Vintage furniture and collectibles sourced from flea markets, thrift stores or online marketplaces can really enhance interior schemes. They can usually be picked up at bargain prices and often boast superior quality and character compared with modern buys. Upcycling or ‘flipping’ vintage pieces to give them a new lease of life has become popular in recent years as there's been a huge increase in decorating with vintage to add character to homes.
From a simple clean-up and repair to head-turning decorative paint treatments, there are endless ways to give an unwanted piece a new lease of life. They can be lacquered, waxed, reupholstered or you could simply switch up the hardware. Pre-loved pieces also make perfect projects for repurposing – for example, an old sideboard could be mounted with a sink to make a characterful bathroom vanity.
