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My Summer Mantel Decor, Starring Vintage Enamelware
By Rachel
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I’m styling my vintage enamelware collection on the mantel for a whimsical summer look!
The mantel is a favorite area in my home to style for the seasons…especially summer! In my house, and I think in many others’, the mantel is a focal point of the living space. As such, I find it important to create displays that portray a story of the given season. This year, my enamelware collection takes center stage! With a blue, white, and yellow color palette, the look is collected, charming, and nostalgic for the long summer days ahead. I invite you to join me for the full reveal and find out how I spent absolutely nothing by using what I already had!
The Short Answer
Vintage enamelware is one of the most charming and unexpected choices for a summer mantel. The chippy patina, sunny colors, and nostalgic feel tell a story that brand new decor simply can’t. Here’s how to style it:
- Anchor each side of the mantel with your largest enamelware piece and fill with faux ferns for height
- Mix pitchers, teapots, and cups in a blue, white, and yellow palette for a cohesive look
- Layer in milk glass, antique books, and vintage art as supporting characters
- Balance the hard metal surfaces with soft touches like gingham ribbon or trailing greenery
Vintage Summer Decor: A Peek at What’s On the Mantel This Year
Before we dive in, let me share a little sneak peek at what you’ll be seeing throughout this post.
This vignette offers a softer, collected, cottage-meets-farmhouse feel. Every single piece was thrifted or found at an antique mall, giving this display deep meaning and soul.
The summer mantel is anchored by my growing vintage enamelware collection, layered in with stacks of antique books, a few pieces of milk glass, my beloved vintage marshmallow tin, and some lush faux ferns. The color palette feels fresh and summery without leaning patriotic, which was very intentional since the Fourth of July tends to pull everything red, white, and blue this time of year.
So, grab something nice to drink and let’s talk about it!
Why Vintage Enamelware Works So Well for Summer Mantel Decor
Enamelware is truly the most nostalgic summer decor that I own. I look forward to bringing it out each summer season because I just love the timeless charm that it exudes!
It adds to the free-spirited ambiance of the season and goes perfectly with summer-y things such as watermelon, gingham patterns, lemonade, and sun-kissed faces from days spent on the water.
Here are some other reasons as to why enamelware works well for summer:
- The colors! Blues, whites, and yellows feel inherently sunny and fresh without trying too hard.
- The chippy, worn texture adds soul and patina that brand new decor can’t replicate.
- Enamelware specifically is really good at story-telling without even trying. It makes a display come to life just how it’s supposed to!
- It’s unexpected on a mantel! Most people think kitchen, which is exactly what makes it so charming.
- Enamelware can easily be paired with other decor, vintage or not, and it will all seamlessly go together.
Shop a Curated Selection of Enamelware
My Summer Mantel Decor, Starring Vintage Enamelware
Let’s get into how I styled my mantel for the summer season! Here, I’ll go piece by piece and section by section, sharing what I used and why.
A Look at the Mantel-Piece by Piece
The Vintage Enamelware Collection
My enamelware collection is obviously the star of the show! I used pitchers, cups, and teapots in the corresponding blue, white, and yellow colorway. They were each arranged to tell a story AND to create visual interest.
On the left side of the mantel, I used my largest enamelware piece, a black and white kettle, in the very back for a dramatic effect. I set it atop a vintage wooden box for extra height. Filled with faux ferns that spill out over the sides, it creates a big punch with very little effort!
In the front, I paired a smaller yellow teapot with a few stacked white and blue cups. I adore the juxtaposition of the vivid yellow hue with the whites…it’s just the sunniest summer look!
Moving on to the right side, I tried to marry the look with a cohesive display, yet different in it’s own right.
Here, I utilized a white enamel pitcher and filled it with trailing greenery. Instead of using the exact same plant as on the left, the greenery mimics the look without being too ‘matchy’.
I then stacked two more blue and white cups to the left of the pitcher and a white teapot to the right, the same size as the yellow one. Utilizing four enamelware pieces on each side of the mantel unites them, giving off a cohesive summer look!
Other Vintage Decor Used On My Summer Mantel
The enamelware is the star but I also utilized a host of supporting characters to finish off the mantel display and help it to tell a story.
Vintage Books
I love to use antique and vintage books on my mantel. They add history and, truly, work with any seasonal display. Old books are versatile and timeless!
Stacking and lining them up creates a base and adds that layered, lived-in look. For the summer season, I used a host of books in blue hues to complement the enamelware and that are cohesive with the chosen color palette.
I varied the stacking of them…some being turned out with the pages showing, others turned in with the spines showing. Displaying books in this way offers a look that is character-rich and curated, almost like an old library!
Milk Glass
You probably know by now that I can’t style any type of seasonal vignette without using pieces of my milk glass collection! Milk glass stands out on it’s own but it’s also very good at playing a supporting role.
On the left side, I added a tall milk glass jar behind the books for a little extra height and depth. A small milk glass cup filled with yellow ranunculus anchors the yellow theme. To round it all out, I anchored the other end with a pair of candlesticks. The glow of the faux taper candles in the mirror is quite magical!
To help tie the yellow theme onto the right side of the mantel, I folded a thrifted yellow gingham napkin and stuck it inside a hobnail milk glass vase. A small milk glass cup fills an empty gap in the front.
The hobnail pattern on all of the milk glass pieces used ties each side together, creating a whimsical, vintage summer vibe!
The Vintage Marshmallow Tin
Ah yes…the charming wildcard!
This vintage marshmallow tin belonged to my mother-in-law. She gave it to me years ago because she wasn’t using it and, to this day, it’s still one of my most asked about vintage items!
I’ve never used it on the mantel, but this year, it was speaking to me. It was saying ‘pick me, pick me!’ So naturally, I listened. Paired with the enamelware, I liken the look to a quintessential summer cabin…it brings all the nostalgia!
Vintage Art
Vintage art is another decorative element that I love to include on every mantelscape. Art literally brings the whole display to life!
For this particular mantel display, I hung a ‘new’ thrifted art find on the wall on the left side of the mantel. Featuring bright yellow flowers, this vintage oil painting is literally the perfect piece for this summer’s aesthetic!
Then, on the right side, you probably already noticed the artwork that I tucked in behind the enamel pitcher.
It’s actually just a vintage print on a heavy piece of card stock but I LOVE it. The vivid colors of this summer farm scene remind me of my favorite fishing spot out in the country. It truly is the epitome of summer here in the Midwest!
Vintage Glass Jars
A couple of thrifted glass jars tucked into the display add just the right amount of summer charm. One green-blue glass jug donned with a yellow gingham ribbon and a tall blue jar holding a stem of faux lemons are simple yet humble pieces. Nestled in amongst the enamelware and milk glass, they feel intentional and right at home.
Clear glass lets the color story be as it is without adding any more ‘visual’ noise, which I just completely love!
Faux Ferns and Greenery
Plants and greenery cap off the display in such a zen way.
They bring in softness to balance out all the hard surfaces of metal and glass. Tucked elegantly into pitchers, the faux ferns add movement and that deep summertime, green grass vibe that we all know and love!
Styling Tips For an Enamelware Summer Mantel Display
Tip 1: When styling vignettes with vintage enamelware, mix sizes and shapes for the best visual variety. A tall pitcher next to a squat bowl or small cup creates a natural flow that is pleasing to the eyes.
Tip 2: Let the colors of the enamelware dictate your whole palette rather than forcing it to match existing decor. Meaning, instead of starting with your room’s existing colors and trying to find enamelware to match, flip the process. You are basically working with what you already have. The enamelware leads and everything else follows.
Tip 3: Balance the heavier, utilitarian feel of enamelware with softer elements like lace or gingham linens, greenery, or linen-covered books so the display doesn’t feel too rigid. It’s summer after all, which means breezy and carefree. When styling, let those adjectives become the whole display!
Tip 4: Don’t be afraid to mix and match the enamelware with unexpected pieces. From experience, the most charming mantel displays come from pairing un-like items together. Think vintage enamelware with: brass or copper, stoneware such as crocks, patterns such as toile or floral, or bright colored glass. The contrast is what gives a vignette personality!
Closing Tidbits on Summer Mantel Decor Vintage Enamelware
Reflecting on my mantel decorating this season, I’m just tickled that this collection came together one thrift store find at a time. It’s the thrill of the hunt that keeps me going and sourcing one-of-a-kind pieces that speak to my vintage-loving heart!
A completely fresh seasonal look doesn’t require buying anything new. However, I always keep an eye out for enamelware when I’m out thrifting…it’s still very findable and affordable. It’s timeless decor that can be used year after year, making it a versatile and worthwhile collection to curate.
Be encouraged to refresh your home for the sunny summer season, finding a care-free sense of living along the way. From my home to yours, happy summer!
Leave me comment! Do you have an enamelware collection? How do you like to decorate with it for summer? I love hearing from you!
Looking for more enamelware ideas? Check out this patriotic enamelware decorating.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Vintage Enamelware Summer Mantel Decor
Where is the best place to find vintage enamelware for decorating?
Thrift stores, estate sales, and antique malls are your best hunting grounds for vintage enamelware. I’ve found some of my best pieces at estate sales where entire kitchen collections are being sold off. Flea markets are also a goldmine, especially in the summer months. The key is patience because the hunt is half the fun!
How do I know if enamelware is truly vintage?
Genuine vintage enamelware will often show natural wear like light chipping, a slightly uneven glaze, and a heavier feel than modern reproductions. Look for maker’s marks on the bottom and avoid pieces that look too perfect or too bright — that’s usually a sign they’re newly made. I go into much more detail on this in my Enamel Everywhere post!
Can I mix enamelware with other decor styles on a mantel?
Absolutely! Enamelware is surprisingly versatile. In this display I mixed it with milk glass, vintage books, and faux ferns and they all play beautifully together. The key is sticking to a cohesive color palette so the different textures and styles feel intentional rather than cluttered.
Do I need a lot of enamelware pieces to make an impact on a mantel?
Not at all! Even three to five well-chosen pieces in complementary colors and varying heights can make a stunning statement. It’s really about the arrangement and what you pair them with, not the quantity.
How do I keep a summer mantel from feeling too heavy or dark?
Stick to a light, airy color palette — blues, whites, and yellows like I used here are perfect for summer. Incorporating greenery like faux ferns and lighter mixed materials like milk glass also helps keep the overall display feeling fresh and bright rather than weighty.
Other Posts to Enjoy
Sunny Summer Mantel Decor Ideas
Spring Mantel Decor with Milk Glass
Feeling a little unsure where to start with vintage decor?
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