Decorating with one-of-a-kind vintage pieces doesn’t have to break the bank. Below we share our favorite thrifted treasures and why we love using them in our homes.
We’ve grown to love decorating with vintage finds.
To be honest, that wasn’t always the case.
Over time, though, we’ve come to appreciate the craftsmanship, patina, and stories that older pieces bring into a space.
Of course we still pick up items from major retailers now and then, but lately we’re intentionally adding more thrifted and vintage items to our rooms.
There’s something special about decorating with pieces that show age and history—often with a bit of wear that gives them character.
We also love sharing the stories of where we found certain items. When our friend Rachel invited us to join a group of bloggers who are sharing their favorite thrifted and vintage finds, we jumped at the chance to participate.
Shopping is always more fun with a partner in crime. We know what the other is hunting for, so we scan booths and shelves with each other’s tastes in mind.
We Love Our Local Antique Mall!
Our town has a huge antique mall with hundreds of vendor booths, and it’s one of our favorite places to visit. We stopped by for a quick browse while preparing this post—though “quick” didn’t last long. We literally closed the place down!
We’ll share a few of the things we found and a few of the items we bought. We’ll also list the types of vintage pieces we always keep an eye out for when we go antiquing—and one thing we never bring home.
Simply2Moms Are Thrifting with the Gals
If you’re coming from Rachel’s blog or found us online, welcome. We’re Anne and AnnMarie—best friends and neighbors who team up to share simple, budget-friendly ideas for decorating, recipes, DIY projects, and life with older teens and beyond.
We met Rachel in person a few years ago at an antique mall after following each other online. That visit led to a collaborative post about amber bottles when we all came home with several. Partnerships like that are one of the best parts of blogging—connecting with like-minded friends and swapping finds and styling ideas.
We combine our passions for affordable decorating and creative styling—helping each other spot the pieces that work best for our homes and budgets.
Now let’s get into the items we commonly hunt for when we’re thrifting.
What Vintage Items Do We Have on Our Lists?
Walking into a large antique mall without a plan can be risky. You can overspend or end up with pieces that don’t fit your home’s aesthetic. We do leave room for spontaneous finds, but having a list helps guide our shopping and keeps purchases intentional.
Sometimes a specific find—like the antique painter’s ladder AnnMarie discovered—meets a need for a room, and other times we hunt for items to build our collections over time.
Unique Vintage Baskets
Baskets are everywhere, but we look for unusual shapes and woven details that can be used in different ways—wall decor, storage, or styling props. Antique picking baskets are a favorite, although prices can sometimes be higher than we want to pay.
Antique Ironstone Dishes, Pitchers, and Containers
Anne collects ironstone dishes—pieces that often remind her of tableware from her childhood. She looks for smaller items with interesting shapes to display in a china cabinet or on open shelving. Ironstone adds classic, neutral texture to many decor schemes.
Unusually Shaped or Patterned Amber Glass Bottles
We started collecting amber bottles with a broad eye, but now we focus on bottles with unique shapes or textured patterns. They’re seasonal favorites for fall and winter styling, and a well-priced, distinctive bottle is always worth bringing home.
Affordable Vintage Books with Neutral Colored Covers
Vintage books are great styling tools—stacked as risers or lined up on shelves. We’re not rare-book collectors, so we shop for color and cover texture first and assess price second. As a rule of thumb, we avoid books priced over about $8 unless they’re particularly special for our decorating plans.
Affordable Crocks
Crocks are beautiful containers for faux plants or utility storage and make strong visual anchors in rustic or farmhouse-style vignettes. They can be pricey, though, and lower-priced pieces sometimes make us wonder whether they’re reproductions—so we weigh the value before buying.
All Kinds of Buckets
Buckets are endlessly versatile and come in wooden, metal, and enamel varieties. Anne started collecting them during newborn photo sessions, and a family antique firkin became a beloved prop. Buckets work well for plants, storage, or as standalone display pieces.
Industrial Wooden Spools
Chunky wooden spools are inexpensive and versatile—use them as candle holders, pedestals (add a plate on top), or display them in groups for texture and height variation in a vignette.
Unique Milk Glass Vases and Bottles
Milk glass adds a soft, white texture that pairs well with many decor styles. Anne collects vases and smaller pieces for styling shelves and mantels. Finding unusual shapes, like a hobnail decanter with a distinctive stopper, is especially satisfying.
What We’ll Never Buy When We’re Thrifting
There’s one category we avoid completely: creepy antique dolls. They give us the willies and feel like horror movie props, so they’re a hard pass—unless you’re decorating for Halloween and want something intentionally spooky.
What We Bought on Our Latest Shopping Trip to the Antique Store
Here’s a peek at the haul from our most recent trip. We picked up a mix of practical pieces and decorative finds that we’ll style throughout our homes. If you want to see how we style each item, consider subscribing to our updates so you don’t miss the styling posts and follow-up photos.
More Thrifting with the Gals Tips and Ideas
We recently toured several blogs that celebrate vintage decor. Reading other bloggers’ finds is a great way to discover styling ideas and learn about pieces we might not have considered. Swapping tips and posts with friends keeps the hunt exciting and helps refine our shopping lists.
If you have questions or suggestions, feel free to contact us or leave a comment on our site. We share lots of thrifted styling ideas and love hearing how others use vintage pieces in their homes.
Don’t miss any of our tips and stories—follow along on social media where we post frequent styling photos and behind-the-scenes thrift hauls.
Pin it to Remember it:
