Something fun is happening in the world of vintage.
Color is coming back.
And as someone who has watched vintage trends come, go, and come around again, I am VERY happy to see it.
For the last several years, we’ve lived through a whole lot of gray. Gray walls. Gray floors. Gray furniture. White kitchens. Neutral everything.
You know what I mean.
But now? People are bringing personality back into their homes.
They’re buying color. They’re creating collections and groupings. They’re mixing old pieces with new ones. And younger buyers, in particular, seem to be discovering something many of us vintage lovers have known forever:
Old stuff is FUN.
Green Glass Is Having a Moment
Green glass is definitely getting attention right now, but really, old glass in general is making a comeback.
Colored glass, pressed glass, vintage serving pieces, candy dishes, bowls, pitchers, vases, goblets. The things that filled Grandma’s china cabinet are suddenly looking pretty darn good again.
And there is a LOT of it out there.
I mean...
A. LOT.
As Baby Boomers downsize, entire households of vintage items are hitting estate sales, auctions, thrift stores, antique malls, and eventually the online market.
For the last several years, that has helped keep prices on a lot of vintage glass surprisingly low. There was simply more glass available than people wanting to buy it.
But if this trend continues, those days of super-cheap vintage glass may be numbered.
More people are starting to notice it.
Hens on Nests Are HOT Again
This one makes me smile.
Hens on nests are back.
Vintage ones, newer ones, and reproductions inspired by the originals are showing up in home decor again.
And why not?
They’re colorful. They’re whimsical. They’re useful. They look great sitting on a kitchen counter, shelf, table, or mixed into a collection.
They're exactly the opposite of boring decor.
For years, you could stumble across hens on nests fairly regularly without much competition. Now? The good ones are getting noticed.
If you love them, this may be the time to start, or add to, a collection.
And Then There Are Fairy Lights
Fairy lights are another one to watch.
And no, I'm not talking about a string of tiny lights.
I'm talking about those beautiful little glass candle lamps that add color and sparkle to a room.
Fairy lights are HOT, HOT, HOT.
Vintage fairy lamps come in all kinds of colors, patterns, and styles, which makes them perfect for the way people are decorating right now.
One is pretty.
Five grouped together? Even better.
That's another change I'm seeing. People aren't necessarily looking for one perfect statement piece. They're creating collections.
They’re grouping colors, shapes, textures, and eras together and making their homes look like their homes rather than something copied directly from a showroom.
Vintage Kitchen Is Back, Too
Another category getting attention is vintage kitchenware.
Pyrex and other collectible kitchen brands have had loyal followings for years, but the interest goes well beyond the big names.
Old mixing bowls. Canisters. Serving pieces. Kitchen tools. Storage containers. Vintage linens. Colorful dishes.
And yes...
Old Tupperware.
It's back.
People are cooking more, they're styling their kitchens, and they're discovering that practical things don't have to be boring.
There is something fun about pulling out a vintage serving bowl or using an old kitchen piece that reminds you of your mom's or grandmother's kitchen.
And plenty of younger buyers are discovering these things for the first time.
Hello Again, 1970s
The '70s are also picking up steam.
Of course, I don't think the '70s ever really go out of style. Interest just rises and falls.
Right now, it's rising.
Think warm colors, amber glass, greens, browns, florals, mushrooms, funky shapes, bold patterns, wood, ceramics, and decor with personality.
Some of it is wonderfully weird.
That's part of the appeal.
After years of homes being decorated to look clean, neutral, and almost identical, we're moving back toward spaces that actually tell you something about the people who live there.
The Younger Generations Are Buying Our "Old Stuff"
This may be my favorite part of what's happening, and it really does bring a tear to my eyes. Tears of happiness! I'm so glad they are discovering the fun and whimsy of vintage decor.
Younger buyers are looking at the things previous generations grew up with and seeing possibilities.
Something doesn't have to be a valuable antique to deserve a place in a home.
Maybe it's a $20 piece of green glass that looks fantastic on a windowsill when the sun hits it.
Maybe it's a hen on nest sitting in the kitchen.
Maybe it's three fairy lights grouped together on a shelf.
Maybe it's a funky 1970s serving dish that comes out every time friends come over.
They're mixing decades. They're mixing vintage with modern. They're collecting things they like instead of worrying about whether everything "matches."
They're making decorating fun again.
And I am here for it.
What Should You Be Watching For?
If you're wandering through an antique mall, thrift store, flea market, estate sale, or even shopping vintage online, keep your eyes open for:
- Green and colored vintage glass
- Fairy lights and fairy lamps
- Hens on nests
- Vintage kitchenware
- Older Tupperware
- Colorful serving pieces
- 1960s and 1970s decor
- Amber, avocado, orange, and other warm-toned pieces
- Vintage linens and kitchen textiles
- Funky ceramics
- Pieces that work well in collections and groupings
But here's the most important part:
Buy what makes you smile. Create a setting you love!
It's your home. Live in it your way.
Trends are fun, but your home doesn't need to follow a rulebook.
That's one of the best things about vintage.
You can find something made 20, 40, 60, or 100 years ago and give it an entirely new life in your home.
And with so many older households being downsized right now, there are some absolutely wonderful things coming back onto the market.
The treasure hunt is getting interesting again.
And if you've been thinking about starting that collection of colored glass, fairy lights, vintage kitchen pieces, or maybe a whole flock of hens?
You might want to start looking.
Because everyone else is starting to notice them, too.
Happy hunting!