25+ Ways to Decorate with Affordable Vintage Finds

1. Rustic Bench Turned Window Seat

In our living room, I used an old wooden bench for a window seat. We made it cozy and soft with a faux sheepskin rug and some throw pillows. The bench was a $10 flea market find.

In my bedroom, I recently turned a vintage doily into a bohemian wall hanging. Vintage doilies can be found all over flea markets, thrift stores and the like for very low prices. In this space I also turned a rustic old chest into a bedside table by simply turning it upright on its side. If you search antique malls, flea markets, etc. you might just run across a rustic trunk for a decent price. This one was around $45….pricy for this thrifty girl, but I loved it so much it was worth the splurge! (Here’s a tip: go to flea markets just before closing. Dealers are often more eager to haggle and give things away for lower prices!)

4. Architectural Wood Turned Rustic Sign | 5. Vintage Trinkets & Books

6. Old Ladder Turned Blanket Storage

7. A Small Mirror Gets Added Impact With a Large Ornate Frame

When my daughter Hazel was a baby, I draped a vintage lace tablecloth over her crib to create a canopy in her nursery. Hook up some white Christmas lights inside, and it creates instant whimsy! Lace tablecloths can often be found in plenty at garage sales, thrift stores and flea markets. This particular one was a bit tattered and worn, which made it perfect for this shabby, romantic nursery (and also cheap!).

During the holiday season last year, I took several vintage brooches and turned them into napkin rings by gluing them onto inexpensive ones. I often look on eBay, Etsy or at flea markets for vintage jewelry lots. Even if some of the pieces are broken, I don’t mind because I love to repurpose them.

When looking for new lighting for our living room last year, I decided to “shop” my own basement and found a boring vintage lampshade. I ended up painting it with a simple woodgrain pattern and added some rope trim around the top and bottom. I put it together with another vintage lamp we had and voila…a practically free new lamp!

My husband was given this antique buffet for free, but having no room in our dining room for it, we decided to use it to hold our flat screen. It turned into the perfect TV console with plenty of storage for video games and DVDs.

When I found some old black and white photographs at an antique mall for only $3.00 a bag, I had to have them. I decided to create a unique photo wall collage with them by simply taping them in a random arrangement in our entryway.

Another roadside find, we took this dresser, as is, and decided to use it for extra storage on the back patio. You never know what amazing pieces others with throw away, so don’t be afraid to stop if you see something that catches your eye! 

The antique bridge lamp was a $10 garage sale find and paired with a Moroccan style lantern, it was a perfect fixture in our outdoor space.

My husband and I found this old door on the side of the road and he turned it into a corner shelf for our living room several years ago. He simply added plywood backing and shelves and I had him add some ornate vintage hardware. While we no longer have this piece (we sold it to a neighbor down the road due to space limitations and style changes around here), it was a fun piece to work on and decorate for the years we had it.

I used to collect lots of vintage sugar bags, grain and coffee sacks. They can often be found at flea markets for very low prices (the ones I have found have ranged from $1-$10). I took a sugar bag sack and turned it into a throw pillow quickly and easily. It’s a perfect way to add rustic farmhouse style to any room.

When I used to be more of a hoarder than a collector, I would get several of the same thing. The more the merrier right? Or, so I thought then. I had several old lampshades just sitting around, and decided to take three and turn them into a unique piece to hang in our living room when it was more rustic farmhouse style. I removed the shades and tied them together with twine, then clipped old black and white photographs to them with clothespins.

I also used to collect lots of old crates. This Canada Dry one has been displayed all throughout our home. When my kids were even smaller than they are now, I used it in our entryway to store their shoes. Often times these crates can be found at flea markets for fairly low prices depending on the style and condition.

I have also used old crates as planters on the front porch. They look lovely with seasonal flowers like these mums during the fall.

Vintage china and dishes can be found all the time at thrift stores for very low prices. Last year, I took three of these salad plates that already had a decorative rim and turned them into unique art pieces by drawing on them with a Sharpie marker. You can even bake them in the oven afterwards, to set them, and then they are safe to eat on! (You can find loads of tutorials for that on Pinterest.)

I took several vintage framed prints to create a gallery wall in an upstairs room, but also added some creative touches like a “W” (our last name initial) made from an old folding ruler. We have another in the shape of a star in the kids’ playroom.

I always love to display bits of nature in my decorating. Last summer when I created a botanical inspired mantel vignette, I propped up an old printer’s drawer to showcase several collected seashells and rocks. Printer’s drawers can be found at antique stores, flea markets, etc and can get pricey. The one above was on the smaller side so it was more affordable at only about $10.

My bedroom is constantly changing as I trade out furniture and decor in it. This photograph shows it when I had an old sewing table as a nightstand. The sewing machine had been removed, but the table was still great for holding decorative items.

I wanted to create a cute and whimsical garland for my kids’ shared bedroom last year, so I decided to use my collection of old thread spools mixed with colorful beads. I strung them together on a sturdy string and voila!

I had several old teak trays, found at thrift stores, and gave them each a modern bohemian makeover and used them on a table for jewelry storage. I see these trays all the time at thrift stores for super low prices. Paint them and give them a new life!

What are your favorite vintage finds to decorate with? Let me know in a comment below and follow along with me on social media so we can stay in touch!

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