With trends like patchwork quilts and “granny chic” décor coming back into style in recent months, we can’t help but focus our attention on another old fashion craft item, the doily. Weigh in with your opinions on the doily trend...
We admit we haven't always been keen on the idea of adding doilies to decor. But whether crocheted, knitted or carefully cut out of paper, doilies can be a neat craft to make (or find) and add to your home for a sweet, vintage touch. We’ve rounded up these photos of great alternative doily ideas that we're quite enamored with, and just might have us rethinking the doily!
We love the idea of doilies framed as art, or just displayed casually on a wall. We adore doilies used with light fixtures or finding bright colored ones for pops of color in a room. While it’s not exactly in the home, aren’t those doilies on that tree divine? It reminds us of some guerilla knitting we saw around Austin once. But our all-time favorite doily idea might just be the homeowner who used a few doilies on their couch to camouflage cat scratch damage!
What do you think about doilies? Way too old-fashioned or totally fashionable? Do you have any doilies that you’ve bought or made for your home? Tell us about it!
Check out these previous Apartment Therapy posts about doilies and granny chic décor!
- Doilies and Lace Lampshades
- Decorate with Vintage Doilies
- Inspiration: Framed Doilies
- DIY Lace Doily Vase
- How To: Crochet a Granny Square Blanket
- Antiquing with Alex: Granny-Chic Picks & Style Tips
- House Tour: Alex's Granny Chic
- Using Patchwork in Small Doses
- Roundup: Modern Patchwork Quilts
(Images: Flickr member [amyla174], Etsy member [Nice Shop], Flickr members [sparklecandace], [Veronica TM], [Ravenhill Designs], [DeanStreet], Country Living Magazine, Christina House for the LA Times, Flickr members [woolly fabulous], and [citypix]. Licensed for use under Creative Commons)
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Marisa and Peter's Playfully Eclectic Home
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The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
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I don't really like doilies in general, but they can definitely work in some situations, especially when they're somehow reinterpreted. The doily-covered tree trunk is unbelievably gorgeous!
My small studio has upcycled old gas station price signs with a screenprinted doily design, to create funky placemats:
http://visualingual.wordpress.com/2009/08/06/grandmas-doily-gas-station-placemats-by-visualingual/
I hate doilies. I just hate doilies. I hate those frilly insipid pieces. I hate making them, using them, cleaning them, and seeing them.
But you must give me that couch right now for I am in love.
GAH!
Someone please tell me more about the doily art in the last pic. I have a blank gray wall above my couch and would love to do something like that. I rent so it is somethign I could easily take down. What are the red centers?
I've seen that last picture before. I think they're just red push pins and cupcake wrappers, or something of the sort.
I kinda love that tree.
I recieved a lot of doilies when I got married. I love the ladies that made them for me and I have great respect for the countless hours that went into making them. But........I don't love the country look of putting them on the surfaces of my home.
I recently saw a picture of white doilies made into a pendant lamp. The maker laid them out over the outside of a bowl and sprayed it with liquid starch. She made two halves and then sewed the two halves together over the light fixture.
It was beautiful! It made the doily modern and something I would like to see in my house. I haven't actually tried it yet, but I do plan to this winter.
I like the doily trend. There is something strangely organic feeling about them, because their form is so obviously connected to the way in which they are made. The symmetry and spiraling recalls microscopic forms in nature.
Here is another etsy shop with some nature/doily goodness
www.knitalatte.etsy.com
Nancy_Claire,
The doily stones from that shop are beautiful! Thank you for sharing!
I like how the doilies become a graphic statement when framed against black matting in #8--a nice balance of modern and vintage.
In a word: CLUTTER
In several words: I hated them growing up and I hate them still.
annedeanw---I believe the homeowner used paper doilies (which you can pick from most craft stores) and hung them with orange push pins. Totally customizable!
Bee T. you cracked me up! I thought I disliked doilies as well.
oops, I forgot to add I like the third pic!
Love! I've crocheted so many doilies over the years, because I love the challenge and the intricacy of the stitches, but most of them are stored in a box in my closet. I agree that more than one or two doilies in a room can start to look cluttered, so I don't display many of them. It's great to see some unconventional uses here. I just might have to try some of these with my collection. :)
The one on the tree is like a wonderful art piece instillation. Now if those on the tree are made of natural fabric, I would be curious to see how it ages over time with the outdoor elements. Perhaps it just ends up looking more beautiful and vintage, or just like rubbish.
My mom has several handmade doilies from her mother. She set them on a dark blue background and framed them, similar to picture #8 but all in one frame. They're lovely and peaceful, like snowflakes.