How to Decorate With Antique Potholders
Displaying antique potholders is characteristic of many decorating schemes, among them country, shabby chic, bohemian modern, retro '50s, primitive, Americana, French country, cottage and cabin. Incorporate vintage potholders and other linens into your rooms to give them a homespun, rustic look. You can use various types of racks, shelves, hooks and projects to make antique potholders an integral part of your interior decor. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Paint
- Vinegar
- Woolite
- Hooks
- Hanging hardware
- Shelves
- Fishing line
- Frames
- Drill
- Hammer
- Nails
- Clothespins
Instructions
-
-
1
Prepare a backdrop for displaying antique potholders. If you want to hang them from a wall or a shelf, clean and finish the surface. Select a neutral hue that will not overpower the faded hues and patterns of antique potholders. Cream, stone gray, rosy gray, sand, pale yellow or barely blue work as neutral backdrops. You also can opt to finish a wall or shelf in brick, stone or wide plank wooden panels before displaying pot holders.
-
2
Clean or refresh antique pot holders. Spot clean sturdier textiles with a mild detergent, such as Woolite, and warm water, or apply to spots or stains a cotton swab with a solution of one part white vinegar and one part warm water. Hang pot holders on a clothesline in indirect sunlight to freshen them.
-
-
3
Attach hanging hardware to surfaces. Wrought iron pot racks, hooks or knobs have a bold look, while blond wood or white ceramic finishes on hooks and knobs have a cleaner, modern effect. Hang a wooden mantel or attach brackets to support a floating wall shelf on stone or brick walls. You can use special drill bits to attach hanging hardware into the wall or attach the mantel or floating shelf to wooden surfaces near the brick or stone. Add hooks or knobs to mantels or shelves for hanging potholders.
-
4
Consider alternatives to hanging antique potholders. For a countrified look, line an open shelf, cabinet or flat surface of a sideboard with antique potholders. Display them in low, wide wicker trays and baskets, or have them peek out of dishware and ceramic bowls. Use artist's putty to gently attach corners of potholders to the backing of shelves.
-
5
Showcase your favorite antique potholders. Rather than bury your treasures amid a sea of other vintage textiles, set them apart. Place a set of four favorites in a linen mat and frame it. Use light-filtering glass and keep the frame out of direct light so that the patterns and colors do not fade.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
For a casual look, string a fishing line across a wall or a corner and hang potholders with clothespins.
If you have many vintage potholders, you can use them to make a patchwork quilt or seat cushions.
