Discover pretty thrifted flower containers, vintage vases, tea tins, teapots, pitchers and cottage floral inspiration too.
Hi Friends! Every once in a while, I think we should decorate simply because something is pretty…
Not because it solves a decorating problem. Not because it is a huge transformation. Not because it is the newest trend making its way around the internet…
Just because it makes us smile. Do I hear an resounding YES!!!
That is exactly how I feel about flowers tucked into thrifted containers. A pretty pitcher, an old tea tin, a vintage teapot or even a little basket can become something special with just a few flowers and a little imagination.
The next time you are wandering through a thrift store, do not only look in the vase section. Take a peek at the kitchen shelves, the baskets, the silver pieces and the little treasures that may have been waiting for a new purpose.
You may find the perfect flower container hiding in the most unexpected place.
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1A Tea Tin Filled With Flowers
I wanted to begin with this beautiful tea tin because it is such a showstopper. This particular tin was not thrifted, but it gives us the perfect little hint about all of the wonderful containers we should be watching for while we shop. Mary filled the tall tin with blue hydrangeas, pink roses, purple stock, white veronica and chamomile. The finished arrangement is proof that a beautiful tin can become just as lovely as a traditional vase.Source: Home Is Where the Boat Is
2A Thrifted Soup Tureen Filled With Flowers
A soup tureen may have been made for serving dinner, but it makes an absolutely beautiful foundation for a floral centerpiece. This thrifted tureen became a warm seasonal arrangement filled with greenery, dried flowers, pumpkins and natural texture. I love the reminder that soup tureens, bowls, baskets and other larger containers can all become beautiful decorating pieces with a little creativity.Source: WM Design House
3A Collection of Thrifted Ironstone Pitchers
There is something timeless about a collection of vintage ironstone pitchers. Rachel shares helpful ideas for identifying ironstone while thrifting, along with several pretty ways to display it around the home. One of my favorite ideas is grouping pitchers of different heights and filling them with fresh flowers and herbs. A single pitcher can make a statement, but a small collection creates an especially charming cottage centerpiece.Source: The Ponds Farmhouse
4Three Little Thrifted Treasures
This is such a sweet reminder that flower arrangements do not need to be large to be beautiful. A silver jewelry box, a vintage cup and a pretty goblet each become tiny vessels for delicate flowers. I love the idea of using several small arrangements together or giving one as a thoughtful gift. Sometimes the tiniest little treasure brings the most charm.Source: French Country Cottage
5Pitchers, Dishes, Pots, Buckets and Bottles
This collection is full of wonderful ideas for finding inexpensive flower containers while thrifting. Pretty pitchers, ironstone dishes, pots, buckets, bottles and jars can all be transformed into simple floral displays. I especially love the reminder that one grocery store bouquet can be divided between several smaller vessels. A few flowers in a collection of bottles can create a beautiful table without needing a large, expensive arrangement.Source: Robyn’s French Nest
6Vintage Watering Cans Filled With Garden Flowers
Vintage watering cans are one of those thrift store finds that can be useful and beautiful at the same time. Here, a galvanized watering can is filled with colorful spring flowers and loose garden branches. The relaxed arrangement feels natural and cheerful. It is the kind of display that would look just as lovely beside a garden gate as it would on a kitchen table.Source: Everyday Living
7A Repurposed Tea Kettle
This little tea kettle had definitely seen better days when it was found for just a few dollars. After cleaning, painting and adding pretty botanical transfers, it became a completely different piece. The floral arrangement tucked inside gives the kettle a whole new purpose. This is such a fun example of how a thrifted find does not have to be perfect when you bring it home. Sometimes it simply needs a little love.
8Spring Flowers in a Vintage Vase
This beautiful tutorial is a lovely reminder that a vintage vase does not need an elaborate arrangement to shine. A few fresh stems, some greenery and a relaxed hand are really all you need. I also love the thought of using different types of vessels depending on the mood you want to create. A pitcher feels casual, a compote feels a little more elegant and an old coffee pot feels wonderfully unexpected.Source: Hen and Horse Design
9Spring Flowers in Vintage Tins
Decorative tins may be one of the prettiest treasures to find at a thrift store or flea market. Their colors, patterns and little bits of age make them beautiful even before you add a single flower. There is one very helpful tip to remember here… old tins are usually not watertight. A small glass or wide mouthed vase tucked inside will hold the water and protect the tin. For tiny arrangements, a florist’s water pick works beautifully too.Source: Three Dogs in a Garden
10Teapot Bouquets for a Pretty Table
Teapots filled with flowers are always charming, but a collection of them arranged together is especially pretty. This lakeside table uses several teapots and teacups filled with flowers to create a relaxed garden party feeling. You could use this idea for a spring luncheon, a Mother’s Day table or simply a pretty afternoon tea at home. There is no reason to wait for a special occasion when the arrangement itself brings so much happiness.Source: Home Is Where the Boat Is
11A Vintage Teapot Floral Centerpiece
This beautiful wedding centerpiece has a romantic, whimsical feeling that would be easy to bring into a home setting. A vintage teapot filled with flowers becomes the perfect centerpiece for a small table, a tea party or a cozy cottage gathering. The arrangement does not feel too formal. It feels collected, natural and just a little bit magical.Source: The Knot
12A Cluster of Mismatched Bud Vases
This idea shows how a group of small, mismatched containers can work together beautifully. Different shapes, heights and textures are gathered into one floral cluster, with each little vase holding its own bloom or two. You do not need hundreds of vases to recreate the look at home. A small collection of thrifted bud vases arranged down the center of a table would be just as charming.Source: South House Designs
13A Vintage Basket Filled With Flowers
A basket brings a softer, more natural texture to a flower display. This vintage basket is styled with white flowers, faux greenery and a few pretty seasonal touches. Although this is more of a basket vignette than a traditional vase arrangement, it is a lovely reminder that flowers can be part of a larger display. A basket, a pitcher, a blanket and a few collected treasures can create such a welcoming corner.Source: White Arrows Home
14Thrifted Vases as Wedding Centerpieces
This wedding table is a beautiful example of how mismatched thrifted vases can look intentional and collected. The different shapes and sizes add personality, while the flowers bring everything together. You do not have to match every container to create a pretty display. In fact, the little differences are often what make the arrangement feel special.Source: The Knot
15Always Look at the Vases While Thrifting
This quick bit of inspiration says something I completely agree with… always take a second look at the vases when you are thrifting. You never know when an unusual shape, pretty color or wonderful old pattern will become the perfect home for a few flowers. Even a simple bouquet can look completely different depending on the vessel you choose.Source: Instagram Inspiration
16A Thrifted Pitcher Filled With Flowers
This sweet thrifted pitcher is another lovely example of how a simple find can become part of a beautiful home. The flowers bring the pitcher to life, while the pitcher gives the arrangement a little more personality than an ordinary glass vase. It is such an easy idea to try with something you already have at home.Source: Instagram Inspiration
A Few Things to Remember While Thrifting
When you are looking for flower containers, try to notice the shape and character of each piece before thinking about its original purpose.
A pretty bowl may become a centerpiece. A teapot may become a flower vase. An old tin may hold a tiny bouquet. A watering can may bring garden charm to the kitchen.
If a container is not watertight, simply tuck a smaller glass inside. Wide openings can be helped with a little floral tape or chicken wire, and narrow containers may hold flowers beautifully without much extra support.
You can use fresh flowers, grocery store flowers, faux stems, dried flowers, branches or anything blooming in your own yard. There really is no perfect way to do it…
The prettiest arrangements often look a little gathered, a little relaxed and completely personal.
Just Because It Is Pretty
There is something wonderful about bringing home a thrifted piece simply because you love it. Maybe it is the color. Maybe it is the shape. Maybe it reminds you of something your grandmother had in her kitchen…
And then, one day, you fill it with flowers.
That is when the little treasure becomes part of your home.
So the next time you visit the thrift store, keep your eyes open for the unexpected pieces. Look at the tins, the pitchers, the teapots, the baskets and the little containers tucked away on the shelves.
You may come home with a beautiful vase…
Or you may come home with something that was never meant to be a vase at all.
BIG HUGS To all!!!! … Andrea
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