Almost every household has traditional, ancestral brass items neatly stowed away in a deep, dark storeroom or cupboard, only to be removed and used on special occasions. Maybe we are wired to lock away all things pretty and shiny. It is understandable when it comes to gold jewellery, but brass can surely be flaunted.
The beauty of brass, be it with a green film of patina or in shiny gold, can add a unique charm to your home décor. Belonging to a Tamilian household, I’ve seen beautiful generations-old brass items lying beneath our bed, collecting dust. Those items see the light of the day only when there is a function, feast or festival at home (conditions apply*).
When I got married and moved out of my house, I handpicked a few of the brass pieces from my mother’s collection (with due permission) and decided to make better use of them. As it turned out, using brass to do up my home garnered a lot of attention and admiration from friends, family and guests.
I didn’t limit the brass pieces to just the décor. Here are a few ways I made use of these valuable pieces.
The keeper of change
All the loose notes and coins that are often dropped around the house are collected and stored in the brass vessels. The house is less littered and the usage is least expected.
Use it as a planter
Use large containers as planters for your indoor plants or as a vase for dried leaves like pampas grass.
The incense holder
Make use of tall brass pedestals or candle stands as incense holders. This does the job of spreading pleasant aromas around the house and looks aesthetically pleasing too.
Ice breaker
Your most unique brass pieces can become a conversation starter at home. For instance, if you have a vintage style nut breaker, animal-shaped grater, lamp, or idols, then you can use them as paper weights on your centre table. If you have any hollow brass vessel or semi-shallow tray lying at home, you can use it for floating or arranging flowers in it.
Image source: Pinterest