Using Vintage Milk-Glass for Cottage Home Décor

White hobnail milk glass pitcher beside a scalloped milk glass bowl of red apples on a white table

Hello everyone! Today I’d like to share some vintage décor items I’ve discovered in the last year or so and have come to love and use daily in our home. Hopefully this will inspire you to use the special things you have and love as well!

Thrift store shelf of white vintage milk glass pieces, a footed dish and pitcher, with a blue and white elephant

Hand holding a tall white hobnail milk glass bud vase in a thrift store aisle

Three white milk glass vases, one tall hobnail and two smooth, on a thrift shelf with price tags

As you know, I enjoy popping into a thrift or antique shop now & then just to see what treasures may be there. I noticed there were often these pretty white glass pieces and learned they were called milk-glass. Some pieces showed up at every shop ~ like the bud vases, but many were unique.

The crisp white color is fresh, goes with everything, and hobnail is just a bit quirky ~ perfect combo! I started with a few vases & goblets to see if they’d go with my decor & actually get used. Just this weekend I spotted a large milk-glass vase exactly like this one for $38!

Hand holding a small white vintage milk glass creamer with a diamond pattern in a thrift store

Hand holding a white hobnail milk glass vase with a ruffled edge against a blue floral chair

Vintage milk glass collection on a wood shelf, hobnail vases and footed bowls holding lily of the valley

Smiling woman holding red roses and white carnations in white milk glass vases at a table by a wooden hutch

Matt surprised me with these bouquets on Valentine’s Day. I love the milk-glass vases & they get used often!

Vintage milk glass lamp base with brass socket and no shade on a pegboard thrift shelf

Two white hobnail milk glass table lamps, one with a pleated cream shade, on a thrift store table

A search on Pinterest revealed that milk-glass came in many forms, including lamps. I began keeping an eye out for these as well. Here are a few that I passed on ~ somehow they reminded me of poodles…

Hobnail milk glass lamp with a pink shade on a cream painted dresser beside a lace curtain

I settled on this taller lamp since the height would work on a bedside table or chest of drawers. The shade was also thrifted bringing the total cost to $7 – $8. The lamp works beautifully, adding lovely charm to the guest bedroom & the vintage inspired gallery wall!

Milk glass hurricane lamp with painted pink roses on a stack of books in front of a gold framed painting

This petite hand painted milk-glass lamp appeared at the thrift shop for about $3 ~ then I saw a matching one at the antique store for $16. Always check the thrift shop first! This sweet little lamp gave a feminine touch to our vintage cottage style guest bedroom.

Next I picked up a few milk-glass goblets with varying patterns. These turned out to be quite versatile! They’ve served as forced bulb planters, votives, serving dishes, and most recently as Christmas decor on our dining room hutch! Can you believe this diamond print compote was marked down to just .79 cents?!

White milk glass footed compote bowl with a quilted pattern beside other white bowls on a thrift shelf

White milk glass goblets and plates with ceramic Christmas village houses, bottle brush trees and red berries

My inspiration this Christmas for decorating the hutch was centered around milk-glass. Here are the pieces gathered to begin decorating.

White milk glass compote holding red berry stems beside a bottle brush tree and a ceramic house on a wood shelf

Ribbed white milk glass pedestal bowl with red berry stems and bottle brush trees on a wood shelf with fairy lights

Wooden hutch shelves styled for Christmas with white milk glass, ironstone plates, mini houses, trees and twinkle lights

Simple, inexpensive, and classic!

Two white milk glass grape pattern jars, one holding cotton swabs, on a silver tray on a bathroom counter

This charming pair of square milk-glass dishes were a little harder to find. After seeing them on Pinterest I kept an eye out for months… One was thrifted for about $2. The other from an antique store for $10. They hold q-tips and make-up remover pads. Simple and elegant for daily use items.

Lily of the valley in a white pitcher beside a floral platter, a milk glass compote and pink shakers

The milk-glass candy dish from was another long sought after find. I have a special DIY project planned for this dish… stay tuned!

Near the front door we have this antique shelf (thrifted!) with a little milk-glass dish for holding pocket change, keys, and a phone charger. Another option for a dish this size is to hold bath essentials, or sample sizes for guests.

Wooden wall shelf with glass jars of almonds and grains and a small white milk glass dish

Smiling woman pouring water from a white hobnail milk glass pitcher into a teal glass beside a bowl of fruit

And lastly I found this “bubble” milk-glass serving bowl for just .77 cents. Pieces like this don’t come through the thrift shop very often so I try not to squeal aloud when they do! The hobnail pitcher we found over Christmas break while antique shopping with my sister. It’s nearly always in the fridge full of tea.

I hope you found some inspiration to use and enjoy those special things that tell the story of your home & family! Thank you for stopping by & have a lovely day!

Smiling woman holding pink roses in a white hobnail milk glass vase at a table in a cottage dining room

Thank you for joining me today as we found creative, fun ways to use milk-glass in the home!

Warmly,

Rachel

Join the conversation

Anonymous March 2, 2020
Love the way you use all your pieces.
I have some plates that belonged to my aunt Vaga and I use them occasionally .

Blessings,
MiMi
1. Rachel March 2, 2020
  Good morning Mi Mi!
  Glad you liked the post, isn’t it fun to use pieces from family? Thank you for stopping by & have a lovely day!
  Warmly,
  Rachel
Anonymous March 3, 2020
Hi Rachel! I love the milk glass pieces you have found! I didn’t even think to look at the thrift store. Good advice! I am currently collecting a certain milk glass snack set of dishes from Federal Co. I love Fire King, also. It was nice reading your post. Have a great week!
– Jenny M
1. Rachel March 3, 2020
  Hello Jenny M!
  How nice to meet a fellow milk-glass collector! Glad to pass on the tip to hunt pieces down in thrift shops – hope you find what you’re looking for a better price. Fire King is great, I also enjoy Westmoreland pieces. Thanks for stopping by & glad you enjoyed the post. Keep an eye out for a milk-glass DIY project in the next few weeks… 🙂 Have a lovely day!
  Warmly,
  Rachel
Carrie Barnett March 3, 2020
Very cute! You are getting a very nice collection together. I always think of you when I see milk-glass on my antique shopping trips. ????
1. Rachel March 3, 2020
  Good morning Carrie,
  Glad you enjoyed the post. Yes, the hobnail pitcher always reminds me of our trip to Miss B’s together. Thanks for stopping by, have a lovely day!
Joanna F. March 3, 2020
Love the decor ideas here! The red roses contrasting with the white milk glass pieces you have found are gorgeous.
1. Rachel March 3, 2020
  Good morning Joanna!
  Glad you found some decor inspiration! The milk-glass seems to go with just about anything and everything, it has a mellow effect while still adding good texture and height to a vignette. Thanks for stopping by & have a lovely day!
  Warmly,
  Rachel

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