Buying vintage items for the home is quite a modern trend. Whether it’s full-on vintage, or a mix of modern and vintage, adding vintage pieces into the home certainly adds a touch of interior personality.
My home is mainly vintage with modern touches here and there. It’s my signature elegantly knackered style, no matter what the current interior décor style. After years of collecting vintage, I cannot imagine any other way. But why buy vintage?
Here are 6 reasons to buy vintage:
Reason 1 to buy vintage: better quality, made to last. After years of experience buying vintage wares, it is quite apparent that vintage items were made to last. Furniture and homeware were bought to last a lifetime and were cared for and treasured. We’re now living in a different era of mass consumerism and with this comes the throwaway generation where home décor is changed regularly and buying decisions are made on aesthetics over quality.
Manufacturing methods have also moved on. Vintage furniture and homewares were often made by skilled craftsmen with quality materials. Each piece, lovingly made with skill and attention to detail. Modern manufacturing methods mean mass production, cheaper and often less sustainable materials, with little focus on quality.
Personally, I have clung to ‘old-fashioned’ values. I find comfort in creating a constant home decor where things stay the same. Trends come and go but my home stays the same, full of familiar, quality pieces.
Reason 2 to buy vintage: individual interior style. Buying vintage allows a home to ooze individual interior style. Just think, what are the chances of someone finding an identical vintage item? Vintage pieces add a unique element to the home and can make a home appear unique and characterful. A home doesn’t need to be crammed with vintage to achieve this unique appeal, just a few select pieces can make a home interior décor pop.
I love seeing vintage used within modern interior décors. Old unique pieces give the impression of treasured heirlooms, something that has been passed down through generations and has a story to tell.
Reason 3 to buy vintage: sustainability. According to The Furniture Recycling Group, England’s landfill sites will be overflowing by 2022. This is a shocking fact considering we are nearing the end of that year. Is there a better reason than to stop more things from going to landfill? Buying second-hand vintage means that not only can we stop vintage pieces from heading to landfill, but it also means that we are reducing demand for new things to be made. That sounds like a win, win.
Reason 4 to buy vintage: character, patina, and original charm
I just love old things – the character, patina, and charm that a vintage item delivers cannot be reproduced. Every vintage piece has a story to tell. A vintage object has taken years of wear and tear to gather all its character.
Reason 5 to buy vintage: the thrill of the vintage chase. The thrill of the vintage chase gets the adrenaline going every time. Unlike heading to the high street to shop, when you are shopping for vintage, you just don’t know what you’re going to find and when you’re going to find it. I have many fond memories of buying my vintage wares, mainly because of the people who I buy from. Private sellers often have a story to tell about the piece and vintage dealers are often full of character, just like the pieces they sell.
Buying vintage often involves taking a trip out to exciting places; auctions, antique and vintage fairs, and village-wide yard sales are all perfect places to find the unexpected. A good tea and cake stop along the vintage way is simply the cherry on the cake.
Reason 6 to buy vintage: better value. Although not always the case, buying vintage and second-hand can be better value than buying brand new. Vintage fairs, vintage auctions, car boot sales, charity shops, thrift stores, eBay, Facebook Market Place, and garage sales (yard sales) are all great places to find vintage bargains. If you know what you’re looking for, you might be able to pick something up for a bargain. There is nothing more satisfying than knowing you’ve bought well.
My advice is to know what you are looking for. Keep a list of vintage items that you’re on the lookout for and do research. If you know the market value for the items on your second-hand vintage wish list, it’s easier to spot a bargain. I have achieved some major wins by keeping vintage savvy.
