What can I do with three antique bowls?

Susan Peachey
by Susan Peachey

I have three lovely old bowls. I'm not very good at decorating ideas, so I'd love some community inspiration.

  15 answers
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on May 04, 2019

    Hi there, Sit pot plants in them, they'll look great! Cactus would be another good idea.

  • Holly Lengner - Lost Mom Holly Lengner - Lost Mom on May 04, 2019

    I think the one bowl looks cute with the thread in it. I like the above answer - adding plants/succulents is a cute idea. You can use the small bowl to hold jewelry or other small items. You can create a tiered tray with them.

    There are more ideas here:

    https://www.pinterest.com/KD4DovesNest/bowls-repurposed/?lp=true

  • Fiddledd224 Fiddledd224 on May 04, 2019

    I would empty them and display them on a shelf as a group just the way they are. They are lovely and artistic.

  • Elaine Elaine on May 04, 2019

    Arrange in a group using candleholders to elevate at three slightly different levels. They are lovely as they are.

  • Judy Ferry Rohlfing Judy Ferry Rohlfing on May 04, 2019

    I use seasonal decor in an old doughbowl I have - wooden apples, ceramic eggs, pine cones, Christmas ornaments, wooden blocks and hearts. My grandchildren notice the changed decor as soon as they come over! I like to have something that they can touch and explore. I love the spools!

  • Raychelle Stern Raychelle Stern on May 04, 2019

    Keep them and love them. They are beautiful!!

  • Mogie Mogie on May 04, 2019

    Wicker rattan balls are very popular now for use as decor. Just fill a bowl or two with them.

    https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rattan+looking+balls+for+decor&i=garden&ref=nb_sb_noss


  • JoAnne Marlow JoAnne Marlow on May 04, 2019

    If you have a Kuerig put kcups in at least one of them.


  • Jeanne Martin Jeanne Martin on May 04, 2019

    It's so funny you asked this...just a few weeks ago I decided I wanted colorful planters filled with flowers on my patio this summer. I painted lots of my old planters bright colors but I also used several of my antique bowls from my fairly large collection. (I love antique bowls!) I used a large blue crock bowl, a yellow ware bowl, a large green crock bowl and a couple of medium sized bowls. I put rocks in the bottom, added potting soil and planted several different flowers in them. I placed them around my other planters on my patio and they look great. Of course my flowers are small as I just planted them but if they look good now I know they will be gorgeous soon. I live alone, no grandchildren yet and I have a small older dog so no worries about them getting damaged unless Mother Nature decides she doesn't like them! (Storms)

    • Susan Peachey Susan Peachey on May 06, 2019

      I plant things in every interesting vessel I can find. Love plants! I'll probably plant succulents in one at least.

  • Barb Dean Barb Dean on May 04, 2019

    You could use one of them for a yarn basket if you crochet or knit, you already have thread in one and you could use the third for a button bowl.


    You could also attach tall, narrow candle holders inside them to make a graduated fruit tower, but I think that would ruin them because I agree that they're beautiful and you should keep them the way they are.


    As mentioned, you could set up a coffee station and use one for Kuerig cups, another for tea bags and the third for creamer/sugars packets or anything else you might need storage for.

  • Lyn Lyn on May 04, 2019

    Send them to me!!! They are gorgeous!!

  • Use them in the kitchen.

  • Sloante5 Sloante5 on May 05, 2019

    I don’t like things all the same height, so see if you can find a small plant stand or two to make them different heights. Then you could use them in a variety a ways - a centerpiece with fruit or flowering plants, a baking center - measuring cups in one, spatulas in one, whatever.

  • Brenda Coburn Bull Brenda Coburn Bull on May 05, 2019

    I have 3 also. The largest holds apples, the middle one bananas and the small one holds sweet potatoes.

  • Susan Peachey Susan Peachey on May 06, 2019

    Thank you all for your inspiration. How very kind you are.