How to Decorate Your Home with Antique and Thrifted Finds

I love thrifting and have always been drawn to the history and uniqueness of collected pieces. Even as a child I was drawn to old books, historic homes, and relics of the past. Finding these while thrifting never ceases to give me a thrill of joy. As I decorate and style homes, I always want something old to help anchor the space, so I'm thrilled to share these ideas on how to decorate your home with antique and thrifted finds with you.

Benefits of Thrifting

Beyond the obvious benefit of saving items from going to a landfill, you’re often getting higher-quality craftsmanship and value for your money. Dove-tail drawers, hand-carved or painted details, and solid metal pieces are all signs to look for to know that what you’re picking up is quality. These kinds of pieces have a uniqueness that can never be replicated by a CNC machine, plastic parts, or AI because each piece has had a human touch that’s unmistakably special.

Antique shopping is like diving into a treasure trove of items that have stood the test of time. There are layers of lived history in the items, and the thrill of knowing that you’ll be adding your own history as well. Sometimes you get glimpses of the past from flecks of paint, scraps of paper left in drawers, or other clues about its past and it creates a connection between you and the items you’ve collected and love. That patina is something you can’t fake.

William Morris is famously quoted for touting items that are both functional and beautiful in the home, and many times, thrifted items satisfy both categories. 

Why does shopping Secondhand/vintage make for good home decor?

Thrifted items have all had a previous life, which means they all have a story. One of the most amazing parts of decorating your home is being able to tell a story through what you curate, and the way you put those things together. 

When you’re vintage or thrift shopping, you’re less likely to be swayed by what’s trending or what your neighbor is doing. Instead, you’re drawn to items for their own sake and the place they could fill in your home. Your decisions are based on how you feel about the items, and that feeling helps tell your story in a way that’s authentic to you. 

YOU are the biggest piece missing in most home decor situations–your personality, your passion, and your character. When you add a thrifted piece to your collection, it’s because that item meant something to you and it becomes a piece of your story. If someone were to ask about it, you’d easily be able to have a lively conversation about where you found it, why you picked it, and how you’ve incorporated it into your home. You’ve created a connection between you and your home through that item.

Ideas for decorating with thrifted decor

Follow the feeling. Let your heart decide how to decorate with your thrifted treasures. If something feels off, it probably is. On the other hand, if it feels natural, it’s right where it was meant to be. 

Create a juxtaposition. Unusual uses for items sometimes make the most striking statement. Don’t be afraid to put non-pictures on the wall. Anything from skis, baskets, and outdoor shutters can make a huge impact by being used indoors in unexpected ways. Use library catalog drawers as a place for housing small plants. Display an antique sewing machine as an entry table paired with a modern mirror above it. Repurpose an old church pew in your mud room to sit on while putting on your shoes. Just have fun with the items in a way that’s meaningful to you.

Mix different styles together. Many times the things you collect while thrifting naturally fall into different decorating styles. We’re multifaceted beings with different interests and likes, so it’s natural that our home decor treasures wouldn’t all fall into the same style either. It’s the mix of old and new, traditional and contemporary, art nouveau and mid century or whatever speaks to your heart that makes your style undeniably yours. Combine pieces or styles by looking for either similarities or differences. Maybe color can tie the two styles together. Or maybe the colors differ but there’s a similar organic feel to both. That intersection is what will set your decor apart.

This article was used to contribute to an article on the Martha Stewart website. To find this article and others, please visit my Media page.