Best Vintage Finds for Winter Collections

Make the most of your winter collections with Thrifting with the Gals. Find vintage treasures, tricks & more for your home decorating journey!

Thrifting with the Gals

It’s the third Thursday of the month, which means it’s time for “Thrifting with the Gals.” A monthly blog series where my friends and I share vintage finds, tips, tricks, and home decorations from around the country. You may sign up here for Dabbling & Decorating and never miss a post.

First up on today’s “Thrifting with the Gals” blog series is Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse, who is sharing How to Create a Textured Lamp with Hobnail Design. And you won’t want to miss the other gals sharing all their vintage finds today, too:

Winter Collections | What to Look For

Vintage decor brings a touch of nostalgia, charm, and warmth to any space, and it’s no different when it comes to winter collections. Here are some ideas for incorporating vintage treasures into your winter decorating:

1. Vintage textiles: Add warmth and texture to your space with vintage textiles. Look for vintage wool blankets, crochet afghans, or antique quilts. Drape a vintage quilt over your sofa or layer vintage-inspired throw pillows on your bed to create a cozy and inviting winter ambiance.

2. Vintage sleds and skis: Incorporate vintage sleds, skis, and skates into your winter decor. Lean a vintage wooden sled against a wall or use it as a unique centerpiece for your holiday table. Hang vintage skis on a wall or place them in a corner to create a rustic and winter-inspired vignette. Learn more in my Vintage Ski Lodge Decoration Series.

3. Vintage-inspired tableware: Set a vintage-inspired table for your winter gatherings. Look for antique china, silverware, and glassware with delicate patterns and vintage charm. Mix and match different patterns and colors to create a unique and eclectic tablescape. See more in this Galentine’s Day Brunch Vintage by Design post.

4. Vintage-style winter prints: Adorn your walls with vintage prints or posters. Look for illustrations or photographs that capture the beauty of winter landscapes or vintage winter activities like ice skating or sledding. Frame them and hang them in your living room or hallway to add a touch of vintage charm. Learn more in the Arts and Crafts Shows Near Me Inspired By People “Who Do” post.

This post may contain affiliate links, which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Winter Collections & Outdoor Elements

Bringing the natural elements of the outdoors inside has always been a favorite of mine when it comes to decorating our homes. But it can be a bit challenging during the winter months for sure.

Marble

A new outdoor element that I embracing this winter season is marble. Did you know that the world’s largest marble quarry is only a 10-minute drive from us here in Vermont at Danby Quarry?

Danby Quarry

The Vermont Danby quarry is the largest underground marble quarry in the world. The quarry is entered through the same opening used for over 100 years. With a marble factory that is perhaps the largest of its kind in North America being fed by the largest underground marble quarry in the world, this unique combination makes Vermont Quarries Corp a truly one of a kind white marble supplier that is unparalleled.

There are 10 Danby Marble options to choose from. I tend to lean toward the white with light gray lines through it, like in this Eureka Calacatta Danby and the Olympian White Danby marble.

Marble Top Furnishings

You can find marble slabs, tables and dressers with marble tops, and other marble winter collections rather affordably. It’s true! Although I may have the advantage of being here in Vermont, where marble is plentiful and quarried, I have found many a marble piece outside of Vermont that are just as desirable too.

The idea of adding marble elements to our living room stemmed from this round marble piece that I already had on hand from an old vintage coffee table.

By simply laying the marble on top of an already existing high-top side table, we were able to not only bring nature’s elements indoors, but it brightened up our living room space immensely.

This marble top has a large crack through the middle, which enhances its authenticity even more. And because marble is porous, you can easily sand and polish marble to look new again should you choose to do so. This is something we are planning on trying.

Would you be interested in a tutorial on how to sand and polish marble tops?

Our plan now is to cover our pellet stove fireplace surroundings with the same Danby marble. All of which will accent our new home furnishings. (I’ll be sharing much more about this very soon.)

Thrifted Plant Stands

After leaving a local tile shop (looking for the Danby marble for our fireplace), I stopped in at our local thrift shop and found two plant stands with marble tops for $12 each.

What were the chances of that happening?

Don’t we all crave a little bit of greenery this time of year? Two marble plant stands and a couple of green plants later, we have ourselves a new winter corner collection.

You may also be inspired by this Cottage Farmhouse Decor Trending Finds post.

Baskets and Tureens

I first displayed the plants in baskets, then switched up the second plant’s basket with a vintage soup tureen. Both are great accessories for elevating your winter plants.

Marble Lazy Susan

A perfect accent, this marble Lazy Susan, which was once my mother’s, also now centers our coffee table with a winter collection of miniatures vintage bowling pins under a glass cloche.

You may also enjoy this 11 Creative Ideas to Display Your Vintage Collections post.

Winter Tulip Arrangement Ideas

Tulips are often associated with spring and the vibrant colors that bloom during the season. However, with proper care and selection, tulips can also create stunning winter floral arrangements. Here are some ideas and tips for creating beautiful winter tulip arrangements that bring elegance and cheer to your home during the colder months.

Vintage Pitchers and Platters

Grab your favorite vintage pitcher and layer it with antique platters for a pretty vignette in the kitchen, as a table’s centerpiece, on a coffee table, or breakfast nook.

Winter Tulip Color Palette

Select a color palette for a winter-themed arrangement; choose cool and crisp colors such as white, cream, pale pink, and lavender. These colors evoke a sense of freshness and tranquility reminiscent of a winter landscape. Consider combining shades of white tulips for a monochromatic arrangement or mix in a few pastel hues for a subtle pop of color.

For more winter tulip inspiration, see the 17+ Simple Tulip Arrangement Ideas for Spring post.

Bookshelf Decorating Ideas

A bookshelf is not only a functional piece of furniture but an opportunity to showcase your personal style and creativity. During the winter season, transform your bookshelf into a cozy and inviting display that reflects the spirit of winter. Here are some ideas and tips for styling your bookshelf with winter collections.

Vintage Winter Collections

Strip your bookshelves and gather your favorite collections.

Here, I started with wooden chairs, vintage cameras, vintage blue bottles, Waterford Crystal, vintage paintbrushes, and more.

And, of course, all with my little helper, Ella.

Space and Balance

As you arrange your favorite winter collections onto your bookshelves, pay close attention to the balance of space and visual weight. Alternate between tall and short objects and distribute them evenly across the shelves. Leave empty spaces to allow the display to breathe and for the eye to rest.

Don’t Forget the Books

After arranging my winter collections onto our bookshelves, I felt like the shelves really needed some books! I had recently transferred all of these built-in’s books to another set of built-ins in our living room, so I needed some more books…

Check out this Vintage Decor Meets Craft Room Design post to see the before.

Then I remembered that our local thrift shop was having a 50% off book sale. I scored two large boxes of hard and paperback books to fill our empty bookshelf spaces. I may need to go back for some more, too!

These bookshelves are in my craft room space, where I like to embrace all the whimsy.

You may enjoy more in the Decorating with Vintage Books: 20+ Ideas to Try post.

Dress Form Mannequins

I’ve been super lucky finding affordable dress form mannequins at the second-hand shops this winter. See more in the 21 Vintage Finds: 4 Days Thrifting in Coastal Maine post.

Valentine Vintage Mannequin

Here, I dressed up one of the vintage mannequins that I found with a pink tutu and costume pearls for Valentine’s Day.

Hmmm, what should I do with her next for Saint Patrick’s Day? Stay tuned…

You may also enjoy the Meet My Ol’ Gal, Miss Mannequin Dress Form post, too.

Vintage Suitcases

A girlfriend I hadn’t seen in a few years recently came for a visit, toting her vintage blue Samsonite suitcase. It wasn’t for decorating; she was actually using it for her toiletries, and she loved it so much she bought her daughter one, too.

Samsonite Train Travel Suitcase

This suitcase has a charming and nostalgic design, reminiscent of train travel in the past. It features a durable construction, a classic Samsonite logo, and a convenient handle for easy carrying. The suitcase is designed specifically for toiletries, with multiple compartments and pockets to keep your items organized while on the go. Its vintage aesthetic adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to your travel essentials and home decor.

Start a collection of your own vintage suitcases to display in guest bedrooms, or buy one of your own to carry with you when you travel. There is inspiration everywhere we look.

Vintage Blue Ice Skates

Ice skates are always a favorite winter collectible. And these blue ones are no exception. Hang them on an inside door knob or on your front door outside. These winter collections look beautiful anywhere!

*Vintage blue ice skates are rare but occasionally appear on Etsy and eBay. Patience and persistence are key to finding a pair of these blue beauties.

Drippy Bottle Candles

We recently spent a few days in Montreal, where I spied these drippy bottle candles. What a unique collection for a bookshelf, side table, mantel, and more.

Drippy bottle candles have become a popular trend in recent years, adding a unique and artistic touch to home decor. These candles are created by allowing melted candle wax to drip down the sides of a bottle, creating a beautiful and mesmerizing effect.

Aren’t they so cool?

You can experiment with different bottle shapes, colors, and wax candle combinations to create a personalized and artistic display by simply adding dripping taper candles to your bottles and letting them burn out until you reach the look you want. I especially like the old raffia-wrapped Chianti bottles.

The Gossipers

In honor of Galentine’s Day, “The Gossipers” is a 2002 bronze outdoor sculpture by Rose-Aimee Belanger installed along Montreal’s Rue Saint-Paul in Quebec, Canada.

When I walked by earlier this week, I was captivated by the ladies. Don’t you want to know what they are conversing about?

I hope you were inspired here today, friends!

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This post may contain affiliate links, which won’t change your price but will share some commission.