Not sure what to do with inherited silver? Discover easy, lovely ways to decorate with antique silver serving pieces and bring family heirlooms into everyday home decor.
When my grandmother passed away last year, I was so blessed to receive several of her silver pieces from her estate. I had already inherited her dining room suite, so I was happy to reunite the silver with the dining room furniture that my great-grandmother and grandmother loved. It was the perfect decorating reunion!
But what should I do with these heirloom pieces? I had never really used silver for hosting before, so I wasn’t sure how to put them to use. At first I tucked them into drawers and cabinets, but I quickly realized they were too lovely to keep hidden away!
So I started looking around the house for ways to show them off. I may have to polish them more often, but having them out and using them daily will remind me to do that! I truly love seeing these pieces out in the open instead of keeping them packed away for some random special occasion.
And I’ve learned that heirlooms don’t have to feel old-fashioned. They can become part of a collected, layered home! Let me show you how I’ve found a spot for each special piece.
Note: You don’t have to inherit silver to start decorating with it. I’m thrilled to have a collection underway, and I look forward to adding more pieces as I find them shopping at antique stores! I’ve already come across some surprisingly affordable silver pieces.
Common Types of Antique Silver Serving Pieces (and What They Were Used For)
Before we dive into collecting antique silver, it helps to know what you’re looking at! When I inherited several pieces from my grandmother, I realized I didn’t actually know the proper names, or original purposes, of some of them. Once you start browsing antique stores and estate sales, you’ll spot all kinds of gorgeous silver pieces that aren’t necessarily used the way they once were.
The good news is you don’t have to use an antique silver piece for its original purpose, but knowing that purpose can spark ideas for using it in your home. For example, I had a silver card tray and had no idea what to do with it until I learned what it was originally for. Now it’s a charging station for our kitchen desk!
I’ve shared some ideas for various silver trays in the graphic below, along with ways to use them in everyday life!
Why Silver Still Works in Today’s Homes
Antique silver may seem like something that belongs in your grandmother’s china cabinet. But I think it looks beautiful in today’s homes, especially when it’s mixed with more casual, everyday pieces.
That’s really the key. When you start collecting silver, don’t think of it as something to stash away and save for Thanksgiving or a fancy dinner party. Pull these pieces out and use them alongside your current decor! A pretty silver tray, bowl or pitcher is just as useful on an ordinary Tuesday as it is when you’re hosting Christmas dinner.
I especially love how silver adds a touch of shine and history without making a room feel overly formal. Not everything needs to be silver, just little pops of it here and there. The patina on an older piece gives it character, and when you pair it with different materials and finishes, it becomes part of that collected-over-time look that makes a home feel so personal. Don’t you just love that?!
Antique and vintage silver looks especially pretty paired with:
- Warm wood: The warmth and natural grain of wood keeps silver from feeling too stiff and makes both finishes shine.
- Woven textures: Baskets, rattan and other woven pieces bring a relaxed touch that balances the gleam of silver.
- White dishes: Silver paired with simple white dishes always feels classic, whether they’re displayed in a cabinet or set on the table.
- Blue and white pottery: This might be one of my favorite combinations! Blue and white pieces next to aged silver create such a timeless, collected look.
- Greenery: Add fresh flowers, clipped branches or even a favorite faux stem to a silver pitcher or bowl to make it instantly feel more relaxed. (Use a pretty bowl as a planter for a beautiful, southern centerpiece.)
- Brass: Yes, you can mix silver and brass! Blending metal finishes helps a room feel more layered and less like everything was bought at the same time.
- Books: Try setting a small silver bowl or decorative piece on a stack of books for an easy bookshelf or coffee table vignette.
- Everyday decor: Candles, picture frames, lamps and other things you already own all blend well with silver. There’s no need to create a special “antique” area in your home.
The more I use these pieces alongside things I already own, the more I see that silver doesn’t have to be precious or fussy. The goal isn’t just to collect it, it’s to enjoy it. I’d much rather have a beautiful old silver piece sitting out where I can see and use it than taking up space in a cabinet waiting for the “right” occasion.
How to Use Antique Silver in Your Home
1. Decorate with Antique Silver Trays Throughout Your Home
One of the most versatile pieces to collect is an antique silver tray or platter. I love that these don’t have to be saved for serving drinks at a fancy dinner party! They easily become part of your everyday decor and work in almost any room.
Use a silver tray on a coffee table or ottoman to corral a stack of books, a candle and a small vase of flowers. Set one on a dresser to hold jewelry and favorite little things, or use a smaller tray on the kitchen counter to gather everyday items. Try one on a dining room buffet, entryway table or console table, too.
And don’t assume every silver tray has to lie flat! Prop a larger tray or platter against a wall, on an open shelf or behind other decor to create a lovely backdrop.
I used this idea on my butler’s pantry counter by leaning a large silver platter behind a cookbook. I love pairing the ornate silver with the warm wood cookbook stand and a simple white serving bowl. Mixing old silver with everyday pieces like wood, white dishes, books, pottery and greenery keeps it from feeling overly formal.
And don’t overlook unexpected rooms! I used a large silver serving tray on my bedroom dresser and layered it with some favorite everyday things: a framed wedding photo, an old jewelry box, a small dish for jewelry, pearls and a woven candle holder. The silver stands out against the dark wood dresser and the warm gold frame above it, while the woven texture keeps everything feeling casual.
You can use this same approach with silver pieces in a china cabinet, on open shelving or on a bookcase. Instead of lining up your whole silver collection in one place, scatter pieces throughout your home and mix them with books, pottery, baskets, family photos and other meaningful objects. It’s one of my favorite bookshelf decorating tricks, too. Mixing finishes, textures, shapes and meaningful pieces creates that collected-over-time look instead of making your home feel like a showroom or, in this case, a museum display.
And that’s really the look I’m going for with inherited silver. I want it to feel like part of our home, not a collection we’re afraid to touch.
2. Turn Silver Bowls Into Pretty Catch-Alls
Put those little silver bowls to work all around your home! Instead of keeping them tucked in a china cabinet, give them a job holding the small things you use every day.
Place a small silver bowl on an entryway table for keys, on your dresser for jewelry, or beside a candle to hold matches. In the kitchen or living room, fill one with wrapped candy or decorative beads, or use a pretty silver bowl in the guest bathroom to hold individually wrapped soaps or other small toiletries.
I didn’t inherit any small silver bowls from my grandmother, but I’ll keep an eye out at the second-hand shops I visit. I’d love to have one (or ten!) for using around my home!
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They’re also perfect for seasonal decorating. Fill a silver bowl with pinecones or acorns in the fall, colorful eggs in the spring, or pretty ornaments at Christmas. It’s such a simple way to work an antique piece into your seasonal decor without making it feel too formal.
3. Use Silver Pitchers and Vessels as Vases
A lovely way to use old silver pieces is to turn them into vases for fresh flowers and greenery. Silver pitchers, coffee pots and creamers have such beautiful shapes and details. Filling them with blooms instantly makes them feel a bit less formal and much more at home in everyday decor.
I used one of my silver tea pots and filled it with white hydrangeas and a few sprigs of purple flowers from my yard. The slightly tarnished silver looks so pretty against the soft white blooms, and the warm wood tray keeps the whole arrangement feeling relaxed. It’s a lovely example of how antique silver can blend right in with the casual, collected pieces you already have around your home.
And you can change these arrangements with the seasons! Fill a silver pitcher with tulips or flowering branches in spring, hydrangeas in summer, colorful branches in fall, or evergreen clippings at Christmas. Even a small silver creamer can hold a few blooms clipped from the yard.
It’s an easy way to actually enjoy these beautiful old pieces instead of keeping them tucked in a cabinet, and every time you walk past them, you get a little bit of their history, too.
4. Mix Antique Silver With Your Everyday Decor
“But my house isn’t formal or filled with antiques!” That’s actually one reason I love adding a few antique silver pieces to a home. You don’t need a room full of antiques to make them work. In fact, I think silver looks best when it’s mixed right in with the things you already own.
A perfect example is this little silver card tray I inherited. Instead of displaying it somewhere just to look pretty, I use it on our kitchen counter as a charging station for our Apple Watches. It sits alongside a modern marble and brass pencil cup, a blue and white planter and a piece of artwork.
It’s definitely not what this tray was originally meant for, but I love it! It’s useful, I see it every day, and the unexpected mix of old and new makes this little corner so much more interesting. Bonus: it keeps those pesky cords in one place!
Try pairing antique silver with blue and white pottery, natural wood, wicker or rattan, linen, white ceramics, old books and greenery. These more casual textures keep silver from feeling too fancy while giving your home that collected-over-time look that’s so much warmer than having everything brand new.
Can You Mix Silver and Brass?
Absolutely! I mix metals throughout my home all the time. You can even see the combination here, with the silver card tray next to the brass accents on my pencil cup and the gold frame behind it.
Adding antique silver doesn’t mean you have to swap out all your lamps, frames or hardware for silver. Honestly, I think it’s the opposite. Mixing aged silver with warm brass or gold helps the older pieces blend into your existing decor and makes the whole space feel more layered and collected.
So don’t worry about making your antique silver “match.” Let it mingle with the things you already love. That’s part of the charm!
5. Actually Use Your Silver for Entertaining
Of course, one of the best ways to enjoy antique silver is to use it for what it was made for! Bring out your silver trays, bowls, pitchers and serving utensils for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, or when you’re hosting a bridal or baby shower, birthday dinner or brunch with friends.
Even a simple Sunday lunch feels a little more special when you serve food in a beautiful piece that has been passed down through your family. And there’s something really sweet about knowing that the same serving dish may have been part of family gatherings generations ago.
There’s a spot on my great-grandmother’s coffee pot where the silver plate has worn through. I love it even more because I picture her hands using the same coffee pot I use today. She lived until I was 17 years old, so I was blessed to know and love her for many years!
But honestly, I don’t think we have to wait for Thanksgiving to bring out the pretty things. If I want to serve store-bought cookies on Grandma’s silver tray on a random Tuesday, I’m calling that a special occasion. Use a little silver bowl for nuts during mahjong with friends, put appetizers on a pretty tray for family movie night, or serve Sunday morning cinnamon rolls on a silver platter.
How Do You Know If Inherited Silver Is Valuable?
I’m much more interested in the sentimental value of my grandmother’s silver than in what I could sell it for, but I still think it’s fun to learn a bit about what you’ve inherited. I’m still learning all of this myself, so I’m certainly no antiques expert! But I’ll share a little of what I do know.
The value of antique silver can vary quite a bit depending on several factors, including:
- Sterling silver vs. silver plate: Sterling contains a much higher percentage of silver and generally has more intrinsic value than silver-plated pieces.
- Maker: Pieces from certain well-known silversmiths and manufacturers may be more sought after by collectors.
- Age: Older doesn’t automatically mean more valuable, but age can play a role.
- Pattern: Some discontinued or especially desirable patterns are wanted by collectors.
- Condition: Dents, scratches, missing pieces and worn silver plating can all affect value.
- Markings: These little stamps can give you clues about who made the piece, where it was made and sometimes even when.
One of the first things I learned to do is turn the piece over and look for markings. Check the bottom of bowls, trays and pitchers, and the backs or handles of serving utensils. You might find words like Sterling or Silver Plate, a maker’s name, a pattern or model number, or a series of small symbols known as hallmarks.
Once you find those markings, you have a great starting point for research. And even if you discover Grandma’s pretty serving tray isn’t worth a small fortune, knowing who made it, roughly when, and what it was originally used for makes its story, and the joy of using it at home, even more interesting.
How to Start Collecting Antique Silver
After you’ve inherited a few silver pieces, don’t be surprised if you suddenly notice them everywhere! Estate sales, antique stores, thrift stores, flea markets and Facebook Marketplace are all great places to look. You can also browse online vintage marketplaces… or ask around in your own family. You never know who might have a pretty silver tray or serving bowl tucked in a cabinet that they’d be happy to pass along.
When I’m looking at vintage silver, I care less about building a perfectly matched collection and more about pieces I genuinely love and can picture using at home. I look at shape, function, patina and price, and I especially love a piece with an interesting story. It doesn’t have to be valuable or perfectly polished to be beautiful! In fact, I think a mismatched silver collection gathered slowly over time has so much more charm, and every new piece adds another layer to the story of your home.
FAQ About Inherited and Antique Silver
What should I do with old family silver?
Use it and enjoy it! Antique silver doesn’t have to be saved for formal occasions. Work inherited pieces into your everyday decor, use trays and bowls to organize small items, fill pitchers with flowers, or bring the serving pieces out when you’re entertaining. I love finding ways to keep family heirlooms where I can actually see and enjoy them.
Is antique silver still in style?
Absolutely! Antique and vintage silver works beautifully with today’s more collected decorating styles. Mixing old silver with warm wood, woven textures, blue and white pottery, books, greenery and newer decor creates a layered look that feels timeless rather than overly formal.
Should I polish inherited silver?
That’s mostly a matter of personal taste. I like my silver polished, but I’m also happy to let it develop a little tarnish between cleanings. If you do polish inherited pieces, first determine whether they’re sterling or silver plate so you can choose a suitable cleaning method and avoid damaging them.
How can I tell if my silver is sterling or silver plated?
Start by looking for markings on the bottom or back of the piece. Look for marks like ‘Sterling,’ ‘925’ or ‘.925’ on sterling silver, while silver-plated pieces may carry markings such as “Silver Plate,” “EPNS” or “EP.” Antique markings can vary by maker, country and age, so use them as a starting point for researching your particular piece.
Can you mix silver and gold or brass decor?
Yes! I actually love mixing silver with warmer metals like brass and gold. You don’t need to match every metal finish in a room. Mixing aged silver with brass frames, lamps or decorative objects helps antique pieces blend naturally with the rest of your home and creates a more collected-over-time look.
Where is the best place to buy antique silver?
Estate sales, antique stores, flea markets and thrift stores are some of my favorite places to look because you never know what you’ll find. Facebook Marketplace and online antique or vintage marketplaces are great options too. Don’t forget to ask family members! When you’re building a collection, take your time and choose pieces you truly love instead of worrying about finding a perfectly matched set.
Final Thoughts
My grandmother’s silver collection is mostly trays and serving pieces, and I feel so grateful to have them in my home. Now that I’ve started learning more about antique silver, I can already tell this is going to be a collection I keep adding to over the years. I’d love to find some smaller pieces next, like beautiful silver and cut-glass vanity pieces, sterling silver napkin rings, or other little treasures that catch my eye while I’m wandering through an antique store.
I think that’s one of my favorite things about collecting older pieces: Our homes don’t have to be filled with only new things. The pieces passed down to us, and the ones we slowly gather ourselves, give our homes a story. They add character you simply can’t buy all at once.
I’ve decided I’m not going to save my grandmother’s silver for some vague “someday.” I want to fill her tea pot with hydrangeas, use her trays around our home and bring out her serving pieces when family and friends gather around our table. Honestly, if I leave them in the drawers, I’ll forget all about them!
Now I’m excited to keep hunting for pieces special enough to join the collection, knowing that someday these may become the heirlooms I pass down to my own girls. I love the thought that they’ll one day have a collection of pieces that belonged to their great-great-grandmother, their great-grandmother and grandmother, mixed with treasures I found and loved along the way. Hopefully they’ll enjoy using them as much as I do!
Do you have any silver or other family heirlooms that have been passed down to you? I’d love to hear what you’ve inherited… and how you’re using it in your home!
