The '70s Style Blanket Holder You'd Be Lucky To Find At The Thrift Store

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If you've noticed that nostalgia decor has been making a comeback lately, you're not alone. Styles from the decades before us are seemingly always seeping into today's interior design trends. For the '70s in particular, you can always count on the culturally significant era to find its way back. It's because of all the ways you can reimagine this time period's pieces that vintage home decor has been kept alive and sought out at the thrift store. Such is the case with a once-popular brass blanket holder. With a few minor tweaks, you can transform this piece into a modern staple.

From a historical context, the '70s were an experimental era when it came to interior design innovations. Mid-century modern decor favored simplicity and practicality, and they were often subtle in order to combine function and style. Such can be said about storage solutions, including a brass blanket holder, which simply holds your linens without being too busy or maximalist. At the same time, brass was a popular metal in the '70s, a decade when warmth and bold expression were starting to take shape. You can modify the brass detail with some help from spray paint and installing different hardware to make it more personal and current-looking.

Aesthetically speaking, there are different ways to reimagine your vintage blanket holder so that it will blend seamlessly into your modern decor. For one, consider applying oil-based spray paint to the aging metal. A black matte finish looks stunning and simple against neutral colors. A glossy cream or white, on the other hand, has a similar effect in modern interiors but will look brighter and more inviting and can also complement more traditional-style decor. For a more updated look, it's worth considering replacing the rack ends with sleeker ones instead. 

However, note that vintage brass with a natural patina is worth preserving. Its aging appearance can give a space a more curated, personal feel. Plus, mixing old and new elements is a great design tactic to create visual depth, nuance, and intrigue. A beautiful brass blanket holder can be paired with complementary hardware in a space, such as bathrooms or bedrooms, with brass knobs or pulls.

Next time you're at the thrift store, you'll want to keep your eyes peeled in the home furniture section for a standing rack, often with four legs, with a brass finish. Don't forget to check in overlooked sections, like the miscellaneous aisles. If you're still striking out, the good news is you may have better luck with online marketplaces, like Chairish or eBay, or visiting an estate sale.

This vintage piece has a variety of functions beyond holding your blankets. It's a perfect addition to bathrooms for additional towel storage. Hang clothes to dry, or use them as a clothes valet to sort your wardrobe for the day. Perfect for small spaces, you can also use this functional blanket holder to hold handbags or clothes on hangers. Beyond that, they can also be used as quirky design elements to drape magazines or decorative books to capture that vintage, old-school feel.