The Best Vintage Items to Use for Fall Home Decor
I love when the weather gives us little hints of the upcoming season. It’s time to talk about the best vintage items to use for fall home decor.
The charm and warmth of vintage decor
There is nothing like the fall season. It’s a time for pumpkin lattes, sweaters, football games, crunching leaves, and decorating with natural elements. But you know what’s even better than that? Decorating with vintage pieces in your fall vignette!
This is a time to get out all your favorite things and incorporate them into your fall decorations. The charm and warmth that vintage treasures brings to your displays makes for a space full of personal style.
The autumn season doesn’t have to be about pumpkins if you don’t want it to. Simply bringing out your favorite pieces, sprinkled in with a bit of autumn decor, and give your rooms the cozy look you are craving.
What is too early to decorate for fall?
Living in Michigan, I am always desperate to wring out every last moment of summer. But when Mother Nature starts giving me those subtle changes, warm days and cooler nights, I know it’s time to drag out the fall hues.
But the perfect time to decorate for fall depends entirely upon what you like and where you live. Don’t feel any pressure to sprinkle your living room with mini pumpkins if your climate is not cooperating. However, making some changes toward seasonal decor might be just the thing you need to get you in the mood!
The best vintage items for fall decor
Vintage style is so popular, and there are so many fabulous things you can use for vintage fall decor pieces. Here are the vintage items that I think are the best for an instant feeling of autumn.
Baskets
I love vintage baskets and have been collecting for quite awhile. Their earthy browns and natural materials, along with a million uses, make it the perfect way to begin your fall decor. The texture of a basket can add warmth to a room.
Baskets can be filled with pumpkins, dried hydrangeas, or organic elements from the yard. Larger baskets are the perfect spot to corral chunky blankets and squishy throw pillows for cuddling up on the couch.
Wicker picnic baskets can be stacked for extra storage or to hide toys and games. They can even be used on a front porch within your fall decor. It’s a great place for the Amazon delivery person to drop your packages too! Baskets of all shapes and sizes are easily found at estate sales and thrift stores.
Wood bowls + boards
Although I love to use mine all through the year, wood bowls and boards make the perfect backdrop for fall decorations. The warmth and patina of the wood makes them a great way to highlight those pretty fall colors you’ll be decorating with.
Stacked up on the coffee table or sideboard, they will complement your perfect fall color palette. And don’t forget to make that perfect charcuterie board on game day!
Crocks + stoneware
Brown crocks and earthy colored stoneware seem like they were made for fall decor. There are so many fun ideas that you can fill them with. I also love to simply use the neutral colors of my ironstone collection to hold the bounty of the fall.
Display apples from your apple picking fun out on the counter where they can be seen and enjoyed. Sometimes it is just the simple ideas that give that warm and fuzzy feeling of a bygone era where we were just focused on simple pleasures.
Stoneware can be set out to simply enjoy the colors. Crocks can hold fall flowers, plants, or herbs that display the warm autumn colors of the season.
Leather elements
I love the rich texture of old leather and think it is a great addition to any fall decor. You can add leather elements with vintage books, suitcases, or leather pouches. Even a basket with a leather handle will add a bit of warmth to your decor this time of year.
Keep an eye out at flea markets and thrift shops for old, worn leather belts that can be incorporated in many ways. Wrap one around a throw pillow, basket trunk, or use in a DIY craft.
My friend once used one as details when reupholstering an ottoman. When you are adding personal style to your own home, let your imagination run wild a little bit. You might just come up with the next big thing!
Wood boxes + buckets
From faded topography to worn paint, wood boxes and buckets add the perfect patina to fall decor. There are so many great ideas on Pinterest of how they can be used.
I love the old buckets that were part of vintage ice cream makers. Use them on your front porch to hold mums, next to hay bales for the ultimate fall decor. Fill them with whatever fall bounty you have in your yard. I have way too many pinecones, but an old wooden box becomes a great display piece when filled with the interesting textures of fall.
Linens
I have a slight problem with vintage linens. Like, I have too many. I mean, clearly not a problem for me, but it seems to be getting a bit out of hand.
In my defense, vintage linens are so great to add a bit of softness and a feminine texture to other fall decor. Especially when using all the wood and leather elements, a touch of vintage lace and linen will be so pretty to set the stage for the change of seasons.
Look for intricate designs in laces that can bring a feminine softness to a room. Spilling from a basket, wood bucket, or displayed on an old ladder, showcasing a unique piece will add instant beauty to your fall decor.
Gingham is always a favorite. Add a linen tablecloth (no need to iron) and start layering for the season.
Vintage art
I love vintage art. It is such a great way to get a new look in a room. Simply switch out the art!
Look for smaller pieces that can be layered, or larger ones that can easily be propped up for a few months and then simply exchanged as the seasons change. The best part is vintage art is easy to stack and store for next time.
Colored glass
Glass has been making a comeback and fall is a great time to bring out all the colors. From amber bottles, to green wine bottles, and brown glass bottles, they can all be lined up to play a role in presenting warm autumn colors.
Whether you add found foliage or enjoy them empty and for their shape, they are a great way to add those warm colors to a display. Plus glass is easily found at any antique mall and can be quite cheap. Just look for shapes that have a unique look and are the color scheme you have chosen for the season.
Do my items have to be vintage?
If you are not a fan of a yard sale, and tend to avoid antique shops at all costs, you can still find items at Home Goods or Target that have that ‘vintage look’ and are reproductions of older items. Of course, they may be more expensive than some vintage, but they are still a great option to get that coveted layered look that vintage items provide.
DIY projects are also a great way to get that worn look of vintage items, as they can be made with old materials.
The truth about seasonal decorating
When the seasons change, so do the daily activities in your life. Home should always function how you need it, and exude a feeling that makes you happy. Don’t ever feel pressured to decorate seasonally in the commercial way if that doesn’t suit you. Rather tweak things in your home to create a “feeling” of the season. That could be more cozy in the fall, or clean and minimal in the spring. Decorate with what brings you joy.
Must I use pumpkins for fall decor?
If you aren’t a fan of orange pumpkins, and find that little white pumpkins are too boring, simply paint some! Whether they are faux or real, use Bungalow 47 Furniture Paint and paint pumpkins any color you desire for the season.
If you aren’t into obvious ways to decorate for the season, which frankly I tend to avoid myself, make your fall decor whatever you want it to be! Whatever says ‘change of season’ or ‘comfy autumn home’ to you, use it to create small displays around your house that will get you in the fall mood.
Front porches can easily change over to fall with the help of corn husks and hay bales, but you don’t have to go all out. Use the simple vintage fall decor ideas that speak to you and that feel authentically YOU!
Additions to add to fall decor
After you have pulled out all your vintage items and created little displays for fall everywhere, use these items to adorn them as desired.
candles
Not only will real candles create a mood while filling your home with autumnal scents, the flicker of faux candles can add the ambiance you crave without the risk of fire.
I tend to forget stuff, so my favorite way to burn candles is with this candle heat lamp. It has a timer that can be set so I can simply turn it on and leave it. It is one of my favorite ways to get that fall smell wafting around the house!
foliage
Foraging for fall foliage to display is the best way to decorate authentically and cheaply. Since it requires a walk through your yard or a stroll through some nearby woods, it’s the first thing I do when the leaves start to turn and foliage begins to dry out.
All those earthy tones and warm hues found in nature this time of year will make your fall decorating a breeze. Decorate with what you have available and at no extra cost. Sounds like a win, win!
ribbon
Everything looks better with a ribbon tied around it. If you aren’t a ribbon hoarder like me, pick up some simply styles next time you are shopping.
Checks and stripes are my favorite and I always choose a soft ribbon that will flow and fall prettily. Velvet ribbon is especially pretty in the fall, as it adds a rich texture too.
Tie a bow around your latest flea market find, door knob, or a stack of old books. Add one to a simple wreath on the front door to greet guests.
Vintage items are the best for fall decor
Easily add vintage charm to your fall decor with the rich patina of vintage finds. Antique stores nearby are brimming with fun items that you can easily use to incorporate into your seasonal decor. Maybe it’s time to start a new collection? Which one would you choose?
If you’d like to get inspired about more fall stuff for your home, let’s hang out more. Follow along on these platforms.
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Love it! It’s like we’re basically twins. hahahaha
I’m loving all your fabulous fall vintage ideas Jill! I have a similar post that basically confirms that great minds think alike!