Eco-Friendly Dining: The Benefits of Cloth Napkins and Vintage Napkin Rings
Say goodbye to disposable paper napkins and hello to sustainable style with vintage napkin rings
Disposable paper napkins might seem like a small detail at mealtime, but their environmental footprint is far from insignificant. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, paper napkins and towels account for over 4% of landfill waste and play a substantial role in deforestation. For those committed to reducing waste and embracing sustainable living, swapping paper for cloth napkins is a simple yet impactful change.
Cloth napkins offer durability and long-term cost savings, but they also elevate any table setting with a level of sophistication that disposable options can’t match. The tactile quality of fabric and the opportunity to choose from a range of textures, colors, and patterns add depth and intention to dining experiences—whether everyday meals or special occasions.
Go even farther with your sustainable dining setup by incorporating some vintage napkin rings. Those thoughtful touches are what gives your dining event some personality. These pieces are not just decorative—they’re a conscious choice to reuse and repurpose craftsmanship from past eras, reducing demand for newly produced goods. From brass and wood to ceramic and glass, vintage napkin rings come in a variety of styles that can complement any aesthetic. Truly, the possibilities are endless. Modern designs rarely capture the same heights of vibe.
Switching to cloth napkins paired with vintage napkin rings is more than just an eco-conscious decision—it’s a design statement. It signals a commitment to thoughtful living and invites guests to slow down and appreciate the details. Sustainable dining becomes a ritual of care and connection, where every element has depth.
Next time you set your table, consider ditching the disposable paper napkins and opting for cloth instead. The result is a dining experience that’s elegant, sustainable, and deeply personal—an investment in both style and the planet.
Cottagecore, Gardencore and Vintage Aesthetic
Cottagecore, Gardencore, and the Vintage Aesthetic: Why This Nostalgic Style Still Captivates
In recent years, Cottagecore and Gardencore have blossomed into powerful aesthetic movements, capturing the imagination of people longing for a slower, more intentional way of living. Rooted in romanticized visions of rural life, these styles celebrate nature, simplicity, and handcrafted beauty—making them natural partners to vintage design and décor.
At their core, Cottagecore and Gardencore are about embracing the imperfect, the authentic, and the timeworn. They invite us to reconnect with traditions that feel lost in our fast-paced, mass-produced world. Whether it’s the warm glow of sun-dappled floral linens, the gentle rustle of a vintage wicker basket, or the subtle patina on a well-loved wooden chair, these details evoke a comforting sense of home and history.
Why Vintage Fits Seamlessly with These Movements
Vintage pieces are more than just decorative accents—they’re artifacts of craftsmanship, storytelling, and sustainable living. In the world of Cottagecore and Gardencore, vintage furniture, ceramics, and textiles ground the aesthetic in authenticity. Each item carries a legacy, inviting you to participate in its ongoing story.
These vintage elements also provide essential texture and depth, balancing the softness of natural fibers and floral patterns with materials like worn leather, weathered wood, and hand-thrown pottery. This layering creates spaces that feel lived-in and lovingly curated rather than staged.
The Cultural Appeal: Escaping the Modern Overwhelm
The surge of Cottagecore and Gardencore can be seen as a cultural response to digital overload and environmental anxiety. These aesthetics offer an antidote to the constant barrage of online trends and mass-market consumerism by prioritizing connection—to nature, to slower rhythms, and to heirloom quality.
For many, adopting these styles is less about strict rules and more about mindset: a desire to find peace and beauty in small, tactile experiences. It’s about walking barefoot in the garden, baking from scratch, and surrounding yourself with objects that hold meaning beyond their utility.
Incorporating Vintage Into Your Cottagecore or Gardencore Style
Focus on Function & Story: Seek out vintage pieces that aren’t just beautiful but built to last. A vintage farmhouse table, handwoven throw, or a set of heirloom china carries more weight than any fast-fashion replica.
Mix Old & New with Intention: Blend vintage finds with contemporary pieces that complement the softer, natural tones of Cottagecore and Gardencore. A modern linen sofa looks even more inviting paired with a faded floral quilt or a vintage wooden sideboard.
Prioritize Sustainability: Choosing vintage is an act of environmental care, reducing waste and breathing new life into materials. It’s a way to decorate with purpose and integrity.
Celebrate Imperfection: Embrace the marks of age—faded fabrics, chipped glaze, weathered surfaces—as badges of authenticity that enrich your space.
By weaving vintage into Cottagecore and Gardencore aesthetics, you create spaces that feel both timeless and deeply personal. It’s about crafting a home that tells your story, rooted in history yet perfectly suited for modern living.
Ready to bring this nostalgic style into your space? Explore our curated vintage collections at CLAY+CODA and discover pieces that embody the spirit of slow, intentional living.
Blue Vintage for the Home
Adding blue vintage decor to your home can be a great way to bring a touch of nostalgia and character to your living space. Whether you are looking to create a vintage-inspired theme or simply add a few statement pieces, blue vintage decor can be a great way to achieve your desired look. Blue is the color of Roth Modern HQ and we have explored many ways to incorporate it into our space.
One of the best ways to incorporate blue vintage decor into your home is to focus on statement pieces. For example, you could add a vintage blue cabinet or armoire to your living room or bedroom. These pieces can add a lot of character and charm to a space, and can be a great conversation starter. Other statement pieces to consider include vintage blue lamps, vases, and wall art. Stoneware dinner plates can make for exciting and unique wall art.
Another way to incorporate blue vintage decor into your home is to focus on smaller, more subtle details. For example, you could add vintage blue glassware to your kitchen or dining room. These pieces can add a touch of elegance and sophistication to a space, and can be a great way to complement other vintage decor.
When adding blue vintage decor to your home, it's important to keep in mind the overall style of your space. For example, if you have a more modern or contemporary decor style, it's best to stick to a few statement pieces or small details, rather than overwhelming the space with vintage decor. If you have a vintage inspired or time capsule home, there really is no limit. Our space at Roth Modern HQ is somewhere in-between. We have a some modern made repro statement pieces like sofas and desks but for the most part everything else is vintage.
In summary, adding blue vintage decor to your home can be a great way to bring a touch of nostalgia and character to your living space. Whether you focus on statement pieces or smaller, more subtle details, there are many ways to incorporate vintage decor into your home. Just make sure to keep in mind the overall style of your space when adding vintage decor. These suggestions apply for any color you may have in mind. We chose blue because we found that it was a rarer hue for the era we love (the 1960s and 70s) but we encourage you to go for whatever color heart desires.
The Comeback of Yellow and Brown in Mid-Century Home Decor
A Look at the Popularity of Warm Tones in the Swinging Sixties
Uncovering the cultural and societal influences behind a popular color trend
Vintage home decor lovers know the power of color to define an era—and in the mid-century modern movement, warm tones like yellow and brown played a starring role. These hues aren’t just colors; they’re cultural snapshots, deeply rooted in the social and design landscape of the 1960s and 70s. Today, these warm tones are enjoying a major revival, making a bold statement in modern interiors that blend nostalgia with contemporary style.
The 1960s were a decade of upheaval and transformation—socially, politically, and culturally. Yellow and brown glassware and home accents were everywhere, echoing the optimism, earthiness, and experimental spirit of the time. Yellow evoked sunshine, hope, and the carefree vibes of the Summer of Love and counterculture movements. It was a bright, cheerful symbol of peace, freedom, and possibility amid a world in flux. Brown rooted mid-century modern design in nature and simplicity. It reflected the growing appreciation for natural materials and warm, organic textures as a response to the machine age’s sterility. Together, these hues captured a perfect balance of youthful optimism and grounded practicality.
The popularity of yellow and brown in mid-century decor was about more than just aesthetics—it was a reflection of shifting values. The counterculture embraced bright, optimistic colors as a break from the gray uniformity of post-war life, while environmental awareness was rising and earthy browns connected interiors to the natural world. At the same time, innovations in glassmaking techniques and colorants made producing vibrant yellows and warm browns easier and more affordable, spreading these colors into countless households.
Fast-forward to the 2020s, and we’re seeing a fresh wave of interest in these warm vintage hues, especially a popular muted shade known as butter yellow. This softer yellow ties into today’s broader focus on sustainability, mindfulness, and cozy, lived-in spaces. Designers and collectors alike are drawn to yellow and brown for their ability to add warmth and personality without overwhelming a space, complement natural materials like wood, leather, and stone, and evoke a sense of timelessness and connection to the past—perfect for layering vintage with modern.
At CLAY+CODA, we celebrate how these colors allow vintage pieces to feel fresh again. Whether it’s a honey-hued glass vase or a walnut sideboard, these warm tones make every space a curated reflection of history and style. Styling these hues today means pairing butter yellow glassware or ceramics with neutral linens and greenery for balance, mixing deep brown wood furniture with lighter upholstery or metal accents to create dynamic contrast, and layering in textured fabrics like boucle or leather to enhance warmth and tactile richness. Using yellow as an accent through lighting, cushions, or decorative objects can inject energy into neutral rooms without overpowering them.
Choosing vintage yellow and brown decor isn’t just a design choice—it’s a sustainable one. Pieces from the 1960s and 70s were crafted with quality and longevity in mind, built to stand up to use and wear better than many contemporary mass-produced alternatives. By incorporating authentic vintage yellow and brown items into your home, you reduce demand for fast furniture and decor, embrace timeless design that ages gracefully, and connect your living space to the stories and craftsmanship of the past.
Yellow and brown aren’t just colors; they’re a warm, historic embrace that’s back with purpose. Whether you’re curating a full mid-century modern aesthetic or simply adding a few vintage accents, these hues bring depth, personality, and sustainable style to any home.
Discover a curated collection of vintage yellow and brown pieces at CLAY+CODA and elevate your space with authentic design that lasts.