How to Decorate With Vintage Doilies

Doilies make creative home decor.

You can use vintage doilies, which are small, generally handmade pieces of lacy fabric, to give any room in your home a charming look. If your antique doily collection is hiding away in a closet, pull it out and put the pieces to work as one-of-a-kind home decor. Transform the lace doilies into eclectic pieces to jazz up or add charm to an otherwise boring space. If you don't own any doilies, you can easily find them at antique shops and flea markets.

Things You'll Need

• Decorative items, such as candy dishes and vases.
• Liquid starch
• Small glass mixing bowl
• Wax paper
• Needle and thread

Instructions

1. Place candles, small decorations, candy dishes and other items you want to highlight on top of vintage lace doilies to set them apart. Create the display on a coffee table, wall shelf or nightstand.

2. Incorporate a doily into a table centerpiece. Set the doily in the center of a dining room table, and place an antique milk glass vase of fresh flowers on top of it for a romantic look.

3. Transform a doily into a bowl and use it to hold candy or other small items. Create the bowl by soaking a doily in liquid starch until it is saturated, and squeezing out the excess moisture. Turn a small glass mixing bowl upside down and cover it with wax paper. Spread the doily out over the bowl and allow it to rest for two days, or until it is completely dry and holds the bowl shape.

4. Sew several lace doilies together to form an eye-catching table runner or curtain valance if you have a large collection. Use a needle and cream-colored or white thread to connect the doilies in a long chain; the number of doilies you use depends on the length of the table.

5. Applique a doily onto a plain throw pillow for instant pattern and vintage charm. Thread a needle with a thread that matched the doily and carefully stitch the lace onto the fabric of the pillow cover.

Tips & Warnings

• Doilies can also be framed against dark matting for instant art.

• Don't forget about using doilies for their intended purpose, to protect wood and upholstery from damage.

• Do not put vintage doilies in your washing machine. Hand wash carefully and lay flat to dry if they need to be laundered before using in a project.