10 Eclectic Home Decor Ideas Using Vintage Finds from New England Antiquing

I wasn’t planning to write this post, just a quiet winter weekend spent antiquing between Maine and Vermont, popping into a few favorite secondhand and antique shops near home. But as the finds started to gather, yellowware bowls, a vintage dish rack, and a woman’s winter hat, I realized they told their own story. These pieces weren’t part of a big haul or styled for show. They became part of our everyday spaces. In this post, I’m sharing 10 eclectic home decor ideas using vintage finds I picked up along the way, each styled simply at home to add warmth, charm, and personality to the season.

Join me for a day of antiquing for eclectic home decor ideas during a weekend in Maine.

Where I Went Antiquing

Living between Maine and Vermont gives me endless inspiration for eclectic home decor, warm woods, layered textures, vintage character, and those one-of-a-kind finds you only discover in New England. This little winter antiquing weekend took me from the Maine coast back to Vermont, with a handful of favorite stops along the way:

• The Fabulous Find, Kittery, Maine
• Anytime Antiques, Wells, Maine
• BoMar Antiques, Wells, Maine
• Breakaway Designs, Wells, Maine
• Half Moon Home Decor & Design Studio
• Lunch at Bitter End, Wells, Maine
• Stonehouse Antique Center, Chester, Vermont
• The Big Red Barn, Chester, Vermont

A simple route, but full of the kind of vintage surprises that make eclectic decorating so much fun.

What Does Eclectic Home Decor Really Mean?

To me, eclectic home decor is all about the mix. It’s vintage finds, antique pieces, thrifted treasures, and the occasional modern-day item that just works. It might be a stack of old books on a dresser, a set of mismatched mugs on the shelf, or a cozy throw tossed over a chippy chair. It’s layered, lived-in, and personal, never perfect, always evolving. If something catches my eye, there’s usually a way to make it feel at home. That’s the fun of eclectic style, it tells your story in pieces.

From Shop to Styled: 10 Eclectic Home Decor Ideas with Vintage Charm

Eclectic style comes together piece by piece, and this group of vintage finds was no exception. Each one had its own charm, its own personality, and a spot in my home just waiting for it. From old-fashioned hats to Delft mugs and yellowware, these are the nine eclectic home decor ideas that came out of a weekend of casual New England antiquing.

Styling a Vintage Felt Hat for Eclectic Home Decor

A vintage women’s felt hat is one of those small-but-mighty pieces that instantly adds personality to a room. I love hanging one on a coat rack, resting it on a dresser knob, tucking it on the back of a bedroom door, or displaying it on a hatbox at the end of a bench. It’s a soft, unexpected touch that brings warmth, whimsy, and a hint of old-fashioned charm to any corner you want to brighten.

Decorating with a Vintage Picnic Basket

This old-fashioned picnic basket from The Fabulous Find in Kittery, Maine, became one of my favorite pieces to style, especially when I paired it with our VW Fastback, Ella, our Bernese Mountain Dog, and a little ski-lodge charm out in the snow alongside a pair of black Head skis. Picnic baskets are wonderfully versatile for collecting. They look great over a hutch, on a porch, or tucked into a cozy corner, and they’re just as fun to use for yard picnics, beach days, or even a styled trunk setup. It’s pieces like these that make vintage hunting worth bundling up on a cold New England day.

Looking for more ways to style those old picnic baskets? Browse some of these favorite posts:

Decorating with Delft Mugs in an Eclectic Home

This set of four Delft mugs with little blue sailboats was such a rare and special find for our coastal Maine home. I don’t come across Delft mugs often, so discovering these felt like striking gold, especially since I already had a matching set of Delft coasters. Together, they bring that classic blue-and-white charm into our kitchen in a way that feels collected, not curated. It’s an easy, eclectic touch in a home where vintage pieces mix naturally with everyday living. I reach for these mugs all winter long, especially on snowy mornings when a cozy cup of coffee feels like the best part of the day.

Decorating with Vintage Kay Dee Linen Prints

Kay Dee Designs became popular in the mid-20th century for their beautifully printed linen textiles, think scenic landscapes, rural charm, and classic Americana rendered in bold, cheerful color. These two vintage Kay Dee linen prints, one featuring a red covered bridge and the other a snowy red barn, caught my eye instantly. They have that unmistakable mix of art, nostalgia, and everyday beauty that works so well in eclectic home decor.

I styled them in our Vermont guest bedroom against blue-and-white wallpaper, adding red accents and a four-poster bed to play up their cozy winter feel. They bring just the right pop of color and personality to the room, simple, charming, and wonderfully timeworn.

Eclectic Home Decor Ideas for Displaying Vintage Yellowware

Yellowware has completely stolen my heart lately, and these recent finds made the hunt worth it. I finally came across four blue-striped bowls in different sizes, exactly what I’d been hoping to add to my collection. With their warm golden color and soft blue accents, they brighten up a space instantly, even on the iciest, snowiest New England day. And the yellowware pitcher with blue stripes? A lucky Vermont score that fits right in with the rest of my pieces. Together, they add that timeless, collected charm I love in eclectic home decor.

Yellowware feels right at home here in New England, with its warm golden glaze and soft blue stripes that brighten even the grayest winter day. I styled this latest set two ways, first on our Vermont kitchen’s open shelving for a fresh, everyday look, and then in a pine hutch in our dining room, where the golden tones add a richer, more traditional vintage moment. Explore both styles in my Yellowware Collecting and Decorating Ideas: A Vintage Guide to Bowls, Pitchers & Display Tips post.

Eclectic Home Decor Ideas Using Vintage Traders’ Fur Stretching Boards

Who knew traders’ fur stretching boards could be such unexpected stars in eclectic home decor? These simple wooden pieces carry a rugged New England feel, and mixing items from different eras is one of my favorite ways to add texture and character to a room.

I repurposed one board into a rustic coat and hat rack, while another found new life as a charcuterie board, two completely different looks from the same vintage find. If you’d like to recreate the coat rack version for your own home, you can check out my post Your Guide to a Rustic DIY Coat Rack with Antique Finds for all the details.

Eclectic Home Decor Ideas Using L.L. Bean Boots & a Basket

Thrifting never disappoints, and this time I came home with the quintessential pair of L.L. Bean Maine boots, a vintage-style classic that fits right into our eclectic home decor.

Styled fireside or placed by the entry next to a thrifted wooden shoeshine box from a summer market, they bring that cozy, lived-in New England feel I love. And for spring, these boots take on a whole new life with succulents planted inside, turning a practical staple into a playful, eclectic touch. Whether fireside, by the door, or filled with fresh greenery, they bring so much personality to a room.

Decorating with a Vintage Market Basket

A simple handled market basket is one of those pieces that slips into any space and instantly adds texture and charm. I hung this one on the back of our front door with a blue thrifted scarf tucked inside, right next to our vintage church pew, and it created the sweetest everyday moment in the entry. Whether it’s tossed over a chair, carried to the beach, or styled as functional decor, a basket like this brings that collected, well-traveled feel I love in eclectic home decor. Explore more in my Church Pew Bench Entryway: 5 Ways To Add Character In A Small Space post.

Decorating with Ralph Lauren Somerset Island Floral Mugs

On my way back to Vermont, Thrifting with the Gals led me to this charming set of Ralph Lauren Somerset Island floral mugs at one of my favorite stops, Stone House Antique Center. The soft florals and classic blue-and-white palette fit so naturally into an eclectic home, adding a polished yet relaxed touch to open shelving, coffee stations, or styled trays. They feel both timeless and fresh, the kind of everyday pieces that blend easily with vintage collections while standing out just enough on their own.

Eclectic Home Decor Ideas with a Vintage Dish Rack

At The Big Red Barn, I spotted this vintage dish rack tucked under a counter, a little worn, a little hidden, and absolutely full of potential. For just $40, it became the perfect eclectic addition to a small corner of our kitchen. After a quick refresh with paint and some TLC, it now proudly holds a mix of my favorite blue and white dishes and new Ralph Lauren mugs. It’s such a good reminder that secondhand pieces can be both functional and beautiful, bringing timeless charm into everyday spaces.

Eclectic Home Decor Ideas with Vintage Cake Stands

To add a little height and sparkle, I styled the top of my freshly painted dish rack with a trio of vintage cake stands: one amber glass, one white, and one clear. Each brings its own touch of charm, creating an easy layered look that works so well in eclectic home decor.

Collecting cake or pie stands is such a simple way to mix materials, play with dimensions, and create a pretty focal point in a kitchen or dining room.

I paired mine with a blend of favorite pieces, from Johnson Brothers tea-and-toast plates to a few Parisian finds and classic blue-and-white collectibles, for a look that feels curated, personal, and collected over time.

Bringing Eclectic Home Decor Ideas to Life with Vintage Finds

Eclectic style grows one meaningful piece at a time, and these nine vintage finds from a simple weekend of New England antiquing turned into some of my favorite decorating moments. Whether it’s a felt hat, a yellowware bowl, a market basket, or a well-loved pair of L.L. Bean boots, each piece adds personality, warmth, and that lived-in charm that makes a home feel uniquely your own.

If you’re inspired to bring more vintage eclectic home decor ideas into your space, explore the posts below for even more vintage styling tips, thrifted finds, and New England decorating inspiration.

Pin forLater!

If you love these eclectic home decor ideas, you’ll enjoy my Thrifting with the Gals blog series, where we share creative ways to style vintage and antique finds. From decorating with mirrors to hosting a charming dinner party, collecting hotel and restaurant ware, and transforming a thrift store painting into vintage artwork, these posts are full of inspiration for your next thrifting adventure: