Decorating a Hutch with Vintage Patriotic Style
Tips and ideas for using inexpensive, everyday items to decorate a hutch for the summer, July 4th and all the patriotic occasions and festivities 💖💙
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Summer decorating shouldn't be expensive or difficult! Today I'm excited to
share with you some
personal tips for decorating a hutch with patriotic style, but we're not going to spend a lot of money! In fact, I spent less than $5
to decorate my hutch! The trick is to pull from items that you already own and
bring them together to create a similar look and feel.
I love using red, white and blue for summer because it feels like a no
brainer! From late May until September, there are so many patriotic holidays,
memorials and celebrations. It just seems logical to decorate once and leave
it out all summer!
BUT, I know some of you don't live in the USA, or you don't really like
decorating with the colors of your flag because you love neutrals, or whatever
else. Regardless of your style and preference, I'm sure you'll be able to use
some of the tips I'm including below, to decorate a hutch or china cabinet in
a way that feels intentional and purposeful.
Tips for decorative a patriotic hutch without spending a lot of moolah
Tip #1: Decorate with flags
This tip is #1 for a reason! It's really
the only actual piece of Americana that I used to decorate my
hutch and wall cubby! The rest is just an illusion, and I'll explain more as
we go along. Adding a flag or two adds instant patriotic style! Here I've
tucked
small flags from Walmart
into vintage milk glass vases.
Tip #2: Decorate with plates
If you've followed me for a minute, you'll know how much I love
vintage dishes. I have quite a collection of white ironstone and blue transferware as well
as a few red transferware pieces. Rather than thinking of a china hutch as a
utilitarian piece of furniture to corral your china and simply stuffing the
dishes into the china cabinet, I like to decorate to add interest. I layer the
pieces, starting with platters at the back, then larger pitchers, and smaller
pieces in front.
Because my dishes are
red, white and blue, they work seamlessly to set that patriotic mood! In my primitive pine
hutch, I've mixed all three colors together to amplify the patriotic setting.
I think of it as eye candy, because there's so many goodies to look at! Your
eye wants to linger.
Throwing the doors of the hutch open not only invites guests to take a peek,
but is a more enjoyable way to appreciate your own collection!
Tip #3: Decorative with napkins
Looking around for something red to add to my hutch, I remembered my napkins!
I grabbed them, rolled them and tucked them into different pieces inside my
hutch. This is such a simple way to make a collection look more casual but
also to add color! If you don't have napkins, I love using
fat quarters. You can buy singles at Walmart and the craft store, or
bundles on Amazon
for less than $10! Roll them up and use them the same way! Or drape a napkin
over the edge of a bowl or casserole dish as I've done here.
Tip #4: Use vintage pieces
I've been scouring thrift stores for years and building an amazing collection
of vintage dishes. You may just be getting started. Raid your mom or grandma's
hutch for vintage goodies (like milkglass, blue mason jars, ironstone and
transferware).
Even if you're using your everyday white dishes, adding just a select few
vintage pieces will really change the look!
Decorator idea: Hosting the 4th? Set up a dessert bar or drinks bar and use vintage blue mason jars to hold straws, plastic cutlery, stir sticks, etc
Just a single blue mason jar can add vintage style to any collection.
Tip #5: Add a quilt
I love quilts, they add that homey, cottage grandma look that we all love from
movies like Father of the Bride.
Last year I found this red patchwork quilt on sale at Kohl's. It's obviously
not vintage, but it has the look (see similar here). No one would ever know that it's a Christmas quilt and the back of it has
Santas on skis!! It's perfect for my July 4th hutch, I folded it and hung it
over the top of my open hutch door.
Tip #6: Don't forget the TOP of your hutch!
While you're decorating, add something interesting to the top of your hutch as
well. I actually removed the decorative piece at the top of this hutch (I'll
show you what I did with it in a minute), so that you could see the picnic
basket, pitcher and rustic crate with platters better. If you'd like to see
what the hutch looks like with the decorative top piece,
click here.
Over in my kitchen, after hanging my
repurposed craft wall cubby
up, I set the decorative trim piece from the pine cabinet on top to get it out
of the way, and ended up loving the look! It reminds me a little of an eagle
with it's wings spread, and feels just right! I don't know if it will stay
here long term, but for now it's perfect!
Tip #7: Think outside the box
Looking for another few pieces to add to my cubby, I rifled through my
cabinets and remembered the
blue patterned Oui yogurt jars
I had! I needed a pop of blue on the bottom shelf and they work so well, don't
you think? I also used the red and white striped creamer that I usually only
use at Christmas. The blue thrifty yarn wrapped hearts
with gingham ties fill in the rest as do a few
patriotic toothpick flags
in a tiny blue creamer.
Designer tip: fill the creamer 3/4 of the way with rice, dried beans or
even quinoa so your flags stay upright!
I hope these tips give you some ideas for getting your own hutch or china
cabinet decorated for summer!
Pin it to remember it!
Want more patriotic decorating ideas? Check these out:
-
Patriotic Summer Porch
-
July 4th Ribbon Wreath
-
Patriotic Cottage Vignette with Flags and Blooms
-
Indoor/Outdoor Flag Banner from Drop Cloth
-
Easy Patriotic Bandana Wreath
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This is so cute, Cindy. Love how you stacked the dishes here and there. You are such a talented stylist.
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