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How to Decorate with Tobacco Baskets

How to decorate with Tobacco Baskets to get that fixer upper style.

As some of you know, I’m a Kentucky girl.  In fact, if you ever fly into Cincinnati, your plane lands where my great great granddaddy’s tobacco farm used to be. I grew up hearing stories about this farm.

The farm that didn’t have running water.

The farm that housed a barn where my gr gr granddaddy buried his hooch jug deep in the ground to sneak a swig. A hooch jug that I now own still caked with that Kentucky mud.

How to decorate with Tobacco Baskets to get that fixer upper style.

This is this same farm where I heard stories from my mother about finding endless supplies of indian arrowheads, and summer swims in the creek, and how to pick just the right tobacco stick for your make-believe horse so that it left the perfect trail of dust behind you.

Since I’m steeped with such history, I just love tobacco baskets. And oh, how I wish that I had one that came from the family farm! Luckily, I found a few deep in the back roads of Kentucky for a steal!

So what do you do with these tobacco baskets? Here are some great tips to get that farmhouse-y style!

How to Decorate with
Tobacco Baskets

(Some affiliate links are provided below. Full disclosure here.)

Architectural Elements

How to decorate with Tobacco Baskets to get that fixer upper style.

Using tobacco baskets as architectural elements on your walls is the simplest way to style them. They aren’t too heavy, are easy to hang, and also take up a lot of space if you are trying to fill an empty wall.

How to decorate with Tobacco Baskets to get that fixer upper style.

How to decorate with tobacco baskets sometimes means a unique pairing like this from Keeley at Our Cozy Cat Cottage. Those lined up grain sacks are stunning!

Adding a picture or a wreath

How to decorate with Tobacco Baskets to get that fixer upper style.

If you saw my DIY unfinished dresser post, you may have noticed this picture. I adorned my tobacco basket with a framed sheet music artwork.  I love how the black pops against the weathered wood.

Seasonal

How to decorate with Tobacco Baskets to get that fixer upper style.

A perfect way how to decorate with Tobacco Baskets is to add them seasonally. Liz Marie used her tobacco basket to showcase her Christmas cards.

How to decorate with Tobacco Baskets to get that fixer upper style.

Hobby Lobby created a gorgeous fall vignette styling three of their replica tobacco baskets. The gather sign hung on top that wreath is gorgeous!

Outdoor

How to decorate with Tobacco Baskets to get that fixer upper style.

Haint blue beadboard ceilings, rocking chairs and an old dresser. Does it get any better than this? I love how Jana from Bunch of Hicks styled her tobacco basket as a focal point for her porch.

How to decorate with Tobacco Baskets to get that fixer upper style.

I’m not sure the original source of this pic, but Resurrect Antiques Blog shared this awesome photo on their blog. I love this tobacco basket hanging from the rafters at an outdoor wedding.

Unique Uses

How to decorate with Tobacco Baskets to get that fixer upper style.

One question I specifically get asked over and over again is, “What is that big basket in front of your fireplace?” In my fireplace makeover, I explained that due to a slightly warped flue, we have to keep our unsightly insert. Rather than show the ugly, my solution to disguise that eyesore was to use the tobacco basket as a fireplace screen.

How to decorate with Tobacco Baskets to get that fixer upper style.

Likewise, Resa from The Farmhouse 31 used her tobacco baskets as a gallery wall filling up her stairway. By the way, if you are looking for serious vintage inspo, she has an amazing instagram account. You can give her a follow over on Facebook, too.

Where to find them

Affiliate links provided for your convenience. Read my full disclosure here.

You can find tobacco baskets at junk fairs and vintage markets, but expect them to be pricey. These baskets from the Country Living Fair were $200 and higher. However, I found my baskets in a junk shop way out in the country that were only $15 each!

How to decorate with Tobacco Baskets to get that fixer upper style.

You can purchase them online through eBay or etsy.

Replica Tobacco Baskets are also available through Amazon:

You can even find them at Target.com. This one is only $17!

DIY your own!

How to decorate with Tobacco Baskets to get that fixer upper style.

Of course, my post wouldn’t be complete without showing how to decorate with tobacco baskets the DIY way! Lucy at the Craftberry Bush shares her awesome tutorial on how to make your own tobacco baskets.

So, from this Kentucky girl, I hope this inspires you to find ways to incorporate tobacco baskets into your decor.  If you have a creative way you used your basket, send me a pic and I will feature you in my post!

How to decorate with Tobacco Baskets to get that fixer upper style.

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24 Comments

  1. What?! I will have to check that out! Have fun decorating with it and I hope this post gave you some ideas to try!

  2. I bought my Tobacco Basket yesterday at Target for $16.99!!!! It is medium brown and about 24 x 18. I love it and am decorating around it this afternoon.Find it on the internet.

  3. Karen – that is so cool! I grew up in Northern KY and had to get this one as a nod to my home state. My great granddaddy had a tobacco farm so these are such a neat thing to have in my home.

  4. I couldn’t help but notice your first basket photo says BG KY! Bowling Green. Where I live. Cool! I have two hanging in my house.

  5. I loved all your ideas! And your family history….how very cool!!

  6. You decorate well with the tobacco basket. I love them, but just not in the budget. However, I am not giving up.

  7. One idea would be to use command strips or the command hooks. Real tobacco baskets are a bit on the heavy side, so I would weigh the basket, and then get the proper weight equivalent for the hook. It may take two! Hope that helps and thanks for taking the time to reach out.

  8. I have a beautiful tobacco basket I would like to hang on a shiplap wall. How do you suggest I hang it?

    I do not want to screw/nail directly through the basket.

  9. Thanks for the tip! I’m sure my avid DIYers would love to try to create their own!

  10. I love all your ideas. I’d like to add that replicas are very simple to make, even for novice basketmakers, and a lot cheaper than buying them off the internet! Suzanne Moore has a very nice free pattern on her website NCbasketworks.com (I am not connected to Suzanne Moore in any way; I am simply a basket maker and instructor). Try it!

  11. Kathryn – you were so sweet to feature me! thank you so much, friend!

  12. Thank you so much for the feature, Kathryn! This brought a huge smile to my face!

  13. Hi Cindy! I am so glad you stopped by! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. My heart is happy knowing this inspired you. I hope you find the tobacco basket of your dreams!

  14. Love each and every picture. I NEED ME A TOBACCO BASKET!!! I’m hopping over to Lucy’s post although, I highly doubt I”ll be making one myself. Thanks for posting. Saw this on the Imparting Grace link party!

  15. Donna! I am so happy to hear this inspired you! Hope you can find a deal – send me a pic if you style one up!

  16. I love these ideas. I din’t know these were tobacco baskets. I’m going to have to get some. I’ll be looking around my house today to see where they might look good.

  17. Thanks Tina – I only hang two, but shhh…. I have one more out in my garage that I’m scheming to find a home for! I’m thinking maybe in the stairway!

  18. I have always loved tobacco baskets. They can really be used anywhere and there history is wonderful too. I only have one, would love to have more. Have a great week.

  19. That chandelier tobacco basket was one of my favs too! It made me wish for tall ceilings so I could pull it off!

  20. Love all these various decorating options. Think my faves are the ones with the wreaths in the middle and the upside down chandelier. Visiting from Brag About It party.

  21. Pingback: I DIYed That Link Party #25