Antique shopping advice

I'm frequently asked the question "Where and/or how do you find all your antiques and vintage items?"

Let's start with 'where'...

As most of my readers know, I inherited a few things like my great grandmother's dining room hutch

But most of my finds were acquired by searching Ebay or over at Etsy, where I found my percolator.

Of course, LetGo and Craigslist are great places to find things like my 1950s refrigerator:

I also shop locally or in whatever town I'm visiting at the time.

And other times I find places online that pop up in my google searches.

That's the 'where' part of the story, but what about the 'how'?

Well, let me introduce you to Ryan over at Invaluable.com, who has some great advice for all of us:

Spring is almost here, and with it comes warmer weather and the chance to spend some quality time on the hunt for great antiques! If you’re anxious to get out of the house and hit the vintage stores and antique shows, check out some of our tips for making the most out of your antiquing experience! 

Patience Is A Virtue

First and foremost, don’t expect to find the perfect piece right away. Hunting for great antiques is a process that usually requires a lot of patience. This isn’t retail shopping, where you know exactly what you want and exactly where to get it. When you’re shopping for antiques, it’s all about not knowing what you’ll find. That mystery is part of what makes it fun! You’re at the mercy of what the store has, so you should never go in assuming that you’re going to find what you’re looking for, and it may take a while for you to find the piece of your dreams. 

That said, don’t ever give up hope! Antique stores and fairs are usually packed wall-to-wall with an incredible variety of pieces, and it can be easy to overlook things. So summon your patience and take your time to scour every inch and every item. The perfect piece could be right under your nose, or you may find something you never knew you needed! 

Know Your Budget 

Anyone who spends time looking for great antiques knows that they can be rather pricey. This of course can depend on both the item, and the seller, but it is always best to know how much you are willing to spend before you start shopping. If you don’t set these limits ahead of time you could end up falling in love with a piece that is much more than you would normally pay, which can lead to some major buyer’s remorse. If possible, try not to ever get too attached to an item before you know the bottom line cost. Some sellers will let you haggle for a better price, but that’s not a guarantee. You should always retain your ability to walk away from a sale if things aren’t going your way. 

Keep An Open Mind

Even if you don’t find the piece that you’ve been looking for, you could certainly still find something you need. You just might need to do a little thinking outside the box. 

An old dresser can be repurposed into a TV stand/media center. An antique sewing table can become a rustic side table. If you’re keeping an open mind when strolling through a vintage store or garage sale, you may just find the perfect do-it-yourself solution to a problem you weren’t even thinking about! 

Go Beyond Your Own Backyard

If you’ve exhausted all of your local antique stores, thrift shops, and antique shows, don’t be afraid of searching online! There are a wide variety of sites that offer unique finds. From local postings on a site like Craigslist, to reputable auction sites like Invaluable, you’ll be able to find everything from furniture, to vintage jewelry, and collectibles. It may lack the in-person thrill of shopping at the physical locations, but online shopping gives you limitless options and the ability to purchase completely unique items without ever leaving the house!

Thank you so much, Ryan! 

Your advice will surely come in handy for the folks looking to add some beautiful antiques to their homes.

I hope everyone is having a great week!

:)

xo

rue

PS

I received no compensation for this post.