One of the easiest ways to create a home that feels layered and full of character is by incorporating vintage home decor. Over the years, I’ve found some incredible pieces at Habitat ReStore, antique malls, flea markets, and charity shops that I would happily buy all over again.
I’m starting a new monthly series called Worth the Hunt, where I’ll share the vintage home decor, antique, and thrifted pieces that have had the biggest impact on our home. Some were investment purchases, while others cost less than dinner out, but every one of them helped our home feel a little more collected.
If you’ve ever wondered what kinds of secondhand pieces are actually worth bringing home, these are the five vintage home decor finds I’d buy again without hesitation.
5 Vintage Home Decor Finds I’d Buy Again (And Why)
1. English Roll Arm Sherrill Sofa
We really feel like we hit the jackpot when we found this sofa at a local Habitat ReStore last summer. It’s a big, deep English roll arm sofa, and was an absolute STEAL at only $90.
I’ve had an English roll arm sofa on my wish list for years. It’s a timeless silhouette that fits my love of traditional English interiors. But I could never bring myself to buy one new. I hadn’t found one I truly loved that also felt like it was built to last.
Without much of a plan, Mike and I found ourselves stopping into a few local secondhand shops one weekend. As soon as we walked into the Habitat ReStore, I spotted this gorgeous floral beauty and made a beeline for it.
The first thing I did was sit down to test it. Then I lifted the seat cushion to check the maker, and my jaw just about dropped. The tag said Sherrill, and I knew immediately we had found something special.
Pieces like this are always a yes for me. Sherrill furniture is made in Hickory, North Caroline. They are considered a high end premium brand because of the standards in which the pieces are made. Some of these include solid domestic hardwood frames, artisan-quality, and 8-way hand-tied springs.
These are the pieces I’ll always bring home if I can. A well-made sofa can be reupholstered and enjoyed for decades. Making it a much better investment than buying a lower-quality piece new.
2. Marble Table Lamp
This next find is one of my all time favorite lighting finds. It’s another classic, timeless piece that quietly adds history and presence wherever it’s styled.
There’s a small antique mall in Hartville that I love to stop into whenever I’m in the area. While browsing one weekend, I spotted this lamp tucked into one of the booths. I’d seen lamps like this before, but none of them had ever really caught my eye until this one.
Many of the others I’d come across felt over-embellished, with ornate carvings and decorative flourishes that weren’t quite my style. This one was different. It had a simple urn-shaped base with subtle ribbed detailing at the top. No leaves, scrolls, or extra ornamentation. Just simple, elegant lines.
I remember hesitating for a minute when I saw the $68 price tag, wondering if it was more than I wanted to spend. Then I stopped and asked myself two questions: What would I pay for something new? And would I even find a new lamp I loved as much as this one? The answer to both was obvious.
The lamp didn’t come with a shade, so for a while I used one I already had around the house. Then, about a year later, I stumbled across a pleated chocolate brown lampshade at a charity shop. It ended up being the perfect finishing touch, picking up the rich veining in the marble base and making the whole piece feel complete.
This is exactly the kind of secondhand find I never regret buying. Its classic shape means it can move from room to room as our home evolves, and those are the pieces that always have a place in our collection.
3. Blue and White Garden Stool
This next piece is one of my all-time favorite finds. The story of how I found it years ago isn’t anything extraordinary, but it’s one that has always stuck with me.
My sister-in-law and I used to go to the Hartville Flea Market every Memorial Day. We both love the hunt and digging through booths in search of great deals or that one piece we can’t leave behind.
I remember spotting this blue and white garden stool at one of the stalls. When I went in for a closer look, I couldn’t believe it was only $20. This was long before garden stools became as popular as they are today. A piece like this could easily cost a couple hundred dollars now. It was an immediate yes, and I carried it around with me for the rest of the day.
I’ve always been drawn to blue and white pieces, so between the color and the price, it was an easy decision. But what has made this one of my favorite finds isn’t what I paid for it. It’s how often I’ve used it.
It has lived in several different rooms over the years, both inside and outside, serving as everything from a side table to an extra surface for a drink or a stack of books. My favorite way to style it is tucked partially underneath another side table to create that layered, collected look I love.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from decorating with secondhand finds, it’s that the best pieces are the ones that can move from room to room as your home evolves. They adapt as your home changes and are just as useful years later as the day you found them.
4. Blue and White Delft Windmill Plate
Blue and white plates are my kryptonite. I have an ever-growing collection, and I’m drawn to different ones for different reasons. Sometimes it’s the scene that’s depicted or the shades of blue. Other times it’s the pattern, the size, or even the shape.
I found this particular plate at a local antique mall and was immediately drawn to both the colors and the age of the piece. While floral and geometric patterns are usually what I gravitate toward, there was something about this one that made me stop.
I studied abroad in Florence, Italy, during college, and in addition to traveling throughout Italy, we visited several other countries before heading back to the States. Two of my favorite stops were Amsterdam in the Netherlands and Mykonos in Greece.
The Delft blue and white always reminds me of Amsterdam, while the windmill scene instantly takes me back to Mykonos, where the iconic windmills overlook the island. Every time I see this plate, it reminds me of that season of my life.
At $18, it wasn’t the cheapest plate I’ve ever bought secondhand. Iit was worth every penny though because it brings back those memories every time I walk past it.
5. Old man reading newspaper portrait
Art is such a personal thing. I always find it interesting to see what other people are drawn to and choose to display in their homes.
I love landscapes, florals, and every now and then I enjoy torturing Mike with a creepy portrait. This one, though, Mike was actually on board with.
We found it years ago at a local vintage shop called The Bomb Shelter. It was one of those pieces that draws you in. I loved the moody color palette and the chunky warm wood frame. I also thought the old man in his cap was incredibly charming. Something about him even reminded us a little of Mike’s grandfather.
Even though I didn’t know exactly where I’d put it, I knew it would work with the other pieces we’d already collected.
Over the years we’ve moved it to different rooms, but it’s remained one of my favorite pieces. I think that’s the beauty of collecting original artwork. When you buy pieces that genuinely speak to you instead of trying to fill a blank wall, they have a way of fitting into your home no matter where they end up.
Why These Finds Were Worth The Hunt
Looking back at these vintage home decor finds, none of them were impulse purchases simply because they were old or a good deal. They were pieces I genuinely loved and could picture becoming part of our home.
That’s what makes something worth the hunt for me.
I’d love to know, what’s one secondhand find you’d buy again in a heartbeat?
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