21 Vintage Style Indoor Plant Decoration Ideas to Transform Your Space

Let’s be honest – there’s something magical about combining the timeless charm of vintage decor with the vibrant life of houseplants. I’ve been obsessed with this combo lately, and I’m so excited to share these ideas with you!

Whether you’re a seasoned plant parent or just starting your green journey, these vintage-inspired plant decoration tips will transform your space into a cozy, Instagram-worthy haven that feels both nostalgic and fresh.

1. Repurposed Teacup Planters

Who doesn’t have a forgotten teacup or two hiding in their cabinets? Those delicate porcelain pieces with faded floral patterns or gold trim make perfect homes for small succulents or African violets!

Step by Step:

1. Select a vintage teacup (with or without the saucer)
2. Add a layer of small pebbles at the bottom for drainage
3. Fill with well-draining cactus or succulent soil
4. Plant a small succulent, baby fern, or African violet
5. Water sparingly to avoid overflow

Picture this: A collection of mismatched vintage teacups lined up on your windowsill, each cradling a different tiny plant. The morning sun filters through, highlighting the delicate patterns on the porcelain while your little green friends soak up the light. It’s the perfect blend of granny-chic and modern plant love!

Looking to extend this vintage charm to your sleeping quarters? Check out these antique bedroom ideas for comprehensive inspiration.

2. Retro Metal Watering Cans as Planters

Those old-school metal watering cans aren’t just functional—they’re statement pieces waiting to happen! The more worn and weathered, the better.

Step by Step:

1. Find a vintage metal watering can (check thrift stores or flea markets)
2. Drill a few drainage holes in the bottom if there aren’t any
3. Add a layer of rocks or broken pottery pieces for drainage
4. Fill with potting soil appropriate for your plant
5. Plant trailing ivy, pothos, or other cascading plants
6. Position the spout so the plants can trail from it

Picture this: A rusty copper watering can perched on your bookshelf, with vibrant green pothos vines cascading down the spout and along the edge of the shelf. The patina of the metal contrasts beautifully with the lush greenery, adding warmth and character to your modern space.

For more creative display ideas, explore these bookshelf ideas that perfectly complement your vintage plant setups.

3. Victorian Glass Cloche Gardens

Channel your inner Victorian botanist with these magical glass domes that showcase your favorite small plants like precious specimens.

Step by Step:

1. Source a vintage glass cloche or bell jar (antique shops are great for this)
2. Create a base using a vintage plate or wooden cheese board
3. Add a layer of decorative moss or pebbles
4. Plant small ferns, moss, or air plants in a tiny pot or directly in soil
5. Add miniature decorative elements like tiny mushrooms or a small figure
6. Place the glass dome over your creation

Picture this: A gleaming glass cloche sitting atop your side table, housing a miniature wonderland of emerald moss, delicate ferns, and perhaps a tiny ceramic deer. The glass magnifies and protects your little ecosystem while adding that perfect touch of Victorian curiosity-cabinet charm.

If you’re drawn to historical aesthetics, you might love these Victorian bathroom ideas to complement your vintage plant styling.

4. Wooden Ladder Plant Display

That old wooden ladder gathering dust in your garage or barn? It’s actually a plant stand in disguise!

Step by Step:

1. Clean and sand an old wooden ladder
2. Apply wood oil or paint in your desired finish (distressed looks great!)
3. Lean it securely against a wall
4. Place plants on each step, varying heights and types
5. Mix in vintage accessories like old books or brass figurines
6. Secure plants if needed so they don’t topple

Picture this: A weathered wooden ladder with paint flaking at the edges stands proudly in your living room corner, each rung supporting plants of different textures and sizes. Ferns spill over the top, while succulents cluster on the middle rungs, and a dramatic trailing ivy cascades from the bottom step. It’s functional, sculptural, and tells a story all at once.

For more rustic charm throughout your home, check out these log home aesthetic ideas that pair beautifully with wooden plant displays.

5. Antique Birdcage Terrariums

Those ornate vintage birdcages weren’t just made for feathered friends—they make stunning homes for your favorite plants too!

Step by Step:

1. Source a vintage birdcage with character
2. Line the bottom with plastic to protect from moisture
3. Add a layer of activated charcoal and potting soil
4. Plant moisture-loving varieties like ferns, fittonias, or prayer plants
5. Consider hanging air plants or tillandsias from the top of the cage
6. Mist regularly to maintain humidity

Picture this: A white wrought-iron birdcage with intricate scrollwork sits on your console table. Inside, a lush collection of ferns and pink-veined fittonia create a miniature jungle, while a few air plants dangle from the top bars like living ornaments. It’s a whimsical conversation piece that brings Victorian conservatory vibes right into your modern home.

If this aesthetic appeals to you, explore more earthy kitchen ideas to extend this natural vintage charm to your cooking space.

6. Vintage Suitcase Succulent Garden

That charming old suitcase with worn leather straps isn’t just for decoration—it’s the perfect unexpected planter for a collection of succulents!

Step by Step:

1. Find a vintage suitcase with character (hardside works best)
2. Line the interior with plastic sheeting for water protection
3. Drill small drainage holes in the bottom
4. Add a layer of gravel, then cactus soil
5. Plant a variety of succulents in a pleasing arrangement
6. Add decorative elements like small rocks or vintage miniatures
7. Position the lid to stay open at your preferred angle

Picture this: A 1940s leather suitcase sits open on your entryway table, transformed into a desert oasis with a dozen varieties of succulents in blues, greens, and purples. The worn leather exterior tells stories of past travels, while the new succulent garden represents adventures in plant parenthood. It’s functional art that combines history and horticulture.

For more ideas on creating inviting entryways, take a look at these outdoor entryway ideas that complement your indoor vintage aesthetic.

7. Mason Jar Herb Gardens

Those blue and clear vintage Mason jars aren’t just for canning—they make perfect homes for a windowsill herb garden with old-world charm.

Step by Step:

1. Collect vintage Mason jars in various sizes
2. Add a layer of pebbles at the bottom for drainage
3. Fill with quality potting soil
4. Plant one herb variety per jar (basil, mint, thyme, etc.)
5. Label each jar with a vintage-style tag
6. Arrange on a sunny windowsill
7. Water carefully to avoid root rot

Picture this: A row of blue-tinted vintage Mason jars lines your kitchen window, each filled with a different fragrant herb. The sunlight catches the glass, creating a beautiful blue glow while highlighting the vibrant greens of the herbs. It’s practical, pretty, and perfectly aligned with the farm-to-table aesthetic that pairs so well with vintage decor.

To extend this rustic charm to your cooking space, browse these country kitchen ideas for more inspiration.

8. Vintage Wooden Crate Planters

Those old wooden crates with faded advertising aren’t just collector’s items—they’re begging to become charming planters for larger houseplants!

Step by Step:

1. Source vintage wooden crates from flea markets or antique shops
2. Line with plastic sheeting, leaving drainage holes
3. Add a layer of gravel for drainage
4. Fill with potting soil appropriate for your chosen plants
5. Plant larger specimens like peace lilies, rubber plants, or monsteras
6. Position strategically as a room focal point

Picture this: A weathered wooden apple crate with faded red lettering sits in your living room corner, home to a lush, dramatic monstera plant whose glossy leaves spill over the rustic edges. The contrast between the industrial vintage container and the vibrant tropical plant creates a perfect tension that draws the eye and adds character to your space.

For more creative ways to style your living spaces, check out these minimalist living room ideas that can provide the perfect backdrop for statement plant features.

9. Antique Silver Creamer Plant Pots

Those tarnished silver creamers gathering dust in your china cabinet deserve new life as elegant homes for small plants!

Step by Step:

1. Collect vintage silver, silver-plate, or pewter creamers
2. Clean gently (but don’t polish too much—patina adds character!)
3. Add a waterproof liner or small nursery pot inside
4. Plant with small specimens like baby’s tears, small ferns, or flowering kalanchoe
5. Group in collections of three or more for maximum impact
6. Display on mantels, vanities, or dining tables

Picture this: A collection of silver creamers in various heights and designs clustered on your coffee table, each holding a different petite plant. The tarnished silver surfaces reflect light softly while contrasting beautifully with the fresh greenery. It’s the perfect blend of formal antique elegance and casual plant-parent style.

To create a cohesive aesthetic in your dining area, explore these minimalist dining room ideas that provide the perfect backdrop for your silver creamer plant collection.

10. Vintage Hat Box Planters

Those beautiful round boxes that once protected Sunday best hats are now the perfect unexpected containers for showcasing your favorite plants!

Step by Step:

1. Source vintage hatboxes with interesting patterns or graphics
2. Waterproof the interior with plastic liner
3. Add drainage rocks and quality potting soil
4. Choose plants that complement the box design—flowering plants for feminine boxes, structural plants for geometric designs
5. Place on shelves or use as coffee table centerpieces
6. Consider stacking multiple boxes in a tiered display

Picture this: A stack of three floral hatboxes in graduating sizes creates a tiered display in your bedroom corner. Each box houses a different plant—perhaps a dramatic purple oxalis in the largest, a compact pink polka dot plant in the middle, and a delicate miniature African violet in the top box. The vintage florals on the boxes complement the living plants for a look that’s whimsical, feminine, and full of character.

If you love this bedroom styling approach, you might also enjoy these tiny bedroom ideas that make the most of small spaces with character-filled decor.

11. Vintage Radio Planter

That non-functioning vintage radio isn’t just nostalgic decor—it’s the perfect unexpected planter for small houseplants!

Step by Step:

1. Source a vintage radio (tube radios or Bakelite models work great)
2. Carefully remove or protect internal components
3. Create a waterproof liner that fits inside the radio cavity
4. Add drainage material and appropriate potting mix
5. Plant small specimens that won’t outgrow the space
6. Position on bookshelves or side tables where the contrast will shine

Picture this: A 1950s mint-green Bakelite radio sits on your bookshelf, but instead of music, it broadcasts life in the form of a cheerful pothos plant whose vines cascade down the front and sides. The juxtaposition of mid-century technology and living greenery creates a whimsical focal point that celebrates both history and nature.

For more creative display ideas, check out these family room decor tips that incorporate personality-filled pieces like this.

12. Antique Toolbox Succulent Garden

That rusty old toolbox from grandpa’s workshop makes the perfect industrial-vintage container for a stunning succulent arrangement!

Step by Step:

1. Clean an old metal toolbox, preserving the patina and rust
2. Drill drainage holes if needed
3. Line with landscape fabric to prevent soil leakage
4. Fill with cactus soil mix
5. Arrange a variety of succulents, playing with height, color and texture
6. Add decorative elements like polished stones or vintage hardware
7. Display on coffee tables, mantels, or outdoor spaces

Picture this: A weathered green metal toolbox with flaking paint and visible rust sits center stage on your coffee table. Inside, a desert landscape in miniature unfolds with blue echeverias, spiky haworthias, and trailing string of pearls cascading over the edges. The masculine industrial container perfectly balances the geometric beauty of the succulents for a look that appeals to everyone.

To extend this rustic aesthetic to your outdoor spaces, explore these backyard oasis ideas that incorporate similar vintage elements.

13. Vintage Piano as Plant Stand

If you’ve inherited a piano that nobody plays, don’t send it to the dump—transform it into the ultimate plant display!

Step by Step:

1. Position an old upright piano against a wall with good light
2. Clean thoroughly and maintain or distress the finish as desired
3. Protect the wood with clear polyurethane if needed
4. Arrange plants of varying heights along the top
5. Consider placing climbing plants that can grow up decorative frames
6. Add small plant specimens among the keys for an abandoned-by-nature look
7. Incorporate vintage music books or photos among the plants

Picture this: A worn mahogany upright piano creates a dramatic plant wall in your living room. The top hosts an array of plants—tall snake plants at the back, medium-sized ferns in the middle, and trailing ivy at the front. Sheet music yellowed with age is propped on the music stand, while tiny air plants nestle between the keys. It’s a statement piece that honors both music and nature.

For more ideas to make your living space truly unique, check out these blue bedroom ideas that could complement the rich tones of vintage wood pieces.

14. Vintage Camera Planters

Those non-functioning vintage cameras deserve to be seen rather than stored away—and they make perfectly unexpected tiny planters!

Step by Step:

1. Select vintage cameras that are beyond repair functionally
2. Carefully hollow out an appropriate section or use the existing cavities
3. Add a waterproof container inside
4. Plant tiny succulents, air plants, or moss
5. Display on bookshelves, desks, or in glass cabinets
6. Group with other photography memorabilia for a themed display

Picture this: An antique Brownie camera sits on your office shelf, but instead of capturing images, it’s now home to a tiny zebra haworthia whose striped leaves echo the camera’s black design. Next to it, a vintage flash bulb holder cradles an air plant. The combination of early technology and living plants creates a display that sparks conversation and celebrates the art of seeing beauty in the world.

If you enjoy displays that tell a story, you might appreciate these eastern living room decor ideas that similarly blend history and aesthetics.

15. Vintage Typewriter Planter

That old typewriter with stuck keys can still create something beautiful—a stunning planter that celebrates both literary and gardening arts!

Step by Step:

1. Source a vintage typewriter that’s past functional repair
2. Clean thoroughly without removing the patina of age
3. Create a discreet waterproof liner for the center section
4. Plant with cascading specimens that will “type” their way out
5. Consider string of pearls, string of hearts, or trailing succulents
6. Display on a desk or bookshelf with vintage books nearby
7. Feed paper through the roller for an added touch of whimsy

Picture this: A 1930s black Underwood typewriter sits on your writing desk, but instead of paper, it’s producing a waterfall of string of pearls plants that cascade over the keys and down the front. A sheet of vintage paper is still fed through the roller, perhaps with a half-finished poem visible. It’s literary, it’s living art, and it’s an unforgettable conversation piece.

For creating complete themed spaces, explore these rectangle living room ideas that provide the perfect backdrop for statement vintage pieces.

16. Vintage Scale Succulent Display

That charming kitchen scale from the flea market isn’t just for decor—it’s the perfect balanced home for your favorite small plants!

Step by Step:

1. Find a vintage kitchen scale with removable metal weighing cups
2. Clean while preserving the authentic patina
3. Line the cups with landscape fabric if there are large holes
4. Fill with cactus soil mix
5. Plant with small succulents, playing with the concept of balance
6. Consider adding decorative weights on the opposite side
7. Display on kitchen counters or open shelving

Picture this: A rusty red kitchen scale sits on your farmhouse sideboard. The weighing cup brims with a collection of colorful succulents in purples and greens, while the opposite side holds a stack of vintage cookbook weights, creating perfect balance. It’s functional art that brings a touch of nostalgia and nature to your kitchen decor.

To complete this look throughout your kitchen, check out these tiny house kitchen ideas that maximize charm in compact spaces.

17. Antique Doll Carriages as Planters

That adorable vintage baby carriage or doll pram gathering dust in the attic makes a showstopping planter with Victorian charm!

Step by Step:

1. Source a vintage doll carriage or baby pram
2. Clean thoroughly while maintaining vintage patina
3. Line with plastic sheeting for waterproofing
4. Add drainage material and quality potting soil
5. Plant with cascading flowers or foliage plants
6. Consider English ivy, trailing petunias, or string of hearts
7. Position on porches, in entryways, or as garden focal points

Picture this: A white wicker doll carriage from the 1920s sits in your front hall, overflowing with pink flowering kalanchoe and trailing ivy that spills over the sides and cascades nearly to the floor. The carriage’s faded fabric hood provides a perfect backdrop for the vibrant plants, creating a whimsical welcome that blends childhood nostalgia with grown-up plant enthusiasm.

For more ideas that celebrate feminine design elements, you might enjoy these girls bed with canopy ideas that carry similar whimsical charm.

18. Vintage Baking Mold Planters

Those collectible copper molds aren’t just for Jell-O anymore—they make perfectly shaped planters for small specimens!

Step by Step:

1. Collect vintage copper, tin, or ceramic baking molds
2. Clean gently, preserving the patina
3. Drill small drainage holes if using as direct planters
4. Alternatively, place small nursery pots inside
5. Plant with specimens that complement the mold shape
6. Consider ferns for fluted molds or succulents for geometric shapes
7. Hang on walls in collections or display on open shelving

Picture this: A collection of copper bundt and jelly molds covers one kitchen wall, each holding a different variety of fern or trailing philodendron. The warm copper tones contrast beautifully with the fresh greens, while the various shapes create a sculptural installation that celebrates both culinary history and plant parenthood.

For more ways to style your kitchen with character, explore these earthy kitchen ideas that incorporate natural elements in warm spaces.

19. Vintage Train Case Herb Garden

That old-school train case with the broken latch isn’t just taking up attic space—it’s your new portable herb garden waiting to happen!

Step by Step:

1. Source a vintage train case or small suitcase
2. Clean thoroughly inside and out
3. Line with waterproof material
4. Add drainage layer and quality potting soil
5. Plant with culinary herbs like basil, thyme, and mint
6. Add vintage-style plant markers
7. Position near a sunny kitchen window

Picture this: A 1950s baby blue train case sits open on your kitchen counter, lined with herbs in neat rows—rosemary, thyme, basil, mint—each identified with handwritten markers on vintage spoons. The case’s mirror inside the lid reflects light onto the plants while adding an unexpected design element. It’s practical, portable, and packed with mid-century charm.

To create more functional beauty in small spaces, check out these apartment dining area ideas that maximize both style and practicality.

20. Vintage First Aid Cabinet Plant Display

That charming vintage medicine cabinet or first aid box now dispenses a different kind of healing through beautiful plants!

Step by Step:

1. Source a vintage wall-mounted medicine cabinet or first aid box
2. Clean thoroughly, preserving authentic details
3. Remove or repurpose interior shelving as needed
4. Line with moisture-resistant material if necessary
5. Add small potted plants inside
6. Consider air plants, small succulents, or miniature ferns
7. Mount on wall or display on bathroom shelving

Picture this: A vintage white metal first aid cabinet with a red cross on the door hangs on your bathroom wall. When opened, instead of bandages and ointments, it reveals a collection of tiny air plants and succulents, arranged as carefully as medicines once were. The clinical vintage container takes on new life as a showcase for natural remedies—plants that clean the air and lift the spirits.

For more bathroom ideas with character, explore these minimalistic bathroom ideas that provide the perfect backdrop for vintage accent pieces.

21. Vintage TV Terrarium

That non-functioning vintage television set isn’t obsolete—it’s the perfect frame for a living plant diorama!

Step by Step:

1. Source a vintage television with removable picture tube
2. Carefully remove internal components (or have a professional do it)
3. Clean thoroughly inside and out
4. Install a waterproof liner inside the screen cavity
5. Add layers of charcoal, soil, and decorative elements
6. Plant with terrarium-friendly specimens
7. Consider adding tiny vintage figurines for a diorama effect
8. Position where the “show” can be properly appreciated

Picture this: A 1960s wooden console television occupies the corner of your living room, but instead of broadcasting shows, its screen reveals a miniature living landscape. Ferns and mosses create a tiny forest, while vintage plastic deer figurines “graze” among them. It’s television reimagined as a living art piece—one that broadcasts nature 24/7 with no commercial interruptions.

If you’re drawn to creating statement rooms with character, check out these white fantasy bedroom ideas that similarly transform ordinary spaces into extraordinary retreats.

There you have it—21 ways to bring vintage charm and living greenery together in perfect harmony! Remember, the best plant decor tells a story, just like the vintage pieces themselves. Happy decorating, and may your thumbs be ever green!