In todays world full of amazing interior designs and influencers that curate beautiful homes – especially in the Farmhouse Decor world – you can get easily lost in the cost of replicating those designs in your own home. Now having a very large DIY bone in my body, I’ve been blessed with being able to create many decor and furniture pieces within my home today. But my love and passion for antiques and that vintage farmhouse look, sometimes you just cant replicate yourself. You cant replace the story that these kinds of pieces can tell with every scratch and dent on their surface. It also brings me great joy to know that my home can give these old pieces new life and a new purpose. Call me crazy, but its almost like bringing them back to life! Below I’ve outlined my top venues for shopping for my home. Yes – its a lot more work then just heading down to your local Homesense or shopping on Amazon, but to me, the extra work is well worth it.
Yard Sale Queen
I am the kind of gal that will be driving along during work or to a destination, and if I see that Yard Sale sign you betcha I’m hammering the brakes and taking a quick peek at the home! A home can tell the story of its contents pretty quickly. As a home owner now, I know that sometimes the previous owners leave behind pieces that maybe they dont want, or dont want to bother moving. Within years time maybe you dont want those pieces any more either, which = downsizing or new furniture which = yard sale opportunity! And within my experience sometimes those ‘pieces’ people are trying to get rid of, are really diamonds in the rough.
So yes, I do for a better lack of the word scan the home exterior before I park the car and start bargaining. If its a modern home with jungle gyms and kids toys galore, probably not for me as they are probably selling baby related things for example, but if its an old house with a clean yard, I know its the yard sale for me. Some rural communities have indoor, year round yard sales too that you must check out! You can get lost in Knick knacks and going for those 5, 10, 25 cent items. But for me its the bigger pieces that I look for that I can envision to be restored. Dressers, mirrors, old frames, stools etc. You have to train your eye to look past the current state of the piece. You have to learn how some elbow grease can transform a piece with the right paint and techniques (again – back to that outsourcing for education quote!) to give the piece that antique or vintage look. That piece you bought for 5 or 10 dollars, you will see in a magazine for hundreds.
Top things to look for @ Yard Sales
- Large pieces – the biggest bang for your buck. Make sure the piece is in good working order (if not, as for an even better deal) or you can easily fix any issues. Ask if it is from a smoke free or pet free home if youre nervous about any odours. Hard woods are a huge score, and easy to paint or refurbish. You can check out some step by steps to painting furniture here!
- Mirrors, Windows, Frames – these are a huge score at any YS. For me, I love to use old big windows as accent pieces on my walls, mirrors are perfect on any turning corner in your home to make the space feel bigger and frames are perfect for many DIY projects. (You can see one I did here) these are easy pieces to pick up, add a coat a paint to, and Ta Da!
- Wedding supplies – something that I look for for my business, but maybe your girlfriend or sister is close to getting hitched. I would never pass up a wedding item such as burlap, mason jars, vases etc. Sometimes you can fill a box for loonies!
Now Yard Sales are probably my top pick for thrifting, because you can barter and bargain down costs, but a close second is scouring the antique shops around my town for one of a kind pieces that I now hold so close to my heart.
When I see it, I just know!
I get told so many times from friends that they have no idea what to look for, and dont know how I can find these pieces every time I go pickin’. Well friends, its not a huge secret. I think I’ve just trained myself to really take in what my eyes are looking at, and quickly decide its worth, its use for me, and where I envision it in my home. Sometimes its within seconds, I pick up a piece so fast I dont even look at the price tag I just know its coming home with me because I know its exactly the piece I’ve been looking for. I often go into an antique store or yard sale with the same motto “I dont know what I’m shopping for, but when I see it ill know” and boy how true it is. And that way, I’m not putting this pressure on myself to find the perfect piece. Some days I walk out with nothing, some days I load my car up with finds. It’s also taken me about a years worth of heavy antiquing to gauge the cost of antiques, and seeing the value in certain time periods that pieces are from or made in.
Top things to look for @ Antique Stores
- Always inspect the piece – whether its large or small, make sure you inspect the piece to validate that it is in fact antique. If there’s a recent barcode sticker on it… thats not going to be a one of a kind piece.
- Check for branding on bottom of pieces – I look for this especially when buying any dishware or platters. Such as IronStone products or pottery lines from England. That way you really know you are getting an antique made authentically.
- Know what things are worth – some antique shops are fully aware of this farmhouse style trend thats hot right now, so some places may jack their prices. If you feel like something is too high it probably is, dont be afraid to come to the vendor with your best offer.
- Ask for the story – ask where that pieces is from and its history! Another way to verify its age.
- Big furniture pieces – make sure everything is in working order or easy to fix. Again look for any branding, bill of sale is sometimes still attached to the back of the piece or something to tell you what the piece is made of (Hard wood, fingers crossed!)
Get your Bidding Arm Ready!
Now auctions are a bit more of a commitment then Yard Sale-ing and Antiquing. You really have to do your research on auctions and if they are the right fit for you, because typically its an early morning, long drive and a long day. So you want to make sure you are making the most of it. My secrets are word of mouth auctions, asking antique stores if they’ve heard of any, checking the local paper and auction sites within your area. You can sometimes pre-view the pieces on websites too! Auctions are a fun experience and are perfect for those big ticket items like dining sets, bigger furniture pieces etc. Bring your friend or spouse along – it will be a wonderful outing with great memories!
The Shops that have my Heart
Last but not least is another shopping venue I hold dear to my heart. Small businesses that have captured my style in their tiny shops. I have 2 or 3 that I visit every season to purchase more Knick knack items that are on trend or Ive been pinning lately on Pinterest. I pride myself on trying to stay out of box stores that are now adapting the Farmhouse style with products from China etc. I love knowing that I’m supporting another small business and their dream of opening their shops doors every day – I may have to spend a little bit more, but you cant put a price tag on supporting others, especially when you own your own business people support on the daily. You must give back!
Well there you have it, my top shopping preferences that have outfitted my home so far! There is this passion and adrenaline I get from shopping at these venues, from bargaining, scanning old barns for antiques, bidding at an auction, or seeing the joy of a shop owner after you’ve just purchased a piece from them.. it really is priceless. It brings me so much joy, and I hope after reading my insights on shopping for your home, it will inspire you to work a little harder, spend a lot less and just have fun with it when it comes to shopping for your home. Make sure you ask about that piece, what its story is or where it came from. It’s magical to be able to tell a story behind every piece in your home for years to come! And even more special when you can pass it down one day! Happy shopping!
Talk soon! Sam xx
