Want to fill your home with stunning antique pieces for the ultimate vintage glam? Then you’ll want to do it as cheaply as possible. Timeless antique ornaments or furniture need not cost the earth if you know where to look. Whether you’re searching for rustic cabinets, period coat stands, authentic doors or art décor lighting, these are the places you should be looking:
- Charity Shops
People are often amazed at what can be found in the humble charity store. You can often find lower-end antiques from house clearances. Many items might have been checked over by a local dealer before making it to the charity shop but just as likely, some items might just slip through the net. They are always worth a browse and of course, it’s all for a good cause too.
- General Dealers
Many towns and cities have more than one local antique dealer’s shops and these are another great place to look for the perfect piece. If the dealer has house clearances then there could be items he or she has minimal professional knowledge about. If you know your stuff in a particular field then this can play to your advantage. These shops are a great place to barter on the price too.
- Reclamation Yards
The perfect examples of recycling in this age of increased focus on sustainable living. These places can be a veritable Aladdin’s cave of hidden treasure. Taking other people’s scrap and the remnants of deconstructed or demolished buildings, you can anything from antique sinks, fireplaces, vintage doors and even chandeliers. A browse round a salvage company could find that unique piece you’ve been looking for to make your interior complete. For Antique Chandeliers Dublin, visit http://www.wilsonsyard.com/products/lighting/indoor-lighting.html
- Car Boot Sales
Never underestimate the possibility of stumbling across a unique find at a local car boot sale. Most sellers are not traders but amid the household junk, there is sometimes a gem of an antique waiting to be snatched up. The perfect place to bargain on price so don’t forget to take some cash with you. The best time to arrive is as soon as sellers start to pull up and unpack so you can be the first to nab that antique vase or lamp.
- Auctions
There will often be house clearances featured at general auctions and the beauty is that in amongst the mass-produced items there could be an intriguingly unique antique that you just have to bid on. In auction terms, items like these are called ‘sleepers’ as nobody recognises the value or worth of an item. An item doesn’t even have to be worth a great deal. If you fall in love with an old piece because it’s unusual or unique then bid on it for your vintage décor.
- Antique Fairs
Many such fairs are held throughout the year, up and down the country. You’ll find hundreds of dealers with stalls offering anything from large furniture items to fabrics and vintage glass. One of the biggest is held at Newark with an impressive 4,000 stalls.
