11 Beautiful Ways to Use Vintage Pieces for Flower Displays
These are stunning!
Kiana Underwood, owner of the boutique floral studio Tulipina based in New York, shows us how to repurpose everyday antiquing scores—from vintage scales to enamel kettles—as vessels fit for the best of the garden.
Empty Drawers
For a show-stopping display, let blooms spill out of the drawers of an old card catalog or school cubby.
Berry Baskets
Don't toss those cardboard berry baskets. "They're the ideal size to highlight tighter arrangements featuring a single flower type," Kiana says. "Strawflowers are lovely, and you don't even need to water them. They look the same whether they're dead or alive."
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Enamelware Colander
An old enamelware colander is the perfect vessel for a kitchen-inspired arrangement featuring tomatoes, kale, oregano, chamomile, and sage.
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Hanging Scale
An old hanging scale can handle a load of blooms and makes for a clever, porch-friendly alternative to a hanging basket. "Old scales were made for food, so I mixed in apple branches and dates with a burst of dahlias, roses, and gladiolus," Kiana says.
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Antique Tins
Assorted tea tins provide graphic punch thanks to sweet, retro labels. "I chose flowers—roses, fuchsia, ranunculus, and carnations—based on the colors of the tins," Kiana says. Note: Antique tins might come with a crack or two. Prevent leaks by popping a smaller vase inside before adding flowers and water.
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Vintage Teakettles
Because vintage teakettles were made to hold water, they're a natural fit for dropping in an arrangement. "Most people have geraniums in their gardens and don't ever think to use them in arrangements. I've adorned them with a few poppies here and there," Kiana says.
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Retro Bike Basket
An antique bike with a flower-filled bike basket is the perfect welcome piece for any event or even a beautiful addition to the garden," Kiana says. Place a water-filled container inside the basket and add flowers. "I used a variety of spring flowers like peonies, ranunculus, and tulips with dogwood, garden roses, poppies, and hydrangeas."
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Mason Jars
Everyday 8-ounce mason jars in a metal milk carrier make for an easy (and portable!) centerpiece. Kiana chose poppies to play off the iconic turquoise blue. Place clear tape across the mouth of each jar in a grid pattern to keep blooms upright and evenly spaced.
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Perfume Bottles
Pretty and delicate perfume bottles were literally made to hold sweet-smelling things. "There's no more exquisite flower than lily of the valley. They smell amazing. Most people only use the white ones, but these have blush tones," Kiana says. Note: Use dish soap and mild vinegar to wash out perfume bottles before adding flowers!
Minnow Bucket
The wide mouths of galvanized pails, like this vintage minnow bucket, inspire abundance. "I would call this the total garden mix—I wanted it to be bursting with ideas," Kiana says. "I used kumquats, tangerines, and quince branches along with clematis and cosmos, and I tucked in a few carnations."
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Wooden Toolbox
Give a crusty old toolbox a pretty purpose. The low height makes this ideal for an outdoor centerpiece. "I rounded up everything from my garden—there's a lot of movement that gives a sense of the wild," Kiana says.
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