Vintage Kitchen Canisters

191 Ideas by Tara Gosselin

Industrial, shabby chic, and farmhouse styles are drawn to the timeless touch that a vintage kitchen canister set can bring to their homes. Use them as decor pieces and place them on shelves, or as functional pieces to store flour, sugar, and pasta. For farmhouse styles, stick with tin and metal canisters, and for shabby chic styles, choose porcelain and ceramic. No matter which material you choose, know you are keeping history alive and well in your kitchen.

Avocado green 70s metal kitchen canister

Avocado green 70s metal kitchen canister

Organize your pantry to the maximum with these kitchen canisters that come in a set of four and make for a charming and retro-styled addition for your interior, especially with their design straight from the 70s and the beautiful avocado green finish.

Vintage owl canister set

Vintage pink plastic canister set from the 1960s. Canisters are labeled in descending order of size, Flour, Sugar, Coffee, Tea. Knife, fork, and spoon stylized decoration on the sides of each. The lids are topped off with clear plastic knobs.

Vintage Kitchen Containers With Chalkboard

Vintage Kitchen Containers With Chalkboard
Metal kitchen canisters

A stunning set of four kitchen canister pieces that are made from durable and strong metal to ensure years of use and would easily fit in with all of your kitchen decor thanks to the vintage look and appeal that they give off.

Aqua kitchen canisters

Should have bought this set on Etsy when I had the chance! Love!!! Lincoln Beautyware Set of Six Vintage Aqua Chrome Kitchen Storage -

Ceramic Rooster Storage Canisters

Ceramic Rooster Storage Canisters
Vintage Copper Kitchen Canisters Set Of

Vintage Copper Kitchen Canisters Set Of

A captivating decoration for kitchens and dining rooms, in shape of a gorgeous set of four canisters. Emanating with vintage flavor and durable construction, each of those cuties is made of copper and beauitfully-polished for extra appearance.

Large canister sets

This set of large canisters makes an ideal kitchen addition. Its cream color will provide a festive touch to your daily stuff. Crafted of low-maintenance earthenware and dishwasher safe. Each canister sits in a metal rack that measures: 6.6 x 6.6 x 2.75".

Vintage Tin Canisters With Bar Pull Lid Handle

Vintage Tin Canisters With Bar Pull Lid Handle
Vintage Metal Canisters With Galvanized Finish

Vintage Metal Canisters With Galvanized Finish
Flour canister set

Vintage 6pc Pink Brushed Metal Tin Canister Set by Kromex

Rustic Farmhouse Kitchen Storage Canisters

Rustic Farmhouse Kitchen Storage Canisters
Feminine Vintage Cannisters

Feminine Vintage Cannisters
Hanging Geometric Terrarium Planter

Hanging Geometric Terrarium Planter
Metal kitchen canisters

Kitchen canisters in vintage style. It is completely made of metal and finished with interesting pattern. Suitable for storing food and others needed stuff. Handy gadget for each kitchen. It is very well appreciated by customers.

Vintage-Inspired Decorative Canisters Set

Vintage-Inspired Decorative Canisters Set
Vintage Metal Kitchen Canisters Set of Three

Vintage Metal Kitchen Canisters Set of Three
Farmhouse Canisters (Set of 3)

Farmhouse Canisters (Set of 3)

Antique Copper Canister with Etched Design

Antique Copper Canister with Etched Design
Translucent Vintage Kitchen Canister

Translucent Vintage Kitchen Canister
Ceramic Kitchen Counter Storage Container

Ceramic Kitchen Counter Storage Container
Metal canister sets

I love these cute vintage kitchen canisters, so lovely and useful. I' definitely put my tea bags and coffee in these.

Metal canisters

The vintage metal canisters presented on the picture were refreshed by their owner: all canisters were spray painted - now they're light blue - and hand lettered. In their new form, they successfully brighten the kitchen up.

Provincial Ceramic Canisters with Decorative Lids

Provincial Ceramic Canisters with Decorative Lids
More Ideas
Vintage Kitchen Canisters

Buying Guide

Metal kitchen canisters are great for keeping flour, sugar, pasta and more safe from moisture, insects and rodents. They cannot be broken like glass canisters. Another plus is that they give you the opportunity to use them to beautify your home. You can match colors or color-coordinate them to the colors in your kitchen.

By the 1850s, tin canisters were standard in U.S. kitchens because traveling salesmen sold them filled with coffee or tea. Some of these canisters carried the company name. In the 1940s, enameled canisters were used widely. They often bore labels such as “flour” and “sugar” that identified their contents. In keeping with practical identification, many canisters with labels are available today.

Metal kitchen canisters are available in dark colors like espresso and deep blue, bright colors such as avocado green and fire engine red. They offer more choices by being available in shiny finishes or hammered finishes as well as in patterns and with floral motifs. Metal kitchen canisters are also available with reproductions of famous labels and styles of bygone days. Pieces of any era can be found in one or more of the following materials: stainless steel, galvanized tin, chrome or aluminum.

While some retro metal kitchen canisters come in very busy and colorful patterns that cover every inch of the storage vessel, others have a clean and very modern look. That’s because in the 1950s chrome accents were popular, as were the colors pink, aqua, turquoise, black, gray and copper. The materials used in making canisters of several eras are sometimes mixed. For instance, a set might have metal containers and wood tops.

You can place metal kitchen canisters on your kitchen counter, but they are not just for foodstuffs. Use them in your laundry room or bathroom. Parents can use them to store children’s crayons, marbles, game pieces and more. If you’re a hobbyist, a person who makes home repairs or someone who sews, use them to keep nails, screws, glue, pins, needles, thread and more. Remove the lid on them to keep tall items such as wooden spoons, rulers and paint brushes. Since they come in so many colors, you are sure to find one that complements the decor of your home.

Since historically they were always about food preservation, metal kitchen canisters have airtight seals. Some have push-down lids while others have latches. Still others have handles or knobs on their tops. Metal kitchen canisters usually come in sets of three, four or five. The pieces of most sets can be nestled inside each other to conserve space when not in use.

Even though we now have cabinets with lots of shelves in our kitchens that’s no reason to ditch storage containers for that room. Even if you don’t need them for your kitchen, you don’t have to think too hard to find other places in your home where you can use metal kitchen canisters.