Yesterday some friends and I did some antique shopping at many local antique shops in our area. I want to share with you the items I brought home and explain some of my farmhouse antique shopping tips.
Farmhouse Antique Shopping Haul and our Victorian Farmhouse Design Plans Video
Farmhouse Antique Shopping Tips
Tip #1 Don’t pass up that perfect piece just because it costs a little more than you were originally expecting.
Are you like me? Do you basically expect things from antique shops, Facebook marketplace and Craigslist to be sold for next to nothing? I made that mistake for way too long, and wondered why I could never find the things I was envisioning for each area in my home. I would find little bargains here and there, but I passed up many pieces that could have served us quite well.
On my most recent antique shopping adventure, I found two different antique light fixtures that I would have passed up in years past. Looking at it now, they are still less expensive than brand new fixtures, yet are heavy quality pieces, with patina and a story to tell.
In this new farmhouse, I also brought in a hutch and an armoire that I would have never paid for many years ago. They are both absolutely perfect for the spaces they’re in, and I probably would have wasted so much time searching for the perfect bargain. There is something to be said for the cost of time wasted too.
Both pieces are heavy and solid, and are still less expensive than a brand new piece of furniture from somewhere like Pottery Barn.
This hutch is literally the heaviest piece of furniture we have ever encountered. Just ask Luke about the time we had to move out of the house to get the floors refinished, and then back in again. This thing is built to last!
Items can be collected over time, so save up and get that perfect piece instead of settling for something cheap that you will actually not like looking at.
With that being said, let’s recall some of my best antique bargain finds EVER.
My $35 nearly-perfect condition drain board sink:
My $5 wall sconces:
And most recently, my $60 chandelier:
Bargains do happen, but if I waited for them I would be looking at a blank wall in the dining room probably forever.
I’ve also noticed a weird mind game that happens with getting something for the right price. People, myself included, will literally choose one piece they sort of like, over one they love, all over a $100 price difference. This is something you will likely look at in your home for years and years to come, so get the better one. You will long forget about the $100, but that ugly furniture piece will still be driving you crazy sitting there in the corner of your dining room.
So, in the above example, I should have bought that sink whether $35 or $200. It made the most beautiful farmhouse vanity that will be enjoyed for many many years.
Tip #2 Don’t be too Matchy Matchy
Again, I’ve been guilty of this one in the past for sure! The goal of creating a vintage, thrifted and antique treasures filled home is for it to look collected and unique. It’s not something straight out of a catalog. It has personality. How many times in my past antique shopping endeavors did I pass up something beautiful because it didn’t fall perfectly into the color scheme I had set for a particular room in my home?
I have been noticing more lately that homes that aren’t perfectly coordinated feel more comfortable and less stuffy.
Tip #3 Don’t Be Afraid of Imperfections
Back in the day, furniture was made to last. A lot of times pieces are handmade and one of a kind. The paint may be a little chippy, and the wood may have a few dings, but if it is a nice solid piece, the imperfections just add character.
Tip #4 Think of Ways That You Can Use Items in Ways Other than the Intended Purpose
On my last antique shopping trip, I bought a beautiful bowl with a lovely floral design and scalloped edges. It is a little too chippy to actually use in the kitchen, but it would be beautiful as a dresser catch all.
Sometimes old things are still very beautiful but not functional as their original use.
I’ve also seen people use beautiful plates as wall art and vintage trunks as coffee tables.
Tip #5 Mix Old With New
You definitely don’t want your home looking like an antique museum, and it isn’t practical to use only antiques. I love the pottery, rugs and many furniture pieces from the Victorian era, but start layering that on top of antique wallpaper, drapes and couches and our house would just look dated and old.
Taking what speaks to you from a certain time period, and mixing that with what you love today can be a nice balanced approach.
Tip #6 Never Never EVER Buy Junk
I’ve definitely done this. This is when you buy that armoire that doesn’t close quite right, and you have no intentions to rebuild it. It’s when you pick up a dresser for your girls’ room that the drawers don’t open quite right, but “Hey, it’s really cheap!” A little patina and aging is one thing, but if the piece of furniture is falling apart, it’s probably not worth bringing into your home.
Visit my other posts on Antique Shopping for Farmhouse Decor
What I look for at Thrift Shops for Farmhouse Decor
Antique Shopping for our new Farmhouse
Barn Sale Finds for farmhouse Decor
Thanks so much for stopping by the farmhouse!
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Hi Lisa,
Here is my advice. I am an antique dealer and collector. I have been in the biz 40 years.
Stop buying at shops! Go where we dealers get things! You will almost always overpay at shops, we need to make a profit! Go to the website Auction zip.com. Enter your zip code and how far you are willing to travel. It wil show you a calendar of all the auctions in your area. The first time or two you may feel intimidated, but once you are used to it, you will be hooked and the deals are unbelievable! You will never go in a shop to buy again! Trust me on this! Your kids would like it too.
The big pieces you are wanting go for $200.00 sometimes. No repair needed. Every area is different and every crowd is different, but you can fill your house at less than half what you would pay in a shop! As I said, we have to make a profit. Dealers won’t pay much for an item to resale, even bidding against us, you will get a deal, again we need to make a profit we won’t pay what it is worth. We are in a shop and we know all the dealers, and most are marking things at twice what they paid. It is such fun, and you will be used to bidding in no time! Just try it! 😉
Loving the website . Do you have a book out there?
What magazine is your house going to be featured in and when? Thanks! Love your blog! We share so much of the same taste in decorating!!
Lisa, boy I wish we lived closer I’ve got quite a few antiques u could probably use in ur new Victoria farm house. I love antiques they have so much to say if only they could talk Lol. Seriously there r so many beautiful pieces out there n ur idea to put as many as u want in ur home would look fantastic. I fell in love with that milk glass hanging light fixture. Do u know I’ve been looking for one like that yrs n u probably found the last one Lol. It’s so cool n I think it was a good price. Yes, u might of found a reproduction of one n pay $400.00 for it but in my opinion I’d rather have the real thing. I’m so excited for You n ur family as transform ur farmhouse into ur very own. Gosh, if I was a few yrs younger I’d be doing that exact thing ur doing. Stay warm n hope Spring will come soon for u. ♥️
Yes! I love a home where it looks like everything was “collected over time”—–NOT like they just went to the local furniture store or jumped on a popular website and bought everything to fit a certain theme or trend. Think about the original owners of your home—what kind of things would they have had in the house? They surely didn’t order a roomful of furniture online 🙂 They would have some pieces handed down to them by family, some they bought themselves, perhaps some serviceable pieces they even made, and they would decorate with things they picked up on their travels, things uncle brought back when he set sail for a big trip abroad, etc. While I do love the simple farmhouse look, I also have a lot of antique china, vintage sterling, and many pieces of antique furniture—but I don’t want a pedigreed $3000 buffet that we are afraid to touch; I simply want things with a sense of history and we literally do USE everything we have. I will enjoy watching your decorating journey!
I have lived in and remodeled several homes in the last 20 years. It is always fascinating how the home itself informs design choices. What a fun adventure! “Collected” homes always have wonderful memories and stories that accompany the pieces that fill them. Thank you for allowing us to follow along on your journey.
Hey Lisa! I know exactly what you’re saying! Even though we lived in multiple houses, we’ve had the “collected” look for years & everyone says the same thing – “it always feels so warm & cozy in your home”. I’ve just tweaked accessories/painted or stained furniture, etc. to fit the particular house more. However, we’re getting ready to build a barndominium in the country & will be totally changing the look to fit it – more like your original farmhouse! Light, airy, more simplistic, neutral with textures, but incorporating treasured antiques along with modern rustic furniture. I’m currently taking your blog course & will be documenting the whole process. Thanks so much for the inspiration to do this! At 63, it’s stretching my brain, but I know it will be worth it – a new creative outlet & hopefully – extra revenue source woohoo! Can’t wait to see how your new home comes along – have fun & keep the awesome videos & blog info coming!
What a great perspective, and a lovely post- one of my favorites so far!
Sounds like a great plan. May I suggest that you go to your local goodwill or Resource store. They often have great finds. I think the trend will be toward a more collected look. I have found that it looks homier.
Looking lovely! Your latest find are really really pretty, everyone of them! Your house is just getting more and more layers of loveliness. So exciting to watch. Keep it coming! ❤🐝
I really enjoyed your video and can’t wait for your next antique shopping show and tell. I am always thrifting and antiquing and love old things with patina and character.