is because we all use inexpensive plastic containers these days. In our vintage kitchen storage post we talked about how you can put your own vintage labels on these glass jars and containers to keep everything organized. Perfume bottles, mason jars, and milks bottles are some other glass storage containers that will look great up on a shelf.

The Porcelain Enamel Look

Metal containers with a porcelain enamel are good looking storage pieces to have too – just like the kitchen containers in picture (3). Galvanized buckets and tins as seen in picture (4) can be used to house plants, as trash cans, or just to group items.

Storing in Wicker Baskets and Trunks

Wicker and wire baskets (5) are great to have. Having a number of them side by side creates a decorative feature in the room. These baskets can be lined with a vintage patterned fabric or with a fabric that has a laced edge. Other unique vintage storage ideas include hat boxes as seen in picture (6).

In our vintage bedroom decor post we showed a picture of a birdcage being used to store books. These cages can also be used in the bathroom to house toilet paper rolls, in the living to house small plants, or again in the bedroom as a hanger for jewelry (7).

Wicker hampers and trunks are ideal for storing larger items like toys, pillows, laundry, or towels (9) (10). A good thing about them is that they are lightweight. In picture (11) a weathered painted trunk is being used as a side table. Trunks and crates can also be used as side tables, coffee tables, even shelving (12), or storage containers (13). Another storage idea for keeping large items like jackets in the foyer, shoes, or gardening equipment is a locker.

1. Suitcases: $83.30 Wayfair | 2. Pail: $72.33 Wayfair | 3. Wire Basket: $64.51 Wayfair

4. Set of 3 Crates: $26 Amazon | 5. Set of 4 Trunks: $248 Wayfair

6. Set of 3 Wire Baskets: $216 Wayfair | 7. Wicker Basket: $35.99 Amazon

8. Set of 3 Planters: $120 Wayfair | 9. Keepsake: $75 Wayfair | 10. Set of 3 Buckets: $62 Wayfair

11. Bowl: $40 Wayfair | 12. Enamel: $9.99 Amazon | 13. Jar: $16.50 Amazon

14. Bottle: $4.25 Amazon

Hubsch is a great Danish shop where you can buy vintage looking wicker baskets, wire baskets, bird cages, watering cans, and glass jars. The picture of the shelved wicker baskets above is from their Home Interior and Design catalogue.

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May 16, 2013 in Storage

Vintage Sports Decor Mood Board

The vintage sports decor pieces in the pictures above are perfect for the man cave (The Cave: Basement Ideas for Men), a man’s bedroom even, or a home bar.

When I was searching for vintage and antique styled sporting decor, quite a lot of what I was looking for was found at Restoration Hardware. All of the photos above and this post is really all about them, because what they have on offer is perfect.

Restoration Hardware have quite a few different leather balls: an American football as seen in picture (1), soccer ball, and a medicine training ball. They also have leather boxing gloves (2) and punching bags – which all work well as antique decor pieces.

Moving away from the leather goods, RH have framed flags seen in the background of picture (3). The US (4), UK, Canada, Australia, and Norway flags are available. For more abstract decor ideas, the metal letters they sell can be used to spell out the initial of a sports team (5). Or how about a vintage map of the city of your sports team (6)? RH also have cast iron dumbbells (7) and a framed cricket bat (8).

For other vintage decor items like boxing posters, framed baseball cards, baseball caps, and surfboards – Etsy and Zazzle are great places to look. Pottery Barn is another place that sells leather boxing bags, along with antique style pool tables. 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8

May 15, 2013 in Decor

Vintage Outdoor Lighting Ideas Mood Board

The best place to find hard wired, vintage styled, outdoor lighting is in the barn lighting section. With their flat pancake (shallow bowl) designs, gooseneck lamps, and muted pastel or rustic colors they are the perfect light fixtures – just like the one in picture (1). Barn Light Electric is a great place for these types of lights. Another style of light fixtures to look into is nautical (2) and wrought iron.

For simpler lighting ideas let’s look at lanterns. Mason jars or any vintage style bottles and jars can be turned into candle lanterns (3) (4), and they can even be turned into solar powered light fixtures. These vintage style lanterns can be hung up (5) or they can be used as table lighting. Using vintage or shabby chic style candle holders is another idea for table lighting along with vintage oil lamps (6). Moroccan lanterns are quite decorative pieces. To turn these into a more vintage style lantern spray paint them white – like the lanterns in picture (7).

For more decorative vintage outdoor lighting ideas have a look at the string lights with the Edison light bulbs from Restoration Hardware (8). Pastel colored paper lanterns will also work as vintage styled lighting (9) – just fit some normal string lights in them to light them up. Metallic tiki torches with the brass/copper tops look great too. And for the icing, an elegant outdoor chandelier will be a great focal piece (10).

One thing to remember when it comes to lighting is to layer different light fixtures. What this means is that you want to avoid using just one type of light fixture – say wall light. You want to mix things up: use a ceiling light, along with a table lantern, wall light, etc. to create different lighting effects. This creates a cozier and well lit space. 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10

May 14, 2013 in Lighting, Outdoors

Ideas for Vintage Garden Decor and Outdoor Accessories

Vintage style buckets and crates as seen in pictures (1) and (2) make for great outdoor decor pieces. They can be used as planters or for storing vintage garden tools (3). Along with tools, a vintage metal watering can is another great decor piece to have (4) and display.

Vintage bottles also make for great planters. Wrap them in thread/rope/wire and hang them up (5) or group the bottles together in a crate (6). A weathered wooden step ladder makes for great shelving for flower pots (7).

Though not really a decor piece, vintage cloth hangers are a nice decorative touch for hanging up laundry (8). Another functional item that can also act as a decoration piece for an outdoor space is an antique measuring device. You have wall thermometers, hygrometers (measures humidity), a clock even, or a barometer which measures air pressure as seen in picture (9).

When it comes to lighting, some ideas include pastel colored paper lanterns (10) or even an outdoor chandelier. Have a look at our post here for more outdoor vintage lighting ideas. How about taking a normal lantern, spray painting it white and using it to house plants as seen in picture (11)

Hanging up drapery from the walls or from a pergola will create an enchanting setting just like in picture (12).

Some other vintage garden decor accessories that are not included in the pictures: a bird feeder or bath, fountain, a weather vane, and vintage styled welcome signs and house numbers. 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12