If the leaves changing color, crisp air, and all pumpkin everything have you craving a cozier space, it’s worth knowing the top antiques pros say are trending for fall. After all, it’s one of interior designers’ favorite ways to add character and charm to any room.
Maybe you’re hunting for a conversation-starter to complete your living room, vibrant wall art to create a focal point in your entryway, or that one accessory to pull your bedroom together. Whatever you’re after, these pros’ practical antique shopping tips will put you on the right track whether you plan to browse online or in-store.
Busts and Carved Face Sculptures
When it comes to antiques, Sandy Baisley at RE-FIND recommends keeping antique busts, carved faces, and small figural pieces on your radar. Place them on a bookshelf, mantel, entryway table, or even an office desk to introduce an element of surprise.
“They immediately give a room personality and a sense of history, especially when they’re a little weathered or imperfect. There’s something about that patina that adds character and intrigue without feeling overly precious,” Baisley says.
Unexpected Combinations
Designing a space around vintage finds that have been collected over time is the way to go, if you ask Derek Miller, lead interior designer at Lauren Thomsen Design. The dining room shown above is one of Miller’s go-to examples.
“The strategy for this dining room was to let the vintage finds drive the composition of the space, approaching the room through shapes, proportions, and structural needs rather than starting with a list of exact pieces,” Miller shares.
A few of the standout pieces? “The room is anchored by several great vintage finds, including a 1960s Norman Cherner Pretzel Chair that a mailman discovered on the side of the road during his daily delivery route. The dining table has an equally great provenance: purchased from Rarify, it was created by the Knoll Planning Unit in the 1960s, combining elements of Jens Risom and Florence Knoll tables for a SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill) project for the Hyatt headquarters in Chicago. The dining chairs are by Eero Saarinen, but what makes them particularly special is the Eclat Weave textile, designed by Anni Albers in 1974.”
The vintage light fixture—a Vico Magistretti Atollo lamp by Oluce—is the finishing touch but also acts as a sculpture, he adds.
Bar Cabinets
This pick is controversial, but some designers are all for bar carts, especially for people who enjoy entertaining at home. Lindsey Colhoun, principal of Lindsey Colhoun Design and founder of Haven by LCD, calls them “one of the hardest-working pieces in a home.”
As the weather shifts and entertaining moves indoors, she says they become more of a gathering spot. But the key is settling on a style that isn’t exactly perfect. “I love finding one with some age on it: real wood, a worn brass pull, a finish that's seen some use,” Colhoun says. “It gives the whole space a sense of history the moment you walk in.”
No room for a traditional bar cabinet? The designer says a shelf can work just as well. “It gives you that same collected, well stocked look without taking up floor space, and it becomes its own little vignette on the wall," she explains.
Striking Portraits
There’s something about an old portrait that adds a layer of interest to an interior. When shopping for the right pieces, stay true to your personal taste, but consider looking out for any specific artists, historical figures, or time periods of interest.
“Old portraits bring such an immediate sense of story to a room; you find yourself wondering who the person was and where the piece has been,” Baisley says. “For fall especially, there’s something about an aged portrait that feels a little moodier and more mysterious.”
Rugs With Character
Designer Joe Waroquier predicts an increase in the use of antique rugs, whether it’s in a family room, office, or foyer. He even layers them at times for a more dramatic effect. “I love to take an antique 8’x10’ or any size of rug and make it the center of attention by allowing it to float on a larger sisal rug that envelopes the room to the size that it needs to be,” Waroquier says. “I love the worn, tattered, faded, and not perfect story that an antique carpet can bring to a story.”
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, "What's in My Cart."
