Looking for ideas to decorate with vintage finds? Styling vintage decor in a modern farmhouse, cozy cottage, or traditional home creates a curated and cozy aesthetic. Today, I’m sharing my top 20 treasures of the year with tips for decorating vintage decor. When mixed with new decor and antiques, vintage styling will help you create visual displays that are unique and eye-catching.
We will begin with my favorite 20 thrifted vintage treasures from this past year. And I’ll share the ways I incorporated these unique finds into my home decor. Learn multiple styling tips to create a relaxed elegance with a time-worn appeal. You can adapt these timeless and affordable ideas to create the home aesthetic of your dreams.
![Milk Glass Bud Vases for Vintage Styling and favorite vintage finds.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/cropped-milk-glass-vases-in-bowl.jpg)
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Table of contents
Decorating with Vintage and Thrift Store Finds
Y’all know that I love budget-friendly vintage styling. Shopping thrift stores, flea markets, and antique stores are my favorite pastimes. I love the thrill of the hunt and finding a bargain.
This year, I’ve been fortunate to find several of the items on my thrifting must-have shopping list.
I thought I’d share my favorite finds and styling vintage decor tips today for Thrifting with the Gals.
Thrifting with the Gals
Today’s post is part of our monthly series, Thrifting with the Gals.
If you are new to our series, we are friends who share a love for vintage and thrifted decorating.
We all live in different parts of the country, but we come together once a month to share thrift store shopping ideas and how to decorate with your treasures.
Here are the Gals:
- Ann from Dabbling and Decorating finds her treasures as she travels between Vermont and Maine. She decorates both homes with so many vintage treasures.
- Kristin from White Arrows Home loves thrifting in Minnesota and adds some of her finds to her vintage store.
- Robyn from Robyn’s French Nest loves to travel and bring her vintage treasure to her lovely Florida Home.
- I am from North Carolina, and love filling my farmhouse and beach cottage with thrift store finds. I focus on budget-friendly decorating and DIY projects.
What is Vintage Home Decorating?
Decorating vintage doesn’t mean all your decor has to be antique or vintage. Vintage home decorating can work with any design aesthetic, from modern to rustic country. In fact, decorating with vintage is very on-trend.
What is Vintage Decor?
Antique dealers consider vintage decor to be at least 40 years old. Whereas an antique is at least 100 years old. However, I find that you will see many items that are considered vintage, although they are much newer.
This applies to furniture, tableware, kitchenware, bric-a-brac, clothing, art, books, etc.
![Old Kitchen Bowls and other antique kitchenware on countertop for Decorating Curated Style](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Vintage-Bowls-and-thrifted-wooden-kitchen-utensils.jpg)
Why is Styling Vintage Popular?
There are several reasons why styling vintage has become so popular. Many people collect vintage items for nostalgia as well as for value. Most vintage items are better quality than newly produced decor. You’ll find that wooden items are usually solid wood in lieu of particle board.
In a time of throw-away furniture construction, you will find that vintage was made to last.
In addition, decorating vintage is a sustainable and eco-friendly decor option. Saving items from landfills and slowing the need for new production is front and center in the eco-conscious consumers’ minds.
One of my favorite vintage finds this past year is this solid wood Shop Desk. When I saw it for 50% off at a Habitat ReStore, it was quickly loaded into the back of my vehicle. The quality craftsmanship and cute little drawers were hard to resist.
I’ve styled it with a few simple thrifted mirrors stacked on top and a flicker candle and candle ring.
![Thrift Store Find Antique Shop Desk in solid wood decorating with old furniture in farmhouse loft](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Shop-Desk-for-Vintage-Finds-Styling-Ideas.jpg)
Copper Finds for Vintage Styling
If you have followed me for a hot minute, you know that vintage copper is always on my shopping list. I love styling vintage with old copper.
I have three special pieces that we found, and I’ll show you how we styled them.
First is the double-boiler copper pan.
We found it while thrifting in Wilmington, NC, this past summer. It is displayed on our cooktop along with the vintage spice jars and DIY Copper Spice Rack.
![Copper Double Boiler and DIY Copper Spice Rack in farmhouse kitchen for Decorating Vintage](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Brussel-Sprouts-in-wooden-bowl-with-vintage-mason-jars-DIY-Pinecone-sunflower-Copper-pots-1.jpg)
The square copper container with blue and white porcelain handles was found at the French Farmer’s Wife’s final barn sale.
It was fun to add a small tree for Christmas, but now it holds kitchen dish towels. I’m sure I’ll be adding herbs and other plants to the container as we move into Spring.
![Copper containers for styling with antique copper pieces. Add a small Christmas Tree to copper container](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Curated-Home-trees-on-Kitchen-Island.jpg)
![Copper containers for styling vintage and antique copper pieces. Add folded kitchen towels to copper container](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Copper-for-Vintage-Finds-and-Styling-ideas.jpg)
And probably my favorite copper find was this huge vintage cauldron.
This was also found while shopping in Wilmington, NC. I knew immediately it would hold my Christmas tree; however, what to do with it when Christmas was over?
The solution was to add a few of my vintage quilts. It adds a cozy feel beside the deconstructed chair.
![Large antique Copper Cauldron with Christmas Tree for a curated inspired decorating style.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Curated-Home-Christmas-Tree-in-copper-pot.jpg)
![Large Vintage Copper Cauldron filled with antique quilts for cozy antique ideas for decorating farmhouse style.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Copper-Cauldron-for-Vintage-Finds-and-Styling-ideas.jpg)
Antique Ideas For Decorating
I know we are talking about styling vintage finds; however, I did find a true antique that I have to share.
I have been looking for an authentic antique farm table since we built the farmhouse. Everything I found was either too short or small, too rickety, or too large.
However, we went to a picker’s festival in September and came home with the beauty. It’s solid walnut and perfect for the space.
![Antique Walnut Farm Table in modern farmhouse with chippy church pew and folding bench.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Antique-Farm-Table-Vintage-Finds-Styling-Ideas.jpg)
I’ve only had the piece for a short time, but here are some antique ideas for decorating the farm table.
After getting inspired on the NC Pottery Hwy., the antique farm table was filled with vintage and new pottery for a rustic table centerpiece last fall.
![Farm style table with rustic vintage and new pottery for styling vintage in a modern farmhouse](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Pottery-Highway-Pottery-Collection-on-Dining-Room-table.jpg)
I couldn’t resist a couple of tablescape ideas for Christmas. Our supper club table was decorated in a cabin theme. For a red and white tablescape, I used vintage milk glass mixed with silver and vintage red tableware. Once winter arrived, an antique quilt was added for a warm winter tablescape.
![Christmas Cabin Style Tablescape on an antique farm style table used for decorating vintage style.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Rustic-Cabin-Christmas-Tablescape.jpg)
![Red and white old milk glass fill a farmhouse style table for Christmas Decorating.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Milk-Glass-on-Christmas-tablescape-1.jpg)
![For antique decorating style add a antique quilt to a farmhouse style table for a cozy winter style.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Farm-Table-with-Quilt-for-Vintage-Finds-1.jpg)
Vintage Milk Glass for Styling Vintage Tables
Vintage Milk Glass has had a resurgence in popularity, and I was fortunate to find several new to me pieces.
I found a large collection at our CUOC thrift store and used those pieces to style vintage tablescapes with a red-and-white Christmas theme.
Milk glass compotes hold vintage shiny brite ornaments on each place setting, and cake stands serve as risers for vintage vases.
![Vintage styling with milk glass for a holiday table. Red transferware plates and silver add vintage decorations.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Milk-Glass-place-setting.jpg)
![Decorating Vintage with old milk glass, vintage silver and thrifted tableware for Christmas](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Milk-Glass-cake-stand-and-vase-with-Christmas-tree.jpg)
A vintage milk glass lamp sporting an original paper shade captured my attention in Wilmington and looks lovely on the vintage entry dresser.
![The entry table milk glass thrifted lamp for styling vintage ideas. Paperwhites in a vintage soup tureen.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Vintage-Milk-Glass-Lamp-for-Favorite-Vintage-Finds-How-to-Style-Vintage.jpg)
Silver for Vintage Home Decorating
I’ve been searching for more silver pieces to add to my vintage home decorating. This year, several pieces were added to my meager collection. Styling vintage silver pieces adds elegance to your tables and countertops.
This silver trophy vase was my first find of the year, and I was ecstatic. I’ve used it ever since for table decorations, kitchen countertops, and mantel decor.
![Decorating with old silver trophy vase, feathers and pinecones on a DIY winter mantel.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Feather-and-Pinecone-Arrangement-on-Cozy-Winter-Mantel-Decorating-1.jpg)
![Styling vintage silver trophy urn with moss stems on farmhouse kitchen concrete countertops.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Silver-Vase-and-Bowl-with-Copper-Spirce-Rack.jpg)
In addition, these silver goblets were another nice addition to my tableware obsession. They have been used on the dining table and as an addition to the winter mantel, holding a frosted pinecone.
![thrifted silver goblets](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Silver-Goblets-from-Thrift-Store.jpg)
![thrifted silver goblets for styling vintage Christmas table with milk glass cake stand.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Milk-Glass-cake-stand-with-silver-goblets-and-wine.jpg)
A fun silver candelabra adds a lovely and elegant touch to our Christmas table. However, it looks lovely when styled alone, except for the brass bird salt and pepper shakers.
![Decorating with Vintage Silver Candelabra on a holiday red and white table with milk glass and transferware.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Milk-Glass-used-for-an-elegant-tablescape-1.jpg)
![Simple vintage styling with a vintage candelabra on an antique farm table of solid walnut.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Vintage-Silver-Candelabra-.jpg)
Tips For Decorating Vintage Baskets
Tips for decorating vintage baskets are so easy. I believe the beauty of handcrafted and vintage baskets speaks for themselves. You don’t have to add much to create a stunning display when styling with handcrafted baskets.
Here are a few I added this year.
First, the gathering basket was another purchase at the Picker’s Festival, where I found my Antique Farm Table. It looks stunning, filled with just a few stems on the front porch.
![thrifted gathering basket filled with simple stems over a primitive cabinet on farmhouse porch.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DRA-Thrifted-basket-.jpg)
Another French basket from The French Farmer’s Wife needs no adornment to add texture and character to a home.
![French hanging baskets perfect for styling vintage pegboard racks.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Harvest-Basket.jpg)
![French Antique Basket for styling vintage cupboard top filled with ironstone and breadboards.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Vintage-Basket-on-top-of-hutch-best-vintage-finds.jpg)
And, this $5.00 thrift store find has shown up all over the farmhouse since Spring. It leans a little to one side but has so much charm.
![Inexpensive thrift store bassket on wooden stool filled with fresh lilacs.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Bedroom-Decor-Basket-on-a-stool.jpg)
![Sweet Angel Statuary with moss balls and thrifted basket filled with faux lilacs.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/angel-with-moss-balls-and-basket-of-lilacs.jpg)
![Thrift store baskets in farmhouse.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Thrift-Store-Finds-3.jpg)
Insider Tip – Styling Vintage Baskets with Flowers
Baskets are one vintage item that needs very little adornment. However, when styling vintage baskets with flowers, consider a loose arrangement. Style the basket as if you have just gathered a basket full of blooms from the garden.
Even artificial flowers will appear more authentic when loosely arranged.
And finally, these great oversized baskets are perfect for gathering and then displaying foraged decor.
![A thrifted Gathering basket](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/basket-of-magnolia-and-pinecones.jpg)
![Stying old baskets with foraged and gathered pinecones.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/large-thrift-store-basket.jpg)
Styling Vintage Wooden Shifters
Styling vintage wooden shifters is another great way to add texture to your spaces. Whether you hang them on the wall, from a peg board, or set them on a table, they are sure to add vintage charm to your decor.
This year, I added three more to my collection. One is large like my previous finds; however, these two small ones had me doing a happy dance.
![Decorating Vintage with old wooden sifters hanging on a pegboard rack.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Vintage-Shifter-hanging-on-peg-rack-for-Favorite-Vintage-Finds.jpg)
The sifters are stylish for holding seasonal decor such as flicker candles, Christmas trees, and pinecones. I’ve used them as containers for many seasonal displays.
![Vintage sifters hanging and used to hold a flicker candle and candlering.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/vintage-wooden-sifters-.jpg)
![Vintage Farmhouse Styling with wooden old sifters.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/entryway-in-winter.jpg)
They also make a statement when grouped together for styling vintage wall art. If the price is right, I’ll always find a spot for another sifter.
![Wooden vintage sifters and selter bottles in a crate with old suitcase.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Industrial-Farmhouse-Loft-Fall-Tour-16.jpg)
More Vintage and Thrifting Tips
You can see more tips and ideas on these posts.
- Thrift Tips – Where To Shop
- 10 Must-Know Thrifting Tips for the Savvy Shopper
- Discover Thrifting Secrets- Design Tips and More
- A Day Trip Thrifting In Southport, NC
- Thrifting with the Gals in Wilmington, NC
- Vintage Thrift Stores in Downtown Asheboro, NC
- 17 Reasons For Shopping Second Hand Charity Shops
Don’t leave yet because my Thrifting with the Gals buddies are sharing more thrifting tips with you next.
![](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Kristin-Thrifting-with-the-Gals.jpg)
![](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RFN-Thrifting.jpg)
Kristin at White Arrows Home / Robyn at Robyn’s French Nest
![](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Anns-Thrifting-with-the-Gals.jpg)
![](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Vintage-Basket-on-top-of-hutch-best-vintage-finds.jpg)
Ann at Dabbling and Decorating / Rachel at The Ponds Farmhouse
![](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Rachel-Signature-2-1.png)
Pin It To Remember It
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![20 Thrifted Treasures and how to style them.](https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Vintage-Treasures-and-StylingTips-1-683x1024.jpg)
Erika Somers
Thursday 1st of February 2024
Love!!
Rachel
Thursday 1st of February 2024
Erika, Thank you so much.
vainNC
Wednesday 31st of January 2024
Really love this post...Have downsized so much that am now trying to create a new look with what I have available (and hope to go out to see what goodies I can find. You have such a good eye for things and I love everything you have done. I especially love your porches. Enjoying reading your posts and thank you for sharing the how to do things (not a craft person but plan to try a couple of your ideas).
Rachel
Wednesday 31st of January 2024
Oh, Thank you so much. I'm so glad you found this post helpful. I'm sharing so many easy crafts and I know you can do them. Also, it took me awhile to get back into shopping for the house. I thought I wanted a minimal look. Guess what, I didn't. LOL. Best of luck to you on your adventures.
Tammy
Friday 26th of January 2024
You have the best vintage finds. I love all your basket collection.
Rachel
Saturday 27th of January 2024
Tammy, Thank you so much. I can't leave a good one behind. LO>
Kim | Shiplap and Shells
Saturday 20th of January 2024
I always love seeing your fabulous vintage collections, Rachel. I think copper is my favorite.
Rachel
Sunday 21st of January 2024
Kim, I love love copper.
Ann
Thursday 18th of January 2024
How did I miss that shop desk? I love it. I need to find one now. Happy thrifting!
Rachel
Thursday 18th of January 2024
Ann, Thanks for stopping by.