A shift toward more casual living gradually reshaped the American home; walls came down, dining rooms disappeared, and somewhere along the way, we stopped decorating with silver.
Silver has been considered elegant and formal. We often think of it as being reserved for special occasions, but in older homes, silver was simply used.
I don’t think silver ever stopped belonging in our homes; we simply forgot how to live with it. It’s time to reconsider how silver lives in our everyday lives.
Decorating with Silver in the Everyday Home
With the shift towards a more casual culture, silver pieces were discarded as people asked themselves, “When would I ever use this?” I think a better question is, “How are you going to use it?” The solution for how to decorate with silver is to find an everyday use.
Silver shouldn’t be kept at a distance up on a shelf or behind china cabinet doors. It should be touched, appreciated, and used as interactive pieces in your daily life.
When we stop looking at silver pieces as objects to be perfectly preserved, and we embrace their natural patina, the possibilities become endless for using silver in home décor.
The Working Kitchen: Where Silver Feels Most Natural
Decorating with silver starts in the kitchen. You’re probably not having guests over for a formal tea service, but you can still use those pieces in new ways to fit your lifestyle.
Sugar bowls can be repurposed to hold loose tea or kitchen twine. A petite creamer makes the perfect vase for small flowers picked in the garden.
Silver bowls that were once reserved for main dishes function perfectly for holding fruit, herbs, or other frequently used kitchen items.
Silver should be embraced in everyday spaces. It’s not a thing of the past.
Beyond the Dining Table: Unexpected Ways to Use Silver
The dining room was where we would’ve found the most abundant displays of silver. Today, those same pieces are used in new, creative ways when we incorporate vintage silver décor in our homes.
Trays that once held entrees become layering pieces on counters or islands. They’re designated places to organize everyday items like your coffee accoutrements or spice jars.
Silver doesn’t need its original purpose to be useful. A footed bowl becomes a beautiful vessel for holding fruit or a seasonal collection, like ornaments.
On the other hand, we can reinvent a silver piece that was never meant for the dining room, such as a trophy, and fill it with beautiful flowers for a centerpiece.
Decorating with Silver in Living Spaces
Decorating with silver in living spaces is successful when it is blended with other objects, rather than being used as a featured object.
A coffee table is undoubtedly beautiful when layered with a silver tray topped with candles, books, and matches. Your side table is perfect for a silver bowl that acts as a catch-all for everyday items.
Silver is easily incorporated into home décor by mixing materials. The formality of the metal is toned down by mixing it with other materials like wood, linen, glass, or even paper objects like books.
Mixing Old and New: How Vintage Silver Works in Modern Homes
A more modern and relaxed aesthetic is achieved by avoiding the tendency to match each piece with another. Silver pieces can be mismatched or stand on their own.
Vintage silver décor is modernized by intentionally pairing it with modern pieces. Silver candle holders with black taper candles or a silver tray topped with a modern piece of art are examples of how to blend different styles when decorating with silver.
Find Pieces to Use, Not Just Display
You will find silver pieces in antique stores, thrift stores, and estate sales. Silver pieces, which were unremarkably lurking in the background, will now jump out at you, ready to be found.
Check your silver pieces for damage before purchasing them. If silver plated pieces are polished too harshly, there will be places where the silver has been removed. Check for wobbly candleholders or broken feet. Damages like that are difficult to repair.
Once you find pieces to love, let your imagination flow on how to use them in your home.
A collected home comes together when we buy with intention. Choose pieces you’ll use in your home and avoid buying for the sake of buying.
A More Collected Way of Decorating with Silver
At some point, we forgot that beautiful objects weren’t just for guests; they are for us to enjoy in our homes as well. Vintage silver is meant for everyday use.
So, here’s your permission slip: Start with one silver piece that you love and incorporate it into your daily life. You deserve to have a bit of elegance in your own home.
There’s more to explore, try these articles next:
Patterns & Patina: How to Layer Like a Southerner
How to Style Vintage Blue and White China for Summer Entertaining