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  1. Midwest Living
  2. Homes
  3. Decorating Ideas
  4. Decorating Ideas for Vintage Finds

Decorating Ideas for Vintage Finds

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com Updated April 02, 2021
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Color a collection

Quirky flea-market finds become interesting decorating opportunities when you put your imagination to work. Repurpose antiques, collectibles and architectural salvage for one-of-a-kind decor.

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Color a collection

Color a collection

What a little spray paint can do! Choose a single standout hue to turn a jumbled collection of garage sale finds into a unified display for a wall, mantel or shelf.Start with a group of related (but not necessarily matching) items. You could use a pile of old brass candlesticks, a menagerie of kitschy animal figures or a stack of tarnished trays. Our pick: a variety of dinged-up kitchen gear from antiques and thrift stores. Remove dirt and dust with a damp cloth. Spray on primer, then apply the final color with a light back and forth motion for even coverage. You may need a couple coats for rich, uniform color. (We used Krylon indoor/outdoor Cherry Red paint in gloss, krylon.com).

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Fill a room

Fill a room

In this Minnesota living room, bargain chipped-paint furniture brings low-maintenance style, while one-of-a-kind finds take on new, fun uses: An enamel casserole dish becomes a flower pot; a 1950s salon hair dryer gets new life as a floor lamp; patchwork feed sacks cover a pillow on the sofa. Upholstering vintage iron patio chairs with red-and-white feed sacks makes them indoor-ready.

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Shutter display

Shutter display

Hang shutters horizontally to display photos, postcards or letters. Use double-stick tape to hold items in place if needed.

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Suitcase stack

Suitcase stack

Create an unusual bedside table from a stack of vintage suitcases. Place on an inexpensive crate or stand for extra height.

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Family photo holder

Family photo holder

A salvaged postcard holder becomes an instant display area for family photos. A fun way to organize: Fill each column with photos from a different year or event.

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Door decor

Door decor

The old door leaning against a wall is a versatile vintage find because its back side is an awesome blue color. Depending on the time of year, the Illinois homeowner flips the door over for a new look.

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Coffee mug holder

Coffee mug holder

A retro battery rack snagged for $30 at a flea market becomes a clever holder for a collection of thrift-store coffee mugs.

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Mantel headboard

Mantel headboard

A weathered mantel gets new life as an eyecatching headboard-and a display shelf for mementoes.

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Letter display

Letter display

Old handwritten letters are strung across an empty frame with jute twine to create a pretty vintage vignette.

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Vintage finds for a bathroom

Vintage finds for a bathroom

A soda pop cooler becomes a colorful and creative sink. For unusual molding, this Minnesota homeowner applied yardsticks above corrugated steel wainscoting. To coordinate with the sink, she mixed red and green sticks.

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Display and organize

Display and organize

Mason jars, milk bottles and other glass containers take a charming turn as vases-or places to corral paper clips, rubber bands, pens or pencils.

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Shutter decor

Shutter decor

Salvaged shutters add interest and texture to walls. Simply prop behind furniture, or secure to walls.

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Create a centerpiece

Enlightening centerpiece

Not sure what to do with your quirky collectibles? This homeowner's old lightbulbs, in varying colors and shapes, create a striking focal point for the dining room table.

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Vintage shelves

Vintage shelves

Weathered planks serve as display ledges for vintage finds. Muted colors unite the varied collectibles.

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Doorknob decor

Doorknob decor

Glass, marble or metal doorknobs make fun clothes or curtain hooks.Another idea for doorknobs: Turn them into a picture holder. Attach two or three to a wall and prop a picture frame between the knobs and the wall.

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Window wall art

Window wall art

An old barn window becomes intriguing wall art. The reproduction chair upholstered in feed sacks adds to the vintage appeal.

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Timeless accents

Timeless accents

Old pocket watches from a flea market provide a tabletop accent.

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Wine holders

Wine holders

Use old canning jars to serve wine.

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Serene blue

Serene blue

In this serene blue master bedroom, an old window stands in for art above the bed, and a vintage chest adds pretty color on the nightstand.

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Mail stop

Mail stop

A salvaged porch railing serves as an attractive-and useful-mail stop. Sort correspondence by slats rather than stacking it in piles.

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Under glass

Quirky groupings

One way to display unusual finds such as these vintage lightbulbs: Put them under a glass bell top or cloche.

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Simple vintage art

Free art

Old photos-on a clipboard or hung with clothespins-are easy wall decor.

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Button up

Button up

Old buttons become works of art when hung on wall displays. Consider grouping by color, shape or material.

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Water filter

Water filter

A vintage water filter fills a nook in this dining area.

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Candle holders

Candle holders

A meat grinder cleverly holds a candle for an entertaining tabletop. At an outdoor party, try attaching the grinders along a buffet-table edge. Deep-fryer baskets with pillar candles inside make great luminarias!

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Fireplace fillers

A world of color

Create a playful fireplace display with old globes, as these Ohio homeowners did. Glue holds the globes in place.

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Fun and games

Fun and games

Old board games make colorful wall art-and who cares if some of the pieces are missing?

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Sports theme

Designer look

Grouping sports collectibles in one room increases their stylish impact. Arrows in a thermos are an everlasting alternative to flowers in a vase.

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Kitchen space saver

Kitchen space saver

Instead of piling fruits in a basket, save counter space by suspending an old grocery scale from a ceiling hook.

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Recycled storage

Recycled storage

Hard-sided suitcases store files on a shelving unit.

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Bottle opener

Bottle opener

Put a vintage bottle opener to good use by attaching it to a kitchen table-preferably a vintage one!

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Stylish crates

Stylish crates

Add drawer pulls to inexpensive wooden crates to make them easier to pull out from shelves.

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Clever caddy

Clever caddy

A metal caddy scored at a thrift shop holds canning jars that keep everyday forks, knives and spoons handy.

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Outdoor wall art

Outdoor wall art

Salvaged items-including grates, grills and picture frames-look perfect on weathered outdoor walls. For more ideas on using recycled or salvaged items in your garden, click on the link below.

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Pretty and practical

Pretty and practical

Vintage hard-sided suitcases tucked beneath a bedroom side table are pretty and practical. They hold linens and clothes.

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Retro camp style

Telling a story

Late '50s boy-theme curtains inspired this room. A totem pole lamp and a throw covered with vacation pennants create classic camp style.

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Desktop organizer

Desktop organizer

This flea-market find-a sugar mold-makes a perfect workspace organizer. It's deep enough to store scissors, a hole punch and other office necessities.

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Dresser dress-up

Dresser dress-up

Favorite items are grouped on the dresser: a vintage fur collar, a glass jar full of perfume jars and an old tiara.

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Farmers' finds

Farmers' finds

An apple-picker's pouch hangs around to gather magazines.More ideas for farm tools: A pitchfork attached to the wall pitches in as an easy coatrack; a rake head becomes a hanger for small garden tools.

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Repurpose toolboxes

Repurpose toolboxes

Small toolboxes can hold spice jars; larger ones can control desk clutter.

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A different kind of light

A different kind of light

Distinctive ceiling light fixtures turned upside down work as candleholders.

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Side table grate

Side table grate

A metal heating grate serves as a garden side table when placed on top of an urn.

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Bread box vase

Bread box vase

A tin bread box makes a unique vase or plant pot (just line it so it doesn't rust-and punch a drain hole).

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Repurposed silverware

Repurposed use

Tarnished silverware becomes a clever decoration on the framework of a lampshade.

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Creative uses for old toys

Creative uses for old toys

Leave the expensive toys to collectors; the ones that still work cost hundreds. Instead, think how broken-down toys can serve as conversation-starters. Tin dump trucks, for instance, can be home base for the remote control.Other toy ideas: Game pieces, such as dominoes, poker chips or checkers, give small magnets playful personality when you glue them together; vintage dollhouses make interesting bookcases.

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Put workshop tools to work

Put workshop tools to work

Vintage wooden molds make stylish dresser-top organizers. Another idea for a workshop tool: A wood carpenter's level as a narrow photo ledge.

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Group collectibles

Small collectibles

Grouping collections maximizes impact. Here, glass containers show flatware prettily, but you can also try old pots, pitchers, baskets, trays, and bowls to corral and display.

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Plate holder

Plate holder

A curly building corbel becomes a plate display piece.

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Book helpers

Book helpers

Wood pulleys pair up as clever bookends.

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By The editors of MidwestLiving.com

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    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

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    1 of 49 Color a collection
    2 of 49 Fill a room
    3 of 49 Shutter display
    4 of 49 Suitcase stack
    5 of 49 Family photo holder
    6 of 49 Door decor
    7 of 49 Coffee mug holder
    8 of 49 Mantel headboard
    9 of 49 Letter display
    10 of 49 Vintage finds for a bathroom
    11 of 49 Display and organize
    12 of 49 Shutter decor
    13 of 49 Create a centerpiece
    14 of 49 Vintage shelves
    15 of 49 Doorknob decor
    16 of 49 Window wall art
    17 of 49 Timeless accents
    18 of 49 Wine holders
    19 of 49 Serene blue
    20 of 49 Mail stop
    21 of 49 Under glass
    22 of 49 Simple vintage art
    23 of 49 Button up
    24 of 49 Water filter
    25 of 49 Candle holders
    26 of 49 Fireplace fillers
    27 of 49 Fun and games
    28 of 49 Sports theme
    29 of 49 Kitchen space saver
    30 of 49 Recycled storage
    31 of 49 Bottle opener
    32 of 49 Stylish crates
    33 of 49 Clever caddy
    34 of 49 Outdoor wall art
    35 of 49 Pretty and practical
    36 of 49 Retro camp style
    37 of 49 Desktop organizer
    38 of 49 Dresser dress-up
    39 of 49 Farmers' finds
    40 of 49 Repurpose toolboxes
    41 of 49 A different kind of light
    42 of 49 Side table grate
    43 of 49 Bread box vase
    44 of 49 Repurposed silverware
    45 of 49 Creative uses for old toys
    46 of 49 Put workshop tools to work
    47 of 49 Group collectibles
    48 of 49 Plate holder
    49 of 49 Book helpers

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