The Decades-Old Vintage Coffee Tins You Should Be Looking For When Thrift Shopping

It seems that vintage finds are the big "décor trend" at the moment, and for good reason. With so many designers as well as consumers touting the nostalgic, personalized vibes within a home, using antique pieces can really elevate your space. There are so many sought after antique home items to keep an eye out for, so you just need to find what works for yours. However, one piece to search for when you're visiting your local thrift store is a vintage coffee can, particularly rare big brands like Folgers Golden Gate Hawaiian and Steeple Chase. Not only do these offer a very unique and stylish element to any room, but they could be valuable, too, worth hundreds of dollars. Upcycling them into anything from a vase to storage to décor is a great way to display them, but there are so many ways to repurpose an empty coffee container that you won't ever run out of ideas.

When it comes to finding these old vintage coffee cans, it's about more than just buying a rusty or faded tin. Golden Gate Hawaiian and Steeple Chase are vintage tins you should keep an eye out for at thrift stores as they feature intricate designs on their exterior, making them much more elevated than common modern brands. Because of this, they make great home décor, especially in the form of upgraded storage, either in your kitchen, dining room, or even the living room.

You could use one of these to hold your coffee pods, as they would work well in your coffee bar to add dimension and even a pop of color depending on which brand you find. However, they can also work to store electrical cords or even to clear off your countertops. What really makes these coffee tins so ideal for home décor is the fact that you don't really need to do much to upgrade them. The vintage finish along with any wear makes them even more antique and special. 

Regardless of what you decide to use your vintage coffee tin for, make sure to give it a little TLC when you get it home. This could be simply wiping it down with a clean towel, or you may need to scrub it to remove residue and rust that has accumulated. It's not a good idea to keep food items in some of these in case they are too rusty, but they make for great storage for everything from sewing kits to coins and more, too.

If you prefer to use these containers elsewhere, your garden is a great place to keep them. As the trend of repurposing old watering cans continues to grow, so does the idea of adding vintage pieces to your yard to elevate the layout. If you find one of these containers that has a large opening on the top, you could actually use this as a planter, although it's always a good idea to consider the materials the tin was made with to ensure it won't be detrimental to the soil.

You don't have to use these as planters, though. By simply combining them with various other vintage collectibles, you could create a little area in your garden to display them grouped together or place them among various flowers. If you prefer to make them more useful, why not add gardening tools and reuse them as storage? Should you buy a coffee tin that's not as valuable, you could put a few holes in the bottom and make it a compost bin, too.