Decorating with Birdcages

Neiman Marcus

I have never owned a feathered friend, but I have a nice collection of birdcages! I am hooked on birdcages, because they are whimsical, fun and interesting pieces. They have a sculptural quality which makes them useful when you need a little something to fill out a room. They make wonderful accessories and can be used in many different and unexpected ways.

Country Living

Birdcages can work in modern or traditional spaces and about every style in between! Whether hanging high from a ceiling, placed on a table or tucked low in a corner these Tweet Retreats are versatile!

Better Homes

Birdcages come in a variety of prices, but you can find inexpensive ones if you keep your eyes open! When you spot one don’t get hung up about the color, because you can easily change it with the magic of spray paint. What is important to consider is the shape and size, because you usually can’t alter these features.

JC Penny

Everything in interior design cycles, going in and out of style. The trick is learning how to work with pieces you already own to keep a current look. Birdcages have been around as long as people have kept birds as pets. They serve a useful purpose and have a timeless quality. The basic birdcage is timeless, but how it's accessorized makes it either current or outdated. Several years ago a peach raffia bow and artificial flowers would be trendy on a birdcage, but now it would look horribly dated.

Today, that same birdcage painted white and filled with candles and sea shells would look chic and trendy. So don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater, learn to salvage what you can. If something has nice lines and you like the item then fiddle with it a bit. See if you can make it work by doing something creative with it. Taking this approach is kinder to our environment and easier on the wallet. Remember often the most clever and interesting rooms evolve over time layer by layer.

I have moved several times over the years, so didn't have the luxury of buying specifically for my current home. To compensate, I use techniques to make my furniture work in the different spaces. For example, I have cathedral ceilings in a couple of rooms, so I placed birdcages on top of armoires to gain more height and drama. This created a better sense of scale to fit the tall spaces.

Orchids are ever so trendy at the moment! Adding one to this arrangement keeps it current and adds a pop of vibrant color.

I follow interior design closely (passionately!) and know what is current and understand how to spot quality. However, I am not a slave to every hip and trendy look that is thrown out every season. This is my personal philosophy and for me chasing after the latest fad is silly and exhausting. I keep an updated look by incorporating items that appeal to me and make sense. I strive for my home to look fresh and current and add trendy accessories that don't cost a fortune, because they usually looked dated quickly.

Hot tickets among bloggers are cute ceramic birdies. Also favored are roosters, monograms and burlap anything! Please feel free to add to this list of Blog World's hip and trendy!

The above is a great look and probably many of these pieces you can find at garage sales or thrift stores. If you have the desire, you can learn to develop your own own sense of style. By following the principals of good design, which include scale, balance and proportion, you will learn to create a beautiful and Stylish House of your own. I have had several readers tell me they think it is neat I shop on the second hand market even though I am an interior designer. I shop everywhere, but it needs to be quality, clean and classy or I leave it untouched.

Jail Bird!




Love these candles, just make sure the birdcage is made from metal.

Posted: Gina's @ The Shabby Chic Cottage & Julia's @ Hooked on Houses