Vintage cameras are sure to add chic and a cool retro feel to your space, don’t hide them in drawers! How to display them to make them a gorgeous decor feature for your interior? Here are some easy ideas!
Create a Gallery Wall Featuring Vintage Cameras
I actually started with a gallery wall because, well, I had no idea what else to do with my cameras. I had three—one from my dad, and two I picked up at a flea market—and didn’t want them hiding in a drawer. So I played around with layout on the floor first, mixed in a few framed prints of old film photos, and boom—instant character on the wall.
A friend of mine went all out and added tiny brass tags under each camera with the model and year. It looked like a mini museum! I haven’t gotten that fancy, but I did mount mine with floating shelves in a zigzag pattern. The depth from the shelves makes the whole thing pop way more than if I’d just framed photos.
Lighting helped too. I found these stick-on LED spotlights at a hardware store—super cheap but made the whole setup feel intentional. If you’re dealing with an empty wall and a few cameras, this idea is a solid win.
A frame with frames inside and cameras in each of the frames is a bold artful display.
White cube shelves will add dimension and will display your cameras at their best.
White ledges by IKEA are ideal for displaying vintage cameras and won't distract attention from them.
Style Cameras on Bookshelves or Console Tables
This is probably the easiest and most casual way I’ve used vintage cameras in my decor. I had a stack of photography books already sitting on my bookshelf, and adding a retro Kodak Brownie on top just made sense. It kind of tied the whole theme together without looking too “designed.”
If you don’t want to overthink it, this method’s perfect. Just treat your camera like a sculpture. I like to prop mine up beside a small plant or a brass bookend to balance the materials—metal, wood, greenery. It creates that styled-but-effortless look.
Console tables are great too. My neighbor turned her hallway table into a rotating display of travel memorabilia, and she’ll swap out old postcards and vintage cameras every season. It’s simple but feels super personal.
Sleek and nostalgic, this black-and-white themed shelf keeps retro cameras spaced out, letting each one make a quiet statement. (@dianalevine).
Wooden shelves over the door is a great idea to use the awkward space and display cameras.
Rustic wooden shelves and a chalkboard wall are great to display your cameras and sign them up.
Natural wood ledges are right what you need to display vintage cameras simply and with style.
Take a vintage cabinet and place all your cameras on it to keep the theme.
Remove wheels from your old skates and attach them to the wall to display the cameras.
Simple wooden shelves won't distract attention from your precious cameras.
Rustic wooden shelves double up as a practical display and camera drop zone, with a few hanging straps adding movement below. (@niki.k.416).
Clean floating shelves show off a curated lineup of old cameras, blending minimal style with nostalgic flair in a bright hallway. (@rialeeczi).
Use Glass Cabinets or Shadow Boxes
I don’t have the space for a cabinet right now, but one of my friends—he collects everything from antique cameras to typewriters—has a full-on glass display case in his living room. It looks like something you’d see in a photography exhibit. He even lined the back with dark velvet fabric to make the cameras pop more under soft lighting.
Shadow boxes are a bit more doable if you’re tight on space. I’ve seen people use them for single cameras, adding little extras like old film rolls, a handwritten tag, or even a black-and-white family photo in the background. It’s a nice way to keep dust off delicate parts, especially leather straps that tend to crack if they dry out.
If I ever find a shadow box at a thrift store, I’ll definitely try this one out.
A pastel green shadow box brings vintage cameras to life, backed with pages from old books for extra texture and charm. (@cluttervintageshop).
A tidy grid of colorful Kodak cameras, each in its own labeled cubby, mixes cheerful display with collection pride. (@fleamarketdecor).
Rustic box shelves to display cameras and a black and white photo to add style.
An oversized box shelf display with a compartment for each camera is a bold decor feature.
This wooden cubby shelf packs in a vibrant mix of vintage film cameras, from Yashica to Canon, creating a bold and colorful display that feels both organized and full of character. Perfect for collectors who want every camera to have its own little spotlight. (@52frames).
Incorporate Cameras into Functional Furniture Displays
I haven’t done this one yet, but I saw it at a friend’s place and immediately snapped a photo. She had a bar cart setup, very mid-century, and right next to the bottles and glassware was this chunky old camera sitting on a stack of cocktail books. It was unexpected, but it totally worked.
Another clever idea I saw on Pinterest was turning a busted tripod into a floor lamp base. Someone added a bulb on top and painted the whole thing matte black—it looked industrial and artsy without trying too hard.
Basically, if you’ve got a corner that feels too bland, tucking a vintage camera into the decor can add instant character. And if the space has a function—like a bar cart or entry table—it still feels grounded and not overly “themed.”
Mixed media shelves with cameras, typewriters, phones, and more—this display feels like rummaging through grandma’s attic (but curated). (@cbbuie).
A vintage mailbox is great for displaying cameras and storing them properly.
Hang Cameras Directly on the Wall
I’ve always wanted to try this, especially with cameras that have cool leather straps. One designer I follow hung a series of them vertically like art, with little framed prints in between. It gave that whole “gallery-meets-workshop” vibe, and I loved it.
But you definitely want to make sure you’re hanging them securely. Some of those older models are surprisingly heavy, and drywall doesn’t forgive. If you’re doing a more minimal look, even just one camera hanging from a hook or peg can make a stylish statement.
A few people online even mount them directly to reclaimed wood panels, then hang that like a framed piece. It’s very rustic-meets-industrial.
Attach some hooks and hang your vintage cameras on the wall creating a display.
Display Cameras in Suitcases or Vintage Trunks
I’ve never done this personally, but I think it’s such a charming idea—especially if you’re into vintage travel vibes. I saw a setup at a local antique shop where they had an old camera displayed inside an open leather suitcase, surrounded by film reels and old travel stickers. It looked like a prop from a movie set.
One blogger styled hers with vintage postcards and some dried flowers, then set the whole thing on top of a trunk at the foot of her bed. It was cozy, kind of romantic, and perfect for anyone who loves that nostalgia-soaked aesthetic.
If you’ve got a guest room or hallway with space for a trunk or suitcase, this could be such a cool seasonal or semi-permanent vignette.
A globe, a vintage camera, and some quirky decor—this suitcase stack display feels like the start of a well-traveled story. (@sherrysvintagestyle).
Old cameras turned into working Edison-style lamps prove that vintage gear can totally be functional—and look amazing doing it. (@juststuffau).
A glowing white built-in shelf turns vintage cameras into art pieces, highlighting their shapes with soft LED lighting. (@diycartel).
A vertical wooden shelf to display each camera individually and with style.
Black floating shelves, individual for each camera and matching box shelves for other stuff.