Store, Stack & Display Vintage Dishes in an Antique Cobblers Rack

Are you looking for new and interesting ways to display, stack, and store vintage dishes and collectibles? How about using an old cobbler’s rack like this one?

I’ve been seeing quite a few of these old cobbler racks at antique shops, secondhand stores, and estate sales as of late. And if you’re really lucky you can score one for $200 or less.

I found this petite antique cobbler rack at an estate sale over the Memorial Day weekend.

Isn’t it so cute?

You may read more on how I came to find it and even what I paid for it in the post, Baby Adidas, Petite Cobbler Rack, & Watercolor Ski Drawings.

It’s shorter and less wide than the old cobbler racks that I usually come across. And this is the third one I have purchased, haha.

See the other two in the posts, Step Up Your Home Decor Style with a Vintage Cobbler Rack and Vintage Booth Winter Window Display.

This post may contain affiliate links, which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

How to Store and Display Vintage Dishes

One of the most frequently asked questions that I get is how and where I store all of the vintage dishes that I find and collect while out “Thrifting with the Gals“.

• First, I use these 6 Piece Quilted Dinnerware Storage Bags and store many of my dishware collections in an old pine hutch that we keep in the dining room.

• Second, I store and display vintage dishes that we use daily in unfinished wood dish racks that I have painted white. (You know those unfinished wood stores that you see around? That’s where I found the ones I have). See more in the post, Winter White Farmhouse Kitchen.

• Number three is what I’d like to share with you here today. How to display, stack, and store vintage dishes and collectibles using an antique cobblers rack.

Is a Vintage Dish Display a Good Idea?

Vintage dish displays are always a good idea, in my opinion! Vintage dishes work well in displays in so many ways! Here are a few ways to stack, store, and display your dishes;

• Stack dishes on top of cake stands.
• Line dishes up in a Thrifted Wooden Toolbox.
• Gather dishes in a basket on a table.
• Stack and display dishes on your bookshelves or open kitchen shelving.
• DIY or buy your own vintage wooden dish racks like the ones in this post.
• Display dishes around your outdoor spaces.
• Present your favorite antique collectibles on a wall.
• And how about a Very Simple Vintage Plates and Windows DIY?
• Don’t forget about that unused wedding china too.
• And one of my all-time favorites are these Dishy Kitchen Hooks You Can DIY in Minutes.

You may also enjoy the post, 11 Creative Ideas to Display Your Vintage Collections.

A Step-By-Step Guide: Dishes and Antique Cobblers Racks

Decorating an antique cobblers rack with dishes can add a charming and eclectic touch to your space.

1. Thoroughly Clean the Cobblers Rack: ensuring it’s free of dust and dirt. If the rack has any loose or chipped paint, consider whether you want to keep the vintage look or repaint it for a fresh appearance.
2. Choose a Theme or Color Palette: decide on a theme or color palette for your dish display. Vintage, rustic, or farmhouse themes often work well with cobbler racks.
3. Select Dishes: choose a mix of dishes that complement the overall theme. Consider vintage or antique plates, bowls, and cups. You can go for a cohesive look with matching dishes or embrace an eclectic style with a mix of patterns and colors.
4. Arrange Dishes Creatively: arrange the dishes on the cobbler rack in a visually appealing way. Consider alternating plate sizes and interspersing bowls and cups for variety. Play with different heights by using cake stands or small boxes to elevate certain dishes.
5. Add Decorative Elements: enhance the display with decorative elements such as vintage teacups, small figurines, or unique trinkets. Consider incorporating greenery or flowers in small vases for a touch of freshness.
6. Balance and Symmetry: aim for a balanced look by evenly distributing dishes and decorative items across the rack. Achieve symmetry by placing similar items on each side or creating a central focal point.
7. Utilize Different Textures: mix in textures to add interest. Consider incorporating wooden cutting boards, woven placemats, or textured linens beneath certain dishes.
8. Consider Functionality: if the cobbler rack is in your kitchen, arrange functional items like vintage utensils, mugs, or small kitchen tools alongside the dishes.
9. Hang or Display Utensils: if there are hooks or spaces for hanging on the cobbler rack, consider hanging vintage utensils or kitchen tools for added charm.
10. Adjust and Rearrange: step back and assess the overall look. Feel free to adjust and rearrange until you achieve the desired aesthetic.

Let’s Store, Stack, and Display Vintage Dishes!

Choose your favorite colors.

Today I’m going with blues and greens for the summer.

Starting with these blue dishes that I found last summer thrifting. See more in the post, Just 4 Blue Dishes on the 4th of July.

Neutral-colored dishes with burnt oranges and greens would be spectacular in the fall, and maybe all soft blues in the wintertime, or all winter whites. Oh my goodness, so many possibilities!

Next up I collected all the vintage green dishware patterns I had from around the home.

FRIENDLY TIP: Cake stands are a favorite for stacking dishes. They come in all different sizes and make great display foundations for headlining old dishes.

You may also enjoy the Country Estate Sale Near Me This Weekend post.

Do you remember this simple green and white stack of vintage platters that I found in Maine a couple of weeks ago? See more in the post, The Best Vintage Garden Variety Market.

Well, now they are splendidly multilayered on this petite cobblers rack in the breakfast nook.

Next, I decided to gather and add some colorful thrifted glassware.

The whole idea of this cobbler rack in the breakfast nook is to display home decor accessories that are easily accessible for one to quickly grab to sit and enjoy a self-serving breakfast or lunch.

FRIENDLY TIP: Acquire a collection of faux fruit. Faux fruit is ideal for accenting little bowls and plates while displaying vintage dishes. I call them “necessary fillers”.

This is a tip I learned from my mother, and all the faux fruit I’m displaying was originally hers. She always had bowls and bowls of faux fruits scattered around the home. It also adds a nice touch of color and warmth to a room, I think.

A collection of artificial wooden fruits also make beautiful home accents.

These faux green grapes sit pretty in a few glass apple bowls that I found at a yard sale last summer in the cobblers rack.

And just as I took a step back to see how things were coming along, in popped Ella, front, and center…

Oh, have you seen Gesine Bullock-Prado’s new cookbook, My Vermont Table yet?

I attended Gesine’s cooking school at her home in Vermont last fall, see more in the post, Sugar Glider Kitchen School with Gesine Bullock-Prado of “Baked in Vermont”, Insights from a Novice.

Farmer’s market peonies in a vintage spongeware vase brighten up this little breakfast nook corner on top of the antique cobblers rack.

By combining vintage charm with creative dish arrangements, you can turn a vintagecobbler rack into a unique and eye-catching decor piece in your home.

Thanks so much for joining me today in storing, stacking, and displaying vintage dishes. I hope you’ll join me again next time when it’s time to switch it all up again!

I’m so glad you dropped by, and if you are new to my blog, welcome! I hope you enjoyed your visit with us here today at our Home in Vermont.

Be sure also to check out our Home in Coastal Maine where we spend summers and weekends when we are craving a walk on the beach or a visit with old friends.

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