13+ Creative Ways to Decorate with Old Scales (for every season)
Do you have an old scale or two laying around? Here are 13+ fun ways to decorate and display your vintage scales for every season. You may just get inspired to pick up another when you’re thrifting!
Old scales are a classic vintage find. They can often be found when you’re out thrifting, especially at estate sales or flea markets. They come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors and were used for many purposes. From grocery and hardware stores to the doctor’s office and at home, scales were a mainstay of vintage life. Today I’m sharing 13+ Creative Ways to Decorate with Old Scales (for every season), to inspire you to use your collection…or find one for yourself.
Today’s post is part of our monthly Thrifting with the Gals series. Be sure to check out Ann, Rachel, and Robyn’s posts at the end; such fun thrifty, decorating inspiration!
13+ Creative Ways to Decorate with Old Scales (for every season)
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Collect Old Scales with Great Colors
Color is one of the main reasons I’m drawn to old scales. Find one in one of your favorite colors that coordinates with your home’s decor. I’m still on the hunt for the perfect vintage green one to add to my collection, but this blue one also has my heart. Add your colorful scale to seasonal decor for graphic punch.
Use Graphics to Inspire a Display
Often vintage scales will contain graphics that convey what it was used for. I have several baby scales that have cute images on the front. A couple of them still have their trays where the baby was laid to be weighed. Let the scale’s graphics inspire a fun display!
Plant babies surround this old wicker topped scale. The green baby face on the front coordinates with lots of green.
Baby fabric pumpkins get weighed on this adorable baby scale with a stork. The orange and black graphics are perfect for Halloween decor.
A food-themed family scale is perfect to have fresh fruit handy on the counter. Function and good looks is the best combo!
This vintage baby scale’s tray was the the perfect spot to display a nativity creche for Christmas. The babies and the stars on the front inspired the look.
Use Heavy Scales as Bookends or Doorstops
Old scales are heavy. Which makes them a great solution if you need to corral things in between or hold a door open. Vintage scales make fashionable bookends or doorstops.
I also love to find scales with old store names I remember as a child. I have a Montgomery Wards one. Also have an old hardware store with a Minneapolis logo. It’s even more fun to find scales that hold sentimental value!
Decorate Vintage Scales with Seasonal Decor
Vintage scales are often neutral enough that you can decorate them for any season. Add a nest on top for Spring or a cloche full of seasonal somethings. Display a forest of bottle brush trees on top or turn your scale into a jack o lantern face with fabric eyes and mouth.
Use an Old Scale as a Centerpiece or Tucked Anywhere
Old scales can be used singly or en masse as a collection. Use one as a centerpiece with a seasonal floral arrangement on top. Create a side table vignette with a scale for eclectic style. Or tuck them into your kitchen vignettes for classic vintage style.
This very heavy floor scale was probably used in a doctors office. It makes a great centerpiece on our island, surrounded by seasonal touches.
You don’t have to overthink displays. Simple, natural touches are often the prettiest.
Think I currently have 13 old scales? They get tucked in here and there throughout our main floor. I love how they add graphic punch to every display.
Do you own an old scale, or two? Or maybe collect them like I do? Hope you’re inspired to use them in new ways throughout your home, in every season! They’re a great find to keep an eye out for if you’re thrifting! Think I could still find spots for a few more…especially a green one…and maybe a red;)
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Enjoy the rest of the inspiration from my Thrifting With The Gals friends, and be sure to Pin and Save below!
Robyn, Robyn’s French Nest, “5 Simple and Quick Glass Cloche Ideas for Fall”
Rachel, The Ponds Farmhouse, “How to Decorate with Thrifted Vintage Books”
Ann, Dabbling and Decorating, “8 Goodwill Northern New England Fall Decorating Ideas for Budget Friendly Style”
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I received a vintage nursery scale as a gift yesterday and am having trouble identifying the maker and the age. It is almost exactly like your scale holding the nativity scene. Mine has the same picture, same colors, with the exception of the needle being the same shape, but solid on the bottom end…no cut-out like yours has. I’m also missing the baby-holder, but the plate on top has holes to attach one. There are no identifying marks anywhere on my scale; I’m wondering if you know the history of yours? Thanks for any information that you can offer 🙂
Use the google search on your phone. You take a picture of it and you will get all kinds of similar looking ones online. That’s how I research something that I don’t know about. I don’t have any extra info on mine. I’m guessing it’s from the 50’s or 60’s because of the color and graphics; scales don’t usually have markings. My mom gifted this one to me when my first baby was born. Then we passed it around the family whenever the babies were born;)
Thank you for your suggestion about Google lens. I found many similar scales, but no exact information on any of them. I also consulted a couple of Sears and Montgomery Ward catalogs online, but had no luck there either. I was hoping to find an original owner who could tell me what year it was purchased. I appreciate your quick response to my query 🙂
Sometimes the answer comes to you when you’re not looking for it, I’ve found;)
I do have two, and use them in my displays but, never thought to change them out seasonally. Thanks for these ideas.
You’re welcome!
Such pretty ideas!! I love your collection…each one is so unique!
My collection has been growing over time;)
Lora
So many great ideas for decorating with scales. I need to utilize mine more often in my seasonal vignettes. I really like the naivety scene on the scale. Clever.
So glad you’re inspired, Rachel! Thanks:)
Your scale ideas are so fun, Lora! I have a couple I use in our kitchen that I’ve also thrifted. Thanks for the inspiration, great post!
Thanks, Ann!
I can’t believe how many baby scales you have! Delightful. I’ve never even seen one.
Really? They’re usually cheaper, because people don’t have ideas for using them;)