If you are like me, you have inherited some antiques that were passed down from generation to generation. While you may have a love of antiques, do you wonder what you can you do with them besides put them on display in your home?
Certainly the display of antiques can be quite beautiful, but my sisters and I believe antiques were meant to be used. Of course you can use an antique for its intended purpose, a table is a table after all! If you use your imagination, you may find quite a few more uses for your antiques.
For example:
An antique pitcher can be a vase.
A butter pat from Grandma's china set can be a votive holder.
A bone dish from Grandma's china set can be a spoon rest.
A blanket chest can store quite a few things besides blankets.
An antique bottle can be a bud vase.
A candy dish can just as easily be used to serve nuts.
Plates make unique wall art, either hung with a plate holder or enclosed in a shadow box. My sister gave me two plates covered with pansies and I am working on a project to put them in shadow boxes to hang in my living room.
An antique chair combines well with a new vanity in place of the vanity bench.
An antique oil lamp can be used as an electrical lamp with a simple light kit from the hardware store.
Similarly, any item you wish can become an electric lamp. My sister had one of Grandma's Ball jars converted into a lamp with a light kit and shade. It now sits on my desk where I can enjoy it every day.
Mom always had a large antique crock by the front door to collect and store umbrellas that were not in use.
Doll furniture can be used for other purposes as well. At Christmas, I put out my stuffed reindeer, Santas and snowmen in various doll chairs and sleds. I have also seen doll china closets hung on walls to display smaller collectible items.
You can also try collecting an odd number of glass candlesticks in the same color or complementary colors to put out your candles. Who says that candles always have to be displayed in a pair of matching candlesticks?
My sister uses an old child's school desk as an endtable and it looks terrific!
How you use your family or purchased antiques is entirely up to you and your imagination. Do you have a unique way that you have used an antique item? Please share it with me and the readers of my blog.
Antiques are a great way to put the "reuse" in "Reduce, reuse, recycle." This is especially true during the current economy.
Sincerely,
Lynn
I find the best loved antiques are the ones I USE on a day to day basis. In their day, what are now considered to be antiques were made to last! The benefit is still using and enjoying them today, however they have been repurposed.
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