Vintage Décor

Top 10 Vintage Décor Buys to Elevate Your Home

Are you ready to bring some totally unique character to your home? Today, I’m counting down the 10 best vintage décor buys you need now. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or new to the vintage scene, these must-have pieces will add personalized charm and style to your space.

If you’re new around here, I’m Ashley Childers, an interior designer, product designer, and the founder of the Ashley Childers Home Furnishings brand. On this blog, I share pro designer tips and interior inspiration for creating a home and life you love. Now, let’s jump right into the 10 vintage must-haves you need right now!

10. Vintage Mirrors

Vintage and antique mirrors, from hand-carved frames to unique shapes, add interest, scale, and depth to any room. They double as functional art pieces. If you come across a vintage or antique mirror you love, don’t hesitate to snatch it up.

Antique mirrors often have solid wood, brass, or bronze frames, deeply beveled inset mirrors, and hand-painted or beautifully patinaed finishes. These characteristics are hard to find in new wall mirrors, and you can often get them for a steal of a deal. If you find one you love, buy it and bring it home—you’ll love it for years to come.

9. Antique Boxes

Antique boxes are perfect for stashing the TV remote and serve as stunning focal points with intricate designs and craftsmanship. I always keep an eye out for antique boxes when I’m shopping and have amassed quite a collection over the years.

These unique pieces are not only functional but also a great way to introduce a new wood finish or material into your space, adding charm and personality to a tablescape.

8. Artistic Lamps

Artistic lamps are functional art. I have a soft spot for highly unique, handcrafted vintage lamps and collect them for their unique designs and handcrafted finishes that bring intrigue and interest to a room while providing warm, inviting light.

When sourcing antique lamps, I look for ones hand-built out of ceramics or pottery, hand-forged out of iron or brass, or made out of natural stone like marble, alabaster, or onyx. The key is to choose one that’s unique and creative, injecting instant personality into your space.

7. Vintage Rugs

If there’s one vintage item to invest in, it’s a beautiful, hand-knotted, 100% wool rug. It will last a lifetime, add texture and color, and instantly transform any room.

Plus, a vintage rug can act as a jumping-off point for an entire room’s design direction by providing a color palette and style tone for the whole space.

6. Original Vintage Art

Original vintage art, whether framed paintings, sketches, antique tapestries, or textiles, brings history and a story to your walls, adding interest and intrigue to a room.

It’s a great, more affordable way to incorporate original artwork into your home. Next time you’re antiquing, look for original artwork and if you find a piece you love, snatch it up.

5. Antique Side Tables

Antique side tables, with timeless materials, unique shapes, and a touch of nostalgia, can be both sculptural and purposeful. They often provide the exact touch of interest and intrigue a room needs.

There are many uses for these little tables, from sitting your coffee beside an armchair to placing flowers in an entry or even providing a surface for your towel and candle next to the bathtub.

4. Vintage Trunks and Chests

Vintage trunks and chests offer storage and style, serving as coffee tables, blanket chests, or simply eye-catching accents.

When you find a vintage chest or trunk in an antique store, open it up and check the condition of the inside, especially if you want to use it for storage. Also, be sure to add felt pads to the bottom if placing it on hardwood floors to avoid scratches.

3. Antique Books

Antique books with beautifully aged covers not only tell stories of the past but also make great décor elements. Display them on a table, group them in a bookshelf, or stack them up as makeshift risers for other décor pieces.

The patina and interest that antique book spines and covers add to a display make them a fun conversation piece in a room.

2. Antique Candlesticks and Candle Snuffers

Antique candlesticks and candle snuffers are functional ways to add history and charm to a room. They can also introduce a new metal finish like brass, iron, or bronze to your space.

Even a single sculptural candlestick in a display can make a beautifully sophisticated statement.

1. Vintage Vases and Ceramics

Vintage vases and ceramics offer pops of color and whimsy to a room and are ideal for adding interest to any tabletop or shelf. They are an affordable way to add something handmade to your décor, injecting a bit of history and soul into your spaces.

When shopping for vintage vases and ceramics, look on the underside of the piece—often, they’ll be signed by the artist, making them true originals.

And there you have it, the top 10 vintage décor buys to elevate your home with style and history. I can’t wait to hear which is your favorite, so let me know in the comments below.

Shop Our Favorite Picks Of The Week!

Connect with me on Instagram @ashleychildershome and on Pinterest for daily design inspiration.

Thank you so much for reading, and remember, good design is for everyone. So create a home that inspires you, have fun decorating with your fabulous vintage finds, and fall in love with where you live one room at a time.

XO, Ashley