Not Trays Or Plates: The Ornate Thrift Store Kitchen Item For Vintage Collage Walls

A collage wall is a great way to showcase your cherished moments and interests. However, if your display is mostly prints and frames, you might want to consider adding a little more variety. A bit of texture can make your gallery wall more trendy, and mirrors, trays, and plates can add some extra unique style. Instead of thinking big here, though, you might want to keep an eye out for something small. Find a bunch of vintage metal spoons and you can easily add more detail to your display; you could even make them the main focal point of your collage wall.

You may think that not a lot of people appreciate a good-looking spoon outside of the dinner table and the kitchen. But silverware can often boast intricate designs on handles, which can turn a simple spoon into an interesting artistic piece. Moreover, when fridge magnets and statement t-shirts weren't a thing yet, wealthy travelers in the 19th century collected souvenir spoons from the places they visited and displayed them on dedicated racks or cabinets. Fortunately, you don't have to be filthy rich to collect some fancy, vintage silverware these days. You could easily find them in thrift stores or estate sales at slashed prices, and even if they don't fit your collage wall, there are other great DIY ideas you can try with them.

Finding vintage spoons at thrift stores is one thing; picking out what you'll actually decorate your collage wall with is another. There are hundreds of different spoon designs to choose from, so ask yourself if you want to work with just one color, material, or design. For starters, you can get a set of vintage silver spoons adorned with handmade or textured patterns across their bodies. If you have wooden frames or earthy elements up on your gallery wall, some silver or brass spoons are fixed with wooden handles, allowing them to complement the decor. If you want colorful accents, you can look into painted, silver art deco spoons — or recreate them yourself with any thrifted spoon, some paint, and a brush.

From here, you can decide to place the vintage spoons around your gallery wall to add more detail, or you can allot some space (or even a whole other blank wall) for your collection to be displayed. Part of creating a perfect gallery wall involves a tinge of meticulous planning for your theme, and you should take that into account when positioning your spoons. Take your time finalizing your layout to decide whether you want to display your spoons vertically, arrange them into a grid, or create abstract shapes with other fine china. If you plan on directly affixing the spoons onto the wall, try plotting their placement first using small bits of painter's tape. Once you're satisfied with the initial look, mount the spoons with strong, double-sided tape or Velcro, and your ornate wall decor will be complete.