Flea markets (such as the Brass Armadillo) are one of my favorite places to find vintage goods and housewares! More curated than a thrift shop, but cheaper than an antiques dealer or vintage shop, it’s perfectly in between, and I could dig for hours.

Flea markets have an amazing variety of items. While the hunt for that specific piece of Fenton glass to add to your collection might not be fruitful, if you’re looking for something more general, these categories are almost always stocked up.

home decor items you can always find at flea markets pinterest pin

Light Fixtures and Lamps

home decor you can always find at flea markets circa 1950s pink poodle lamp — Circa 1950s Poodle Lamp

Most flea markets are absolutely AWASH in lighting options. Theoretically, because light fixtures are both durable and expensive, people are generally hesitant to fully dispose of them. If you’re looking for a light fixture of a certain size, or for a certain era to match your home, a flea market should be your first stop.

You can find lamps of all sizes, but overhead light fixtures from the past 100 years or so are commonplace. Don’t forget to look up when you shop!

You’ll also find a huge variety of sizes and styles - whatever vintage look you’re trying to cultivate, you can achieve. I’m still searching for my holy grail (a green swag lamp for under $100), but there are myriad options otherwise.

Glassware and Cups

home decor items you can always find at flea markets glassware and a hula dancer figurine on a shelf at room service vintage in austin, tx — Room Service Vintage Austin, TX

If you’re furnishing a kitchen on a budget, but want something a little more unique than Target or IKEA, get thee to a flea market. Not everything is cheap - complete mid-century highball sets in brass carriers can fetch a pretty penny. Don’t be discouraged, though - there are lots of affordable options that aren’t as rare or coveted, but just as fun and unique.

“Incomplete” (but still large) sets are a great place to start. You can always find a lot of accompaniments like pitchers and bar sets as well. Just don’t put anything in the dishwasher, I beg of you!

Brass Candlesticks

home decor items you can always find at flea markets ornate brass candelabra — Brass lion candelabra at the Brass Armadillo in Kansas City, MO.

Brass is making a fierce comeback in home decor - and for good reason. Vintage brass has a lovely, warm quality that adds a lot of light and character to a room. It ages beautifully, and is more durable and less expensive than many precious metals. It’s been around for a long time, which means there is a lot of variation within the style - from more ornate items (like the lion candelabra pictured) to clean midcentury offerings.

I’ve been collecting brass candelabras and individual candle holders for my wedding. I know I’ll find enough pieces, because there’s always something new and unique on offer at a flea market.

Old Books, Records, and Comic Books

home decor items you can always find at flea markets an interior shot of Angelos Records in denver Colorado — Angelo’s Records in Denver, Colorado

As an actual reader of books, I can’t wholeheartedly get behind buying books only as decor à la Ashley Tisdale. But at the end of the day, I’m glad the books are stored on someone’s shelf rather than a moldy basement or garage. It’s not unusual to find hundreds of out-of-print children’s books and novels at a flea market, or older (but not always super valuable) editions of popular books.

Similarly, there are often booths stuffed to the gills with records and/or comic books. Even old magazines are abundant. It takes some digging, but you never know what treasure you’ll find.

Bookends

home decor items you can always find at flea markets a small ceramic figurine of a woman dancing in a yellow dress being used as a bookend. — A ceramic figure of a woman dancing used as a bookend.

In that bookish vein, I have noticed that it’s very difficult to find good quality (read: heavy) bookends for under $100 at traditional retailers. But at a flea market? The options are (nearly) endless. Deer and dogs were popular themes, and the ones I’ve found are typically around $20 as of this writing. They’re often brass, but I’ve founds bookends in all materials, including those thin aluminum library bookends, wood, and marble.

Bookends are also a very good gift when you’re not sure what to get someone but want it to have a personal bent - almost everyone has shelves, and almost everyone likes dogs or deer. In general, if someone collects something, you can find it at a flea market.

Unique Wall Art

home decor items you can always find at flea markets crochet art hanging on a red wall — Crochet Wall Art at Room Service Vintage in Austin, TX

Listen - I am a devoted fan of IKEA. But IKEA art is instantly recognizable. So is the milquetoast “abstract” art from Home Goods. I find that art very soothing at doctor’s offices and hotels, but my personal taste trends more towards the funky, and that’s where flea markets come in. Inexpensive prints, posters, and art at all levels can be found with the barest attempt at a search.

Common types of art at flea markets:

Pseudo Victorian
Thomas Kincaid-esque landscapes
Crochet Art
Vintage Posters and facsimiles
Floral and bird motifs
Norman Rockwell prints

The next time you’re looking for new home decor, check out your flea market. There’s always something amazing on offer. And if vintage clothing is more your bag, check out my vintage clothing primer.