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. On this page, you’ll find my best guides, favorite vintage decorating tips, popular blog series, and go-to shopping resources, all designed to help you create a cozy, character-filled home with timeless style.
Whether you’re collecting your first piece of ironstone or hunting for antique treasures across New England, there’s something here to inspire every step of your vintage journey.
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.
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.
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.
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 Vintage and Thrift Shopping Adventures Across New England 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.
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.
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!
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Whether you’re decorating with vintage charm, thrifting your next favorite piece, or hitting the road for a treasure-filled adventure, I hope Dabbling & Decorating becomes a cozy corner of inspiration for you. I’m so grateful you’re here, and I can’t wait to share even more vintage decorating ideas, antiquing adventures, and meaningful finds with you along the way. Happy thrifting!
Your Guide to Embracing Eclectic Style, Vintage Finds, and Thrifted Home Inspiration~
Love decorating with vintage finds, thrifted treasures, and eclectic charm? I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below, share this post with a vintage-loving friend, or join our Reader’s Showcase Series — where we feature your favorite thrifted and antique finds. Email me at [email protected] to be part of it!
