The key to having a beautifully styled home is all about the mix: a mix of shapes (angular and curved), a mix of values (light and dark), a mix of textures (smooth and rough), and especially a mix of old and new.

Without vintage or antique items, your home can end up looking a little sterile and like you just dropped a chunk of change in the home decor section of Target (no judgment, I’ve been there). I’ve talked before about the many benefits of decorating your home with a mix of new and old: but above all, adding in just a few vintage items will give you that collected vibe that makes your space feel meaningful and that it has a story to tell. If you’re new to shopping vintage, a great way to start is with accessories.

My very favourite place to find affordable vintage accessories? The local thrift store. If you’ve never been thrifting before, know that it’s a bit like a treasure hunt: sometimes you leave with nothing, other days you find a few things that check all the boxes, and occasionally you score something truly amazing. Regardless, you are going to have to wade through a lot of junk.

Shelves of home decor items at the thrift store

At most thrift stores, items are organized by object type (as opposed to a home decor store where everything is mixed together and beautifully styled), so it’s easier to hit up these sections and see all the options together.

In general when you’re vintage shopping, look for pieces made with natural materials, have simple shapes and are of good quality construction. Most things can be cleaned up or polished, but don’t be afraid of a little patina on an item. Above all, buy things you love or speak to you in some way.

Now that you’ve read the ‘why’ of adding vintage items to your home decor, here are the go-to items that I always look for at the thrift store:

Trays

You can never have too many trays. I think every coffee table, kitchen counter, dresser, bathroom vanity (you name it), needs a tray of one size or another to group all the little things. Often times I’ll have a bunch of items on a surface that just aren’t working together. Add a tray, and bam- it looks intentional. Trays are also relatively easy to store and stack, so that’s my excuse for never passing a pretty one up.

Vintage round brass tray on coffee table with antique vase of pink stalk flowers

Look for: Woven trays with flat and sturdy bottoms, simple wood trays, and natural stone or ceramic trays. I love large round trays to group items on coffee tables or kitchen islands. I found this brass tray (above) heavily tarnished underneath a pile of placemats- it polished up beautifully with a salt and lemon mixture and now adds shine to my coffee table.

Frames

I always stop by the frame section and bring a tape measure to look for standard print sizes. I purchase digital versions of art that I love (Vintage Supply and Juniper Print Shop are two of my favourites), and then have them printed locally on fine art paper. If you find a frame that you love but it isn’t a standard size, you can easily order custom mats online that will make practically any size of art work.

Look for: Thin brass or gold-coloured frames, wood frames especially those with carved detailing.

Baskets

The basket section is front and centre at the thrift store I go to, so I always have a look. I keep a list on my phone of storage needs in my house, and often a little basket is great for corralling everyday items in a pretty way.

I also keep an eye out for larger baskets as they’re an affordable way to incorporate large-scale accessories into your styling. Baskets are by nature curved and textured, making them a great contrast with heavier decor items like pottery or wood pieces.

Antique wood bucket and basket on countertop

Look for: Simple rustic shapes avoiding anything that leans too country, baskets made with natural-looking fibers that haven’t been stained or dyed.

Tableware

Look for: Sets of plates, dishes or bowl in patterns that you love, pieces that have a nice weight to them, pieces with a sense of history (I pass up anything that has barcodes, “Made in China” markings, or a “Dishwasher Safe” stamp on the bottom).

Vases & Vessels

I’ve found many beautiful earthenware, pottery and ceramic vessels at the thrift store (see a few of my favourite finds below)- they’re perfect for flowers, to hold wooden kitchen spoons or just on their own on a shelf. When styling your home, you can never have too many of these items, and they are so much more affordable when purchased at the thrift shop.

Look for: Interesting shapes, rustic materials, and colours that will go with pieces you already have at home to form a collection.

Candle Holders

This is the last of my go-to sections at the thrift store. We all know candles give that essential evening-glow vibe, and having a set of a few beautiful candle sticks and holders to put your candles in completes the look.

You’ll likely come across lots of heavily tarnished pieces as you hunt, but know that most pieces can be cleaned and polished to return some of that original sparkle. Again- embrace the patina as that’s what will give your home that collected look of old and new.

A tip for knowing if an item is solid brass or just brass-plated: if a magnet sticks to the item, then it’s likely brass-plated steel. If there’s no attraction, then the piece is solid brass. I take a small magnet with me whenever I’m vintage or antique shopping for this reason.

Pieces that are solid brass can be cleaned to remove the tarnish with a standard brass cleaner like Brasso. Items that are brass-plated should be cleaned with soap and warm water only. The brass-plating could be scratched off if you use a brass cleaner.

Pair of Vintage brass candlesticks with black bowl of fruit — **Look for:** Candle holders in pairs (unless I absolutely adore it and know that it will go with other pieces at home, I usually pass up single holders), patinated metals with interesting patterns, natural stone materials such as marble.

I hope I’ve inspired you to check out your local thrift store for home decor treasures. Once you start going, you just might get hooked. And if you are an avid thrift store shopper, what are your go-to areas? Tell me in the comments below!

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