Let’s Shop Vintage!
Have you ever walked into someone’s home, or your grandma’s, and just felt this sense of character and depth in each room? Chances are that person has been collecting items over the years to decorate their space and each piece has a story. When your space can tell a story about who you are, it means more to you and everyone that comes into it. Vintage items are the best way to accomplish this feeling in your home!
Many people have told me that they can never find anything good in antique or vintage shops when they go and they are surprised at how many amazing things I pick up! I believe there is a different way to shop for vintage items than any other form of shopping. I want to share these techniques to hopefully help you find treasures the next time you go into an antique shop!
The first thing I do when I go antiquing is have an idea of certain things I am looking for. For example, on my last trip to a vintage store, I knew that I wanted to find an aged brass frame, a vanity stool, and some kind of accessory for my console table. Or if you do not have any specific items in mind, you may want to have an idea of a certain aesthetic you like! I believe this is a very important thing to do before going shopping because if you have ever been into an antique store before, you know they can be quite overwhelming, and doing this will help you not be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of items in a store! Going in with a goal in mind will help you shop vintage more efficiently and give you a less stressful experience.
My grandmother has spent a lot of time antiquing for her career as an Etsy Seller for her shop, SassyTrash https://www.etsy.com/shop/SassytrashDesigns .
If anyone knows how to antique, it is her! I asked her what her main tips for shopping vintage were and she was able to give me some amazing advice! Her first tip was very similar to the one I gave, which was to make a list of things you need! Her next tip was to check out retailers such as Hobby Lobby, TJ Maxx, Target, World Market… etc to ensure that you are not buying something resold from one of these places! She expressed “It’s astounding how much fake old stuff is in vintage shops from these stores.” Don’t forget to check out online retailers as well! She told me Whenn buying vintage, it just takes a lot of time to acquire a knowledge of vintage items but you can never go wrong with buying what speaks to you”. I think this shows that going in with an idea of what you are looking for but also an open mind is the key to shopping vintage! Her final tip was to always delay impulse buying an item and instead do a lap around the store and then come back to the item before you leave to see if the charm has worn off or if if you truly love it!
I hope these tips make shopping vintage a little less overwhelming and more fun for you! I have found true gems from vintage shops, which is a more sustainable way to decorate your home! Happy antiquing!
