Every House Had Them In The '60s, Now They're A Thrift Store Gem For Entryways

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If you could travel back in time and visit a 1960s living room, there's one item you're going to find on almost every coffee table that you rarely see today — a smoked amber glass ashtray. It was a different time, and smoking was yet to be declared unhealthy. It wasn't unusual for a home to have at least one ashtray, even if the occupants weren't smokers themselves. Since few people smoke indoors nowadays, ashtrays are no longer common household decor. However, just like the '60s planter we want in our gardens (the concrete ones), these retro glass accessories are fast becoming a gem worth hunting for on thrift store shelves. They're perfect decorative catch-alls for entryway consoles and kitchen island countertops.

Mid-century glassware is trending right now — think Murano glass and vintage Pyrex. The humble 1960s smoked amber glass ashtray is fast turning into a collectable item. Designer dishes sell for hundreds of dollars on antique auction sites. The most common ashtrays were square and had an indentation in each corner for a cigarette. Other shapes were around, too, from round to hexagonal. The Soreno amber glass ashtray by U.S. glass manufacturer Anchor Hocking featured a rippling or wave-like pattern. Next time you're at the thrift store, keep your eyes peeled for a bargain, or head to reseller sites like Etsy and eBay. Then repurpose it in your home for something other than smoking — after a good clean, of course.

If you do need to clean your new-to-you amber glass ashtray, use a soft cloth and mild dish soap or, at most, some household vinegar. Avoid steel wool or abrasive cleaners, which can scratch the glass. Once good as new, these ashtrays are perfect for displaying in your entryway on a side table or a shelf. Use the bowl to hold keys, coins, or other small items that tend to accumulate at the front door. This keeps the area organized and adds a quirky, vintage vibe to what's typically a bland space. Welcome guests into your home on festive occasions or family get-togethers with a '60s ashtray filled with selected treats from a Retro Candy Yum 1966 Nostalgic Candy Mix. It could also be a creative way to arrange and display an old matchbook collection around the house for those who collect vintage memorabilia.

Another great — and, arguably, quite appropriate — use for amber glass ashtrays is as candle or incense holders. The bowl is perfect for catching dripping wax or falling ash. Place one under a small pot plant to stop excess water ruining your coffee table or fireplace mantel. Better yet, use a big ashtray — some are as large as 10 inches across — as a succulent planter. Just fill the bowl with some Toypopor Horticultural Lava Pebbles and pop in a few plants. If you wear jewelry that you take off overnight or when you get home for the day, pop a glass ashtray on your bathroom vanity or your bedroom dresser as a catch-all. If you catch the collecting bug, don't worry. There are near-endless clever ways to repurpose unused ashtrays around your home. Get creative!