Some of our favorite displays are the ones that toe the line between being too messy and too perfectly arranged. A couple of months ago while wandering through London’s Columbia Road and Brick Lane markets we spotted quite a few groupings that struck that perfect balance.

The casual displays in windows and on shelves made many of the shops feel like inviting homes. We loved how rustic and old-fashioned everything was — pretty much exactly our image of how the shops lining a Sunday London flower market should feel. We didn't come home brimming with flea market finds, but we did think there were a few ideas here worth borrowing.

(Images: Sarah Rainwater)