Okay, so if you've followed me for a while you know that one of the reasons this little gig was even named RH was a tribute not only to God's restoring of my own life BUT to honor my love for vintage and antique finds. 

While my personal home style may have shifted and changed over the years, my desire to add character and personality to the homes we live in through pieces from forgotten times has not. 

Nothing adds flavor, personality or a more lived-in feel more than an architecturally salvaged kitchen utensil turned artwork or a vintage textile from the early 19th century turned well, into whatever your mind can imagine. 

For me, that's the thrill of it all, honestly. From finding the perfect hunt locations locally and abroad, to getting creative with how you use it in your own home, there's nothing quite like using items like these to help a house feel more like home. After all, at the end of the day, that's what we wall want. We all want a space that lends to bringing out the best in not just those who dwell within the four walls we call home but to those who enter as well. We want a space that feels collected and gathered instead of unboxed and sterile. We want a place that feels good and snuggly and cozy and welcoming. Too many adjectives? Never. 

Anyhow, I thought I'd share a bit about my thrifting and antiquing process that you can customize to fit your lifestyle and personal 'style profile'. 

Because much of our home has a pretty neutral base, I like to pick up pieces that will easily transition from season to season and from style to style. This means that over the years most of the items I have grabbed in my outings will always fit not matter where we go or what kind of home we live in.

With that in mind, here are 5 ways, you can use some of your favorite finds or how your finds can become your favorite in your own home:

FIVE WAYS YOU CAN USE VINTAGE FINDS IN YOUR HOME

DO | USE PAINTED ART IN ANY ROOM

I love vintage art. Whether it’s paint by number or an old acrylic there’s just something about it that gives me all the good vibes. Adding vintage art in any space can give it more character and a more lived-in feel but I especially love using vintage items in unexpected places. Try hanging some smaller pieces in the bathroom, powder room or kitchen and reserve your larger finds for the living room or bedroom.

DO | STYLE THOSE SHELVES

I am pretty sure I have a disease because every few months or so. (Ok, weeks) I get the itch to change out the items on our shelves in our home. This is a no-fuss, easy way to change up small details in a room without making a huge impact. One of my most favorite items to use when doing so are vintage and antique finds that I’ve collected over time. Because we live in small space with limited storage, the shelves in our dining area serve double duty as holders of items I hold near and dear as well as storing functional items I use in our home and specifically in our kitchen like bowls and plates.

DO | USE SOMETHING UNEXPECTED ON YOUR WALLS

Speaking of unexpected, this is a hat I found at a local thrift. It was handmade in Thailand and I was so excited to find the perfect spot for it in our guest room at that time. When looking around your local flea markets, thrifts or garage sales don’t pass by anything that speaks to you even if you don’t know what you’ll do with it at that time. If the price is right, snatch it up. Sometimes I find that the true inspiration comes much later. I do, however, have one rule: if I bring something in that doesn’t immediately serve a purpose, I must get rid of one thing in order to make space for it. It’s a small-space rule.

DO | REPURPOSE UNIQUE VINTAGE + ANTIQUE FURNITURE PIECES

I die. This space of Chelsea’s from Style Mutt Home is a great example of how you can mix and match the new and old, vintage and antique to get the feel of a well-loved, collected space that invites folks to stay for a while. I want to hone in on her use of the camp table as a coffee table. I love how unafraid she was to take something that was meant for one reason and repurpose it in her home for another.

DO | USE THEM ON YOUR TABLETOP

Dining in? This is the perfect time to style those wooden cutting boards or vintage glasses amongst your favorite dinner plates and serveware. 90% of what you see below came from my local thrift. From the candlesticks to the plates at each table setting you see, I used secondhand items to turn this inspirational tabletop into something beautiful. It doesn’t take a ton of thought or energy to create something that is unique to your style or taste.

Tell me how you like to use your unique finds in your home in the comments below!