Most of you who have ever taken a (virtual) step inside of our farmhouse can spot my style pretty easily. If it’s old, rusty and covered in cobwebs or bird poop I usually go crazy over it 😉 After years of searching, estate sale picking and antique store shopping, I really feel like our home speaks to the heart of who we are and is a place of beauty and comfort for us. And it’s mostly thanks to the special antique pieces we have sitting on our shelves and hanging on our walls.

Mantle décor in our first home in Kansas

I’ve had questions from many of you over the past year or so about how it is I’ve learned to style our home with antiques, and together with Invaluable I think we can give you some pretty good tips for antiquing in the eastern Nebraska region.

1. Know your style
Before you even head out the door, take some time to figure out what you want the antiques you buy to say about you. For me, it’s usually an antique farm piece or a floral print that gives the country vintage feel I want for our home. Don’t know what kind of antiques you like? Pinterest to the rescue! Just type in “antiques” and start browsing. Chances are that as you pin ideas you like a common theme will emerge giving you an idea of what to look for once you get to the sale or store. Because trust me, there’s nothing worse than getting to an antique sale and having NO idea what you want.

1950’s wooden Christmas carolers found in Olathe, KS, $15.00

2. Know your stores
Half the battle of finding the perfect antique piece is knowing where to look. Lucky for you, I’ve got a list full of them to share with you today based off of my living here the past 3 years.
*The Aardvark Antique Mall : This is definitely my go-to place in Lincoln. The booths are evenly distributed and are full but not overly cluttered. I feel like Aardvark is the most reasonably priced in the Lincoln area.
*Timeless Treasures on “O” Street : This antique mall is FULL of treasures, but you really have to dig to find them. The prices are mostly reasonable, but sometimes it is hard to navigate through the rooms and isles. I’ve tried taking my stroller through there before and it was not fun.
*Cool and Collected Antique Mall : This is my most recent antique store find and I LOVE it! It’s super clean and organized and has a great selection, but I would say has a lot of mid century furniture and other house hold pieces. It’s a hidden gem in Lincoln!
* Gatherings on the Blue : This is a place full of everything farm and old, and it’s at the top of my list when I’m looking for something super specific. Gatherings is located just outside of Milford, NE and is packed FULL of treasures. The pricing tends to be a little on the higher side, BUT you will find pieces there in fantastic condition and you won’t be able to find them anywhere else. This makes the prices worth it to me, especially when I’m looking for an “it” antique piece for our home. Check out Gathering’s Facebook page for their seasonal barn sales.

Vintage wooden goose in galvanized bucket with antique hand cranked washer

3. Know what you’re willing to work with
When searching for the perfect antique piece for your home, know who much time and effort you’re willing to put into making it yours. Do you want to learn how to restore and distress old pieces? Are you comfortable taking pieces or furniture apart? Do you enjoy painting? Some pieces will take more effort than others to make them fit into your home, and knowing your limits BEFORE you buy is key. A fun tip… never close a door on being creative. If you’ve never tried painting an antique piece or repairing something that’s in bad shape, it’s always an adventure to try something new for the first time! Do your research, grab a friend and see what you can come up with!

I hope that this post encourages you to add something old and beautiful in your home. Some people say that antiquing isn’t for them, but do yourself a favor and give it a try! It only takes one piece of junk to steal your heart!!