Guest Blogger #483, Entry #1117, April 23, 2012
Everyone likes to live in a home that receives rave reviews when company comes to visit. Oh, but there’s nothing like the feeling that rushes over you once someone admires a piece of furniture, art or decor item and asks, “I love this. Where did you get it?” and you’re able to say, “It’s a one-of-a-kind piece that I picked up.”
Sure, the mall and franchise furniture shops have some nice décor items, but if you’re looking for things that are either vintage or rare, that requires a bit more forethought (when it comes to knowing where to go) and patience (when it comes to finding exactly what you want).
Find great deals on vintage home decor
Image via: Randomitus.Tumblr
So how do you do it? It’s easier than you might think.
Shop Online
When it comes to shopping for home décor, one of the best things about shopping online is that cyberspace has its own brand of boutique shopping because you are able to have access to specialty stores that you never would otherwise. Each city has some great little shops and so you can always ask a friend out of town for a referral of stores that have rare items and see if they have a website. Or you can check out shops like Refinery29.com (LA), Etsy.com (NY) or VintageDecor.og (TX), all of which specialize in vintage and one-of-a-kind pieces. Also, don’t forget to stop by eBay and Craigslist.org too. If you simply type in words like “vintage” or “antique”, you might be surprised at the kind of items that pop up.
Go Thrifting
OK, technically “thrifting” is not a word, but a lot of people who go to thrift stores know that it probably should be one. If you have about $100 in tow, you can leave feeling like a millionaire after walking out with some of the items that you can find in there. The really cool thing about thrift stores is that on top of their already low prices, many of them also have daily deals too. And while we’re on the subject of going the discount route, another great way to find items that no one else will ever own is to go to a local yard sale or estate sale. You can keep your eyes out around town for both, but estate sales are something that you can also call a local real estate friend for updates on. They tend to be in the know about those kinds of things.
Save money while shopping vintage
Image via: Down and Outchic.Blogspot
Shop While Traveling
A wonderful way to create wonderful feelings of nostalgia and to develop a rare home décor collection is to purchase items while you’re traveling out of town. If you’re in Mexico for a week and you’ve always wanted some of their authentic folk art, why not purchase it while you’re visiting? If you saw some indigenous collectibles on your travels in Africa that you think would be perfect for your dining room, why not pick them up? Sure, it could cost a bit more to ship (although a lot of places will let you pay and have them shipped at a later date so that you don’t have to take the items on board with you), but the memories that come as a result will not just prove to be rare but also priceless.
Evan Fischer is a contributing writer for HotDealsBoard.com, where you can find a collection of the best daily deals available online.
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This post, Ronique, is right down my alley. I love decorating with thrifty finds and indeed, it’s tough to judge which is more thrilling, the hunt, the thriftiness, or being green. All good, right?
I agree with you Gosia! Anytime you can find thrifty finds that you love… grab them up and surround yourself with them! 🙂 Thanks Gosia!
Its really beautiful and that first drawing room and black lamps are awesome.