Discover simple vintage decorating tips to inspire your home style, from windowsill displays to seasonal centerpieces. Easy ideas for creating character with thrifted finds.
Welcome! If you’re new here, this is the perfect place to begin your journey into vintage, thrifted, and antique home decorating. Inside this page, you’ll find my best guides, favorite styling tips, popular blog series, and go-to shopping resources, all designed to help you bring character, charm, and a sense of the familiar into your home. Whether you’re curating your first vintage vignette or styling inherited treasures in a way that’s uniquely yours, there’s something here to inspire every step of the way. Because the most meaningful homes aren’t decorated, they’re remembered.
Familiar Finds, Styled Your Way™
Here’s a simple way to begin your vintage home journey:
What Is Eclectic Vintage Style?
If you’ve ever mixed a flea market crock with a French antique mirror, next to a thrifted wicker chair and your grandmother’s blue transferware, you’re speaking my language.
Eclectic vintage style is all about blending eras, textures, and stories. I love pairing rustic with refined, antique with modern, and adding a little New England charm to every space.
It’s not about perfection, it’s about personality.
On this blog, you’ll find:
- Thrifted treasures styled with love
- Antique and vintage collections that evolve over time
- Seasonal decorating rooted in cozy nostalgia
- A sprinkle of coastal Maine and Vermont mountain views
If your heart skips a beat over old crockery, rusty lanterns, or blue and white anything, welcome. You’re in the right place.
Eclectic Decorating Style Guide
Want to create a home that feels cozy, collected, and completely you? This guide dives into how to layer vintage, antique, and thrifted pieces effortlessly, sharing easy tips to help you embrace an eclectic vintage style that tells your story, one thrifted find at a time.
Best Thrifting Tips for Vintage and Antique Home Finds
Ready to master the art of thrifting? Whether you’re new to vintage hunting or a seasoned secondhand shopper, these helpful tips will guide you in finding beautiful home decor treasures with charm and character. From flea markets to estate sales, learn how to shop smart, style creatively, and build a home that tells your unique story. Here’s where to begin:
Favorite Thrifting Posts to Get You Started
New to thrifting or looking for a fresh dose of inspiration? These reader-favorite blog posts are packed with vintage decor ideas, expert tips, and secondhand styling finds. Whether you’re browsing a flea market, estate sale, or Goodwill aisle, these posts will help you spot hidden gems and style them beautifully in your home.
One-Day Vintage Decorating Ideas from The Secret Cupboard
Looking for quick, cozy ways to style your home with vintage charm? The Secret Cupboard is where I share simple, one-day decorating ideas every Saturday, inspired by my latest thrifted finds, antique treasures, and seasonal styling moments. It’s like opening a little door to creativity each week.
You can decorate right along with me or simply gather inspiration for your own home. From table settings to styling tips, it’s a peek inside the vintage pieces I love most, all in a day’s work.
Every thrifted find has the potential to tell a story, and once you bring those treasures home, the real magic begins.
Our Home, Featured in Country Sampler Magazine
In 2024, our coastal Maine home was featured in Country Sampler Magazine—a true dream come true! It was an unforgettable experience, and I’ve shared all the behind-the-scenes moments, vintage styling, and emotional details in this special post.
Next, let’s explore some of my favorite vintage decorating ideas for creating a cozy, character-filled home.
Vintage Decorating Ideas for a Cozy, Character-Filled Home
Decorating with vintage finds is one of my favorite ways to create a home filled with warmth, charm, and personal history. Whether you’re styling a thrifted table setting, refreshing a cozy corner, or adding antique touches to everyday spaces, these ideas will help you bring timeless character into your home. Let’s explore some favorite vintage decorating inspirations!
However you choose to style your home, I hope these vintage decorating ideas inspire you to create a space that feels beautifully personal, welcoming, and full of timeless charm.
Coastal Maine Heritage – Embracing My Roots
Discover the story behind our family’s deep connection to coastal Maine, beginning with my grandparents, who ran Coupe’s Gift Shop and Lobster Pound just down the road from the home they later built. This post, featuring a 1950s photo of my mother and her Bassett hound Boozer at the Nubble Lighthouse, is the heart behind why I decorate the way I do today and now drive my own vintage 1968 VW Fastback named Shirley.
Explore the Vintage Home Decor Glossary
Curious about the vintage and thrifted pieces I use throughout my home? Visit the Vintage Home Decor Glossary to explore 15 of my favorite styling ideas, from milk glass to blue and white dishes, antique quilts, and more.
DIY Vintage Projects to Add Charm and Character to Your Home
Sometimes the best vintage finds are the ones you create yourself. From repurposing old treasures to simple DIY projects that bring a timeless charm to your home, these ideas are all about adding a personal and creative touch. Here are a few favorite DIY vintage projects to inspire your next decorating adventure!
As much as I love creating cozy vintage touches at home, there’s nothing quite like hitting the road in search of new treasures. Let’s take a few favorite antiquing adventures together next!
Vintage Style Guides to Help You Decorate with Confidence
Want to bring antique charm and character into your home? These vintage style guides make it easy to start decorating with confidence, whether you’re styling a cozy table, displaying vintage books, or identifying your favorite antique chair styles.
Vintage Antiquing Road Trips Through New England and Beyond
There’s nothing quite like the thrill of a vintage road trip, discovering hidden shops, local treasures, and charming small towns along the way. Over the years, I’ve mapped out some of my favorite antiquing adventures across New England and beyond. Whether you’re planning a full road trip or just dreaming up your next afternoon outing, these vintage shopping trails are filled with character, inspiration, and a little bit of magic.
“The RV is our ‘third place,’” Ann says. “It’s the freedom to travel on a whim, bring our dog, and chase vintage treasures wherever they might be hiding.” — House Beautiful, “Why Buying an RV Is the New Vacation Home, According to Experts“
Along the way, it’s often the unexpected treasures that become the most loved pieces at home. Next, let’s take a peek at some of my very favorite vintage finds and the stories behind them. You may find even more antiquing adventures on our Essential Antique Stores and Vintage Markets Guide: Where to Shop, Style, and Road Trip page.
Recommended Reading
Ever think about opening your own vintage or antique booth? I’ve got you covered in this How to Start a Vintage Booth: Tips, Display Ideas, and Lessons Learned post.
Favorite Vintage Finds That Bring Timeless Charm Home
Over the years, some vintage pieces have found their way into my home and my heart, becoming true treasures. From well-worn crocks to delicate blue-and-white china, each find brings a little more warmth, character, and story to everyday life. Here are a few of my favorite vintage pieces and the memories they carry with them from our Thrifting with the Gals blog series.
Try a Styling Tip!
Looking for simple, vintage-inspired decorating ideas you can try in an afternoon? Explore all my Styling Tips for easy seasonal projects, quick DIYs, and creative ways to style your home with charm.
Quick Vintage Decorating Tips to Inspire Your Style
Just getting started or looking for a spark of inspiration? My Styling Tip series shares simple vintage decorating ideas, from creative windowsill displays to quick centerpiece makeovers. These tips are short, sweet, and easy to try in your own home.
Letting Go of Vintage: How to Downsize and Rehome Your Beloved Decor
Learn how to downsize and rehome vintage decor with care. This heartfelt guide shares tips for letting go of beloved pieces while honoring their stories. Whether you’re retiring, downsizing, or simply ready to declutter with intention, this guide is here to help you pass on your beloved vintage decor with purpose.
Vintage Finds, Modern Headlines
Who knew a love of old treasures could lead to so many fun features? See them all here.
Favorite Blog Series to Follow
Get to know the heart of Dabbling & Decorating through these reader-favorite blog series. Each one celebrates vintage, thrifted, and antique home decor, from cozy New England style to seasonal inspiration and charming DIYs.
Thrifting with the Gals
A fun and ever-evolving series where I team up with fellow vintage lovers to share our monthly thrifted finds, styling ideas, and favorite shops across New England and beyond.
In My Mother’s Maine Home
Step inside my coastal Maine home, once my mother’s, now lovingly filled with antiques, heirlooms, and sentimental stories passed through generations.
Vintage Ski Lodge Style
A cozy winter series from our Vermont home with nostalgic ski lodge decor, vintage snow gear, and ideas for decorating with rustic charm. Find even more ideas in my newest Vintage Ski Lodge Decor: A New England Guide to Holiday and Winter Styling post.
My Vintage Ski Lodge Decor series was recently featured in Country Living in an article titled: 5 Antiques That Sell Out Every Winter, According to Antiques Dealers. If you love decorating with vintage skis, snowshoes, sleds, and toboggans, you’ll want to read the full piece here, then scroll through the series for all of my ski lodge styling ideas and real-life vintage finds.
Antiquing in New England: Hidden Shops and Cozy Stays
Pack your curiosity and join me for an antiquing adventure in New England. Chasing hidden shops, cozy inns, and the vintage finds that make every detour worth the drive.
Press play for a quick peek at what my Antiquing in New England weekends look like—a shop, a stay, and a find, all tucked into the most charming corners of Vermont (and beyond). If you love vintage treasures, cozy inns, and old New England towns, you’re in the right place.
Antiquing Road Trips by RV
Follow along on our RV adventures as we thrift and antique across New England and Canada, plus get my tips for planning your own vintage treasure hunts on the road.
Meet Ella, Our Vintage-Loving Bernese Mountain Dog
We can’t forget our girl Ella, our loyal Bernese Mountain Dog who rides shotgun on every thrifting and antiquing adventure. From flea market road trips to cozy couch moments at home, she’s a big part of the vintage charm we love to share.
Join the Vintage Decorating Community!
Get my latest thrifting finds, vintage decor tips, and RV antiquing adventures straight to your inbox.
Whether you’re styling your home with vintage soul, thrifting for that next meaningful piece, or road-tripping toward your next great find, I hope Dabbling & Decorating becomes a familiar place you return to again and again. I’m so glad you’re here, and I can’t wait to share more vintage decorating ideas, heartfelt stories, and beautiful, timeworn treasures with you along the way.
Happy thrifting, always.
Join the Vintage Circle — Familiar Finds, Styled Your Way™
Love vintage treasures, thrifted gems, and a home that tells your story? Leave a comment, share this post with a kindred spirit, or head to my Start Here page to explore more. Want fresh prompts and timeless ideas? Subscribe to join our Seasonal Vintage Decor Styling Challenge for weekly inspiration and behind-the-scenes peeks.
