Awesome Vintage Things to Collect

Do you collect anything? I’m always drawn to vintage items and there are certain things that I can’t pass by at a junk sale or thrift store. I think that’s how the best collections get started, don’t you? I thought it might be fun to round up a pile of awesome vintage things to collect and inspire us all to add a few more goodies to our homes. {If you have a fun collection, be sure to tell us about it in the comments!}

Vintage rolling pins are one of my favorites. The different shapes and multi-colored handles make each one unique.

I can remember the days when my mom and grandma had an entire brush and mirror set on their dressers and that might have been the start of my love of vintage hand mirrors. I love the way they look all clustered together on the wall.

A collection of large mirrors is equally awesome and is the perfect way to create a different type of gallery wall. I love the different shapes and sizes.

And if you don’t like either of those kinds of mirrors, how about vanity mirror trays? My Mom always had one of these on her dresser when I was growing up and you can often find them at thrift stores.

There are a few things that make my heart speed up when I find them, and a vintage thermos is one. Even better if I can find them for just a few dollars at a thrift store. With their bright colors and plaid patterns, they get a lot of use in my everyday and holiday decor.

Piano keys are another favorite. I have a couple of different sizes and I’m so drawn to them when I see them at junk sales. Like all vintage treasures, I can only imagine the stories they might tell.

This Dundee marmalade jar collection is both gorgeous and practical. The crocks look amazing all stacked together and they’d also be perfect for holding utensils next to a stovetop or holding everyday items in a bathroom.

I love this vintage medicine bottle collection with all its interesting shapes and frosted, aged glass. I found some really neat ones during my trip to Panama City Beach a few years ago and I use them in my decor.

Vintage shiny brite ornaments give me all the heart eyes and this tree full of them is stunning! They’re really hard to find {and really expensive when you do find them} so this is a collection worth holding on to.

I’ve never come across any of these in all my searches so this vintage picnic tin collection has me a bit envious.

I’ve always loved cookie cutters, both new and vintage {I still have some that belonged to my grandparents}. They often just sit in a big box until we make cookies but I’ve used them in my tiered trays during various holidays and I even used them to decorate a little Christmas tree one year.

My mom used to have a pile of vintage baskets, although they weren’t vintage at the time {smile}. She had a number of them hanging on the wall, along with some other items, and I like to think she created the gallery wall years before it was popular. I love the texture this collection adds to a wall … and since baskets are super cheap at the thrift store, this is an affordable collection to start.

I’m smitten with old plates and this vintage church plate collection is amazing. A collection like this takes a lot of time to acquire but it’s incredible. And doesn’t it look neat wrapped around the corner of the wall?

This wooden butter mold collection is small but stunning and it looks so beautiful showcased against the ironstone. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a wooden butter mold but I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes open for them.

This green leaf plate collection shows you can really collect anything. I pass by things like this all the time but aren’t these plates beautiful? A gallery wall of them would be stunning. And if you can’t find gorgeous green ones like these, clear ones are always easy to find and you can paint them to match your decor!

I’m always a little smitten with a vintage teacup collection. I have a pile of cups and saucers that belonged to my grandmother and great aunt and they’re treasures, for sure.

Who else loves floral frogs? A floral frog collection is such a fun thing to collect, especially because they come in many different varieties. I’m a bit of a sucker for metal frogs and I use them to hold pens on my desk and cute flashcards in vignettes.

Most vintage lovers have a thing for milk glass and this collection is beautiful. I love the way it looks, all stacked together, and the addition of seasonal elements really tops it off.

Collections don’t have to be intricate. Simply collecting pottery all in one color and displaying it on a hutch or shelf is such a fun idea. This yellow pottery collection is gorgeous and only gets better with different shapes and sizes.