Wooden Dough Bowl Decorating Ideas

Do you have a vintage dough bowl that you aren't sure what to do with? Discover 8 ways to decorate with antique dough bowls!

8 Ways to Decorate with Antique Dough Bowls

Several months ago when Zach and I went to pick up a gorgeous full-length mirror that was made out of an antique door frame (read How to Decorate with Large Mirrors here), I was thrilled when the owner said they were moving and if there was anything else I wanted amidst their incredible collection of antiques to make an offer.

I had already bought half of the house before Zach arrived with the trailer. #justkidding #butnotreally

WAys to Decorate with Antique Dough Bowls

One of those purchases included this gorgeous antique dough bowl.

I may have had to suppress an excited squeal when I saw it. This beauty is 4 feet long!! So.much.dough.

You could sled down a hill in this thing.

Ah it's just so pretty.

Once considered a power tool for the kitchen, antique dough bowls now serve as a beautiful memorial to the toil and labor of countless women as they worked to make their house a home. Still to this day, there are few aromas more welcoming than that of freshly baked bread.

The shape and size of these antique treasures, however, can make them difficult to incorporate into household decor. Let's explore 8 ways to decorate with antique dough bowls.

If you do not have an antique dough bowl but would like to find a replica, then check the source list at the end for a new "antique" dough bowl!

For more home decor and design ideas be sure to check out:

How to Design a Mortar Washed Brick Floor
5 Ideas to Design a Relaxing Bedroom
6 Ways to Style A Skinny Linen Table Runner
100-Year-Old Modern Vintage City Home
How to Get Featured in a Magazine

8 Ways to Decorate with Antique Dough Bowls

#1 Table Centerpiece

Savvy Southern Style

I think the key to effectively using an antique dough bowl as a centerpiece on a table is to ensure that you still have room on either side for place settings. You will lose space for serving dishes, but if you have a side table or serving buffet then this is not an issue. My 4 ft long dough bowl, however, may not fit the bill for a centerpiece!

Worthing Court

This photo from Worthing Court is linked to an article on how to create her summer dough bowl arrangement. I personally can't stop looking at that awesome shelf hanging above the side buffet . . . Notice again the wider table to accommodate place settings and the dough bowl centerpiece.

8 Ways to Decorate with Antique Dough Bowls

#2 Side Table Display

Pottery Barn

I love the look of greenery and candles in the dough bowl. I personally use these flameless flickering candles which come with a remote and are a lot cheaper than Pottery Barn's but look identical.

Pottery Barn

Follow the Yellow Brick Home

Look at this beautiful display from Amber at Follow the Yellow Brick Home! Antique dough bowls come in all different sizes, and this one fits just perfectly on her side board. I love the way she has incorporated herbs and greenery. #givemealltheherbs

Follow the Yellow Brick Home

Farmhouse Blooms

The soft patina to this display is gorgeous. I especially admire the meticulous symmetry of the succulents and candles on either side of the jar with the added pop of what appears to be a string of wooden beads. This display was really well done.

Farmhouse Blooms nailed it!

8 Ways to Decorate with Antique Dough Bowls

#3 Planter

Joyce Horn Antiques

I love everything about this photo. The key to using an antique dough bowl for a planter is going to be finding plants with a shallow enough root system for the bowl.

Certainly faux flowers can be used, but to actually use the bowl as a planter you could consider lining the bottom and the sides of the bowl with a plastic sheet in order to keep the wood from staying wet.

Modern House Minimalist Designs

In this case, it appears that one or two potted flowers were placed inside the dough bowl. This is easier as it eliminates the need for potting soil in the bowl, but I would still recommend lining the inside with plastic to protect your antique.

Petite Haus

I like the organic simplicity of this DIY white orchid arrangement. This would be a pretty centerpiece or even set out on a covered front porch by the front door to welcome spring!

My Haute Revival

I love how the greenery is draped over the sides in this display. This could also be done with faux florals and greens. I'm liking the idea of this arrangement but mounted on the wall as a faux planter??? Hmm . . . See below!

8 Ways to Decorate with Antique Dough Bowls

#4 Wall Display

There is so much to admire about this creative use of not just ONE but NINE antique dough bowls!!

Two have been hung vertically with hooks and a candle sconce (genius), one has been anchored horizontally to the wall on shelf brackets and used as a planter (I may be replicating that idea . . .), and the others perfectly arranged to create a stunning wall display.

The Rustic Market

Dough bowls as sconces. Genius!

8 Ways to Decorate with Antique Dough Bowls

#5 Mantel Display

The Tattered Pew

12 gorgeous white tapers surrounded by greenery and flanked by two pillars = elegant simplicity.

The Tattered Pew

SO PRETTY.

The key to a display like this is finding the right tapers. As much as I like the way dripping candles create that beautiful cascade of wax, I don't know anyone who enjoys peeling it off of their decorations or scraping it off the floor or table.

If you need the perfect candle that does not drip and burns evenly for hours, then checkout Root's candles here.

I am telling you. You will not be disappointed.

With approximately 20 color options this is the only taper I buy any more.

8 Ways to Decorate with Antique Dough Bowls

#6 Storage

Rooms for Rent

Magazine storage!

Source

Pillow storage!

The Hamby Home

Jewelry storage!

The Cottage Market

Book storage!

8 Ways to Decorate with Antique Dough Bowls

#7 Fruit Bowl

Belle Maison 23

An antique dough bowl would actually be a perfect fruit basket for long narrow kitchen islands such as the one above.

Source

8 Ways to Decorate with Antique Dough Bowls

#8 Serving Tray

Etsy

This bowl is gorgeous, and I love how handles were added on the sides to be used as a tray.

I love the aged appearing industrial handles, and the only thing I would add is to also work on aging the screws you use to place them.

Rub some stain over the steel screw to make it look old and "dirty" or use an oil rubbed bronze toned screw. But this is a fabulous idea. I can picture this dough bowl tray filled with freshly baked rolls and muffins!

Source

Forget the rolls, how about some bread in an antique dough bowl?? What could be more appropriate than using a dough bowl as a bread tray?

Wish you had a vintage dough bowl? Consider buying an antique replica!

**POST UPDATE**

Want to see how I used mine?

All of my French Country inspiration books!

To see the full before and after French Country Cottage sunroom renovation post click HERE!

I hope you have found some antique dough bowl decorating inspiration! Now I need to decide how I am going to use mine!

For more home decor and design ideas be sure to check out:

How to Desig n a Mortar Washed Brick Floor
5 Ideas to Design a Relaxing Bedroom
6 Ways to Style A Skinny Linen Table Runner
100-Year-Old Modern Vintage City Home
How to Get Featured in a Magazine

How do you use your antique dough bowl?

Pin any of the images below for later!

8 Ways to Decorate With Antique Dough Bowls

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