15 Best Flea Market Finds

It's a Sign

Old signs offer a big bang for your buck, especially considering how much a framed print or painting of equal size would cost. Have fun searching for that just-right wall decor—we love this "Rooms for Tourists" sign hanging in a guest bedroom.

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Trunk Show

Use old vintage suitcases to store linens, children's books or dress-up clothes, then stack them up and use them as a side table or simply pile them in the corner as a decorative accent.

Step It Up

Wooden shoemaker's forms can be used just as you would a sculpture, adding visual interest to tables and shelves. Another idea? Attach them vertically to a wall for a chic and clever coat rack.

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Play Around

Look beyond mass-market toy stores for gifts this year and surprise little ones with vintage treasures no one else will have. Classic kids' toys also work well as holiday decorations—a wooden horse or bright red tin truck looks perfectly festive beside the tree.

For the Birds

There is no end to what you can do with vintage birdcages—display them atop a high cabinet, fill them with twinkle lights, slip old photographs between the bars, paint them or suspend them from the ceiling filled with fresh flowers or candles.

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Hit the Slopes

Vintage snowshoes or skis create a rustic seasonal display on a front porch or mantel, especially alongside stacks of firewood and fresh greenery. True antiques can be quite costly, so look for vintage finds from the 1950s—which are usually more reasonably priced and just as charming.

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Dairy Queen

This farmhouse milk can made from galvanized metal looks great as a decorative accent on its own but can also be used to display fresh flowers or branches of winter berries.

Prized Possessions

From sporting events to 4H shows, vintage trophies tell fascinating stories—and make great conversation starters. Display them in a group on the mantel, use them as bookends on a bookshelf or fill them with fresh blooms.

Can It

Widely used for food storage before refrigeration, stoneware crocks of various sizes are frequent antique fair finds. Smaller crocks are perfect for holding kitchen utensils, while larger ones are ideal for storing umbrellas or rolls of wrapping paper.

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Fashion Plates

Originating in Staffordshire in England's West Midlands, transferware is a style of ceramics made by transferring an engraving onto pottery. Newer and imperfect pieces can be found at bargain prices, perfect for cheering up a winter table or hanging in a wall display.

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Window Shop

Beautifully shaped windows make a statement simply leaning against the wall atop a dresser or console table. Use Japanese masking tape to affix holiday cards to the glass for an easy seasonal display.

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Photo Op

Old picture frames with good shapes and details can be easily repainted to match whatever scheme you wish. No glass in the frame? Use it to frame a corkboard instead or hang it on the wall and tape a picture in the middle for a fun, eclectic look.

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Paper Trails

If you find a partially used roll of wallpaper with a pattern you love, snap it up! Just because it's not enough to paper an entire wall doesn't mean you can't still have fun with it—paper the back of a cupboard or bookcase, line your stair risers or cover the drawer fronts of an old dresser. A little goes a long way!

Cover Up

Vintage creamy white quilts and coverlets have a fresh, homespun feel that can fit in anywhere, from the most modern space to a home cozier and more rustic.

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Glass Act

Nothing adds a festive sparkle quite like mercury glass. Collect pieces to decorate your mantel, or place them down the center of your dining table.

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