Displaying Vintage Tablecloths

Do you like to collect vintage tablecloths? Me, too! I'm partial to ones with colorful fruit or flower designs. At every opportunity, I'll spread out a cloth on my kitchen table, in the dining room, on a side table, or I'll tote one along on a picnic. And I'm always looking for ways to store my collection and display it at the same time.

This vintage ladder sits in a corner of my studio. It's covered in chippy blue paint and I love how it is wider at the bottom and narrows toward the top. Four of my favorite tablecloths hang neatly from it just because they are so pretty to look at.

Most of my collection resides on the bottom two shelves of my kitchen's pie safe. These tablecloths and tea towels are within easy reach. Plus, they are always on display through the cabinet's glass doors and side panels. When these linens are neatly folded and stacked, the little pattern bits that are visible provide an enticing hint of their pretty designs.

This old towel rack does a good job of displaying vintage textiles. I used it at my former antiques shop where it held everything from tablecloths to chenille comforters. At the store, I liked to group linens by color or pattern for more impact. And it's so easy to change them up for a new look. A rack like this not only makes the cloths very accessible, it turns them into wall art. (By the way, the linens shown on the rack are, or will be, for sale in my Etsy shop soon.)

What are your favorite ways to display vintage tablecloths?

Susan

Comments

[terry]

ah, vintage tablecloths are my weakness. love yours. my great grandma gave me her antique hope chest along with some of her tablecloths. i always keep one on my table. my growing collection is in my buffet and on a childs vintage plastic clothes drying rack.

[massage table sheets]

How much do you spend for your collection? It seems that you have a lot of table cloth. I guess you love table cloth with colorful flower prints.

[Lisa]

Wonderful idea! I need to find an old ladder, I want a corner like yours. :)

[georgiapeachez]

My favorite is to just stack them on an open shelf so you can see the folded ends, like in your pie safe. Love it!
xo, suzy

[kimberly shaw]

Your tablecloth collection is amazing and you've displayed them beautifully. I'm inspired! I'm hopping over to your etsy shop where I'm hoping to find the tablecloth with the little pink rosebuds, adorable!

[Black Eyed Susans Kitchen]

Beautiful! They were all very good ideas...and making me think that I will pull some of my favorites out of the closet and put them on display.
♥, Susan

[Elizabeth Holcombe]

SO inspiring! I need to do something with my tablecloths and you've inspired me!~~XXOO, Beth

[Mom Wald]

Nicely done! It's a shame when people have a beautiful collection and keep it hidden in a closet. Thank you for showing people the wonderful things that can be done while "they're waiting their turn".

[Kim]

I just love the look of them on the ladder & the hanging rack. Such a cheerful display!

[Sandy]

Susan,
I just love vintage and repro tablecloths....I am going to put some on a rack in my laundry room, but I need to get a piece like your pie safe, but it has to be on the small side...I have mine stashed away in a closet...no fun!!!!! Thanks for this post, it was fun!

[GardenofDaisies]

I love vintage tablecloths too. I especially love those with a lot of blue or green in them. I keep mine folded in a large basket in the dining room.

[Anna]

They are beautiful. Vintage tablecloths are too pretty to be stored in a closet or drawer!

[Brenda Kula]

Oh my word! Made my heart go pitter-patter. For I ADORE vintage tablecloths. Wish I could find a ladder like that.
Brenda

[Janet]

What a gorgeous display! So many tablecloths... you are a lucky girl.

[Elsie]

Susan~ mine are stacked on my tall
pot rack in the corner of my kitchen. Some are hanging on my
oven and some on my Hoosier. I
love vintage linens they are my
downfall. I have a lot that was
my mom's and I have collected a
lot too. I love the cherry one
on your ladder. I just knew you
were going to say it was in your
esty...oh well maybe next time.:O)

[April]

So pretty!! Thanks for sharing.

[Carol @ Old Glory Cottage]

I am in love with that corner of your studio! And that tablecloth with the tumbling strawberries is gorgeous. After reading this post, it's obvious that I need to start displaying my collection instead of storing them somewhere that they can't be seen and enjoyed every day, like yours!