It’s no secret that I love vintage style decor in our home. Not only do I love using vintage items as home decor, but I also love the thrill of the hunt to find them.
One of the most frequently asked questions I get from people visiting our home and blog readers is where I find the cool vintage pieces we have in our home. So I thought it would be fun to share all of my secrets for vintage treasure hunting in one blog post.
But before I tell you where I score vintage stuff, I should tell you that finding unique items for your home takes patience. You are not always going to find exactly what you are looking for when you want it, but you may just find something completely unexpected that you absolutely love. If you find something awesome, my advice is to snatch it up before it’s gone, even if you don’t know where you are going to put it because I guarantee that if you love it, you will find a great place in your home for it.
The items in my home took me years to collect, so if you are looking for a fast approach to decorating, this probably isn’t the route for you. It is, however, a great way to give your home character and interest that is completely unique.
Without further adieu, here are the 7 places I typically find the best vintage items.
Hands down, estate sales are my most favorite place to find really cool vintage items at a great price. Garage sales are great, but I’ve found that garage sales are mostly just people selling the junk they don’t want anymore, whereas estate sales are families selling everything in a home. It’s great way to find antiques and unique items you can’t find in most stores. Plus the prices are usually great because they want everything gone. To find estate sales in your area, look on Craigslist and visit estatesales.net.
Thrift shops are really hit or miss. I like to stop in to my local thrift shop about once a week to look for treasures. Sometimes I will go weeks without finding anything good at all, but it’s worth it for the times when I do score something great. I like to peruse the book section to look for cool vintage looking books, the kitchen ware aisles for silver trays and pretty dishes, and the furniture and home decor sections. Be on the lookout for things that can be given a makeover or repurposed. Thrift shops are are great place to find things like picture frames that you can give a quick makeover to with a can of spray paint. Goodwill is okay, but I prefer the more obscure thrift shops because their prices are better and they aren’t as picked over.
If you have a smartphone, you’ve got to download the OfferUp app! It’s a lot like Craigslist, but more user-friendly and is a lot faster to buy and sell things. You can search for specific items or browse what’s for sale near you. I check it almost daily to see if anything new has been listed. If you see something you like, you should act quickly though, because the good stuff goes fast. I like to check OfferUp when I’m out of town to see if there is anything cool for sale in the town that I’m visiting too. I’ve found that OfferUp is really popular in some areas, while other towns have very little listed for sale.
Here’s a screenshot of some of the things I’m ‘watching’ in my area…
Most areas have several vintage shows that are held every year. These are like a big bazaar where curators sell tons of cool vintage home decor items. Most charge an admission fee, but they are so fun to go to even if you don’t buy anything. I try not to miss any of the ones in my local area because they are so inspiring and you just never know what treasure you might find!
If you are a local to the Pacific Northwest, some of my favorite vintage shows around here are:
The Farm Chicks (Spokane, WA – June),
Craven Farms Tailgate Sale (Snohomish, WA – June),
Vintage Market at Swan’s Trail Farm (Snohomish, WA – March),
Haley’s Cottage French Inspired Flea Market (Kirkland, WA)
Antique stores tend to price gouge you, but I love them nonetheless. They are a great place to go if you are searching for something specific that you haven’t been able to find elsewhere. Sometimes the price tag is worth it when you find exactly what you have been searching for. I also just love to go to antique stores for inspiration. It’s so fun to stroll around and see the creative way they have displayed their merchandise. I also like to get ideas of what kinds of items to look for at estate sales and thrift stores for cheaper prices 
There are some great online shops that sell vintage style home decor items at fabulous prices. Some of my favorites are Decor Steals, Painted Fox Treasures, Antique Farm House, and Farmhouse Wares (some are affiliate links). A few of these are daily deal sites, meaning they only sell 1-2 items a day at a discounted price. You can sign up to get their emails daily so that the deals are delivered right to your inbox. I love opening up my Decor Steals email every morning and seeing what the deal of the day is!
Make it be known to your friends and family that you love vintage “junk.” You’d be surprised at what they have sitting around that they don’t want or are about to throw away! Also, if you are hunting for a specific item, ask around.
I spent months and months searching for some cool old oars to hang above our bed to no avail. But then one day I mentioned it to my step-dad and he said, “I’ve got some old ones in the garage!” and they turned out to be exactly what I was looking for.
Now that you know my (not so) secret shopping spots, my best advice to those of you shopping for vintage items is to be persistent, always keep your eyes peeled (you just never know where you will find something cool) and to be creative with what you find.
Happy hunting!
The post Where to Find Vintage Style Decor appeared first on Meadow Lake Road.
