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The Sustainable Choice: Why Vintage Decor is Eco-Friendly

By Rachel

published 03/06/2025

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Make conscious choices for your home! Understand why vintage decor is an eco-friendly alternative to ‘new’ and how it contributes to a sustainable lifestyle.

Have you ever stopped to think about the environmental impact of furnishing your home? The latest trends may be enticing but they often come at a cost to the planet. In fact, the furniture industry is one of the top contributors to carbon emissions and landfills. However, there is a better option. Join me below to learn about the sustainable choice and why vintage decor is eco-friendly!

Beyond Trends: Why Vintage Decor is the Most Sustainable Choice

Not only do antique and vintage items add character to your space but they also have a significantly lower impact on the environment. In this post, we’ll explore the benefits of choosing vintage decor and how it can help you create a more eco-friendly home.

From reducing waste to preserving resources, you’ll discover why vintage is the sustainable choice for stylish home decor. I’ll also share some of the amazing benefits of vintage decor as well as handy tips for sourcing vintage items!

Table of Contents

For the health of the Earth, let us all band together to reduce waste and support re-using existing items to create an environmentally friendly home.

Let’s get into it!

Shop Sustainable Home Decor

Eco-Friendly Home Decor: How Shopping Vintage Makes a Difference

Let’s first start off by chatting a bit about modern day decor. It’s not that I don’t have an exact problem with modern, mass-produced items, I just don’t want to constantly be purchasing it. Why, you may ask?

Well, for one, it’s not personal. Home decor from big box stores is produced by the hundreds of thousands, meaning so many other people have the exact same thing. I don’t want my home looking like everyone else’s! We’ll get into more specific reasons below.

Now, I’m not one to tell others what to do. If you love shopping for decor at large retail chains, fantastic. You do you! You have to make decisions based on your beliefs and what’s best for you at the time.

I’m merely a messenger, using this platform to speak up for the Earth and the Earth wants me to spread the word about vintage, so that’s what I’m doing today!

vintage spring decor that I use every season like this mint green enamel pitcher and green flower frog

The Problem with Modern Decor

Below, you will find three points in regard to the mass-production of goods and its effect on the environment. The point of this isn’t to worry anyone or cause alarm but rather to educate so that we can all be better and do better.

1. “Fast Furniture” Culture

It’s no secret that, these days, companies produce and manufacture goods at an alarming rate. The (excruciating) trend of mass-produced and disposable home decor items including furniture, decor, lighting, textiles, etc…is at an all time high.

Along with that, these new items produced in such large quantities have a very short lifespan. They are not created with quality in mind, meaning that these things will either break or the owner will grow tired of them in a year’s time. That’s what a ‘fast furniture culture’ means…buying new, the thing breaks or the owner gets tired of it, they throw it out, buy something else new, etc…and the cycle continues.

To me, this is such a waste of money and precious resources! It’s an obsolete way to consume goods.

an antique chair sourced secondhand for sustainable decor

2. Environmental Cost of Manufacturing

Another major downside in the production of new furniture and decor is that it’s a very resource-intensive process. The factories and producers of said goods emit giant amounts of carbon emissions into our water and air, causing pollution and wreaking havoc on the environment.

There are also many harmful chemicals used in the production of modern decor including formaldehyde, phthalates, and flame retardants. In addition, plastic and PVC are used widely in furniture and textiles, which are both extremely unsustainable materials.

3. Landfill Waste

Plain and simple, there is a growing problem of furniture and decor piling up in landfills. As stated earlier, this is another big issue with the fast furniture culture. When people get tired of the mounting things in their homes, if it doesn’t get donated to a thrift store, it gets tossed and ends up in a landfill.

Well, what happens to all of that furniture, decor, or other household goods as it sits in the landfills? It starts to decompose, which, after a while, releases harmful greenhouse gases like methane. The leaching of those chemicals goes directly into the ground, impacting the environment as well as human health.

The Sustainable Choice: Why Vintage Decor is Eco-Friendly (and Stylish!)

Now, let’s switch gears and chat about my very favorite thing…vintage!

I eat, sleep, and breathe vintage on a daily basis. The rush of excitement that courses through me when I stumble across a neat find at a thrift shop or antique mall is, to me, like winning the lottery. It’s nothing short of amazing!

Truly, there are so many positive things to say about vintage wares. I could go on and on but, for the sake of time, let’s just talk about a few of them below.

A Few Benefits of Vintage Decor

1. Reduced Carbon Footprint

I think it goes without saying that choosing vintage or secondhand items, of any kind, reduces the demand for new manufacturing. This choice keeps carbon emissions low, which in turn helps out the environment.

Also, there is a huge amount of energy and resources saved by re-using existing items. I’m in the camp of always shopping secondhand first because there is truly something out there, already made, for anyone and any type of purpose!

2. Extending Product Lifespan

Simply stated, vintage pieces are built to last. Old things, when first produced, were made with quality items, meaning they are durable and can stand the test of time. Antique and vintage wares have a longevity that far exceeds any modern day items.

Due to that, vintage items have the ability to be passed down through many generations. That’s so many people who can enjoy and use these precious items. How special is that?!

3. Minimizing Waste

Finally, I think it goes without saying that, when choosing to source, style, and use vintage pieces, it significantly reduces waste.

Because these old things have been around for many years, being used over and over, and for many different purposes, they always have an important place to be instead of sitting in a landfill.

How Vintage Goes Hand-in-Hand With the Circular Economy

What is the circular economy? Glad you asked!

Basically, it’s the principle of reduce, reuse, and recycle. I mean…I don’t know how much more effective it gets when using vintage.

Circular Economy Principles

Because vintage items stay in circulation for so much longer than modern day wares, the need for new production is significantly reduced. I mean, think about it!

Let’s say that a piece of pottery was produced in the 1960’s. Because of the quality materials used to create the pottery piece, the reduction costs are preserved because there’s not a constant need to make more. Then, this piece of vintage pottery gets used and loved by someone, then say it’s given to a family member, who re-uses the pottery. Finally, maybe that family member doesn’t have a use or place for it anymore so they donate it to a thrift store, which is a form of recycling. And around and around we go…it’s such a neat process!

Closing the Loop

Vintage decor, or really any item bought secondhand, helps to close the loop on material consumption. Because, obviously, when you buy used, the items you purchase are already here.

You guys…there is just so much stuff out there. It’s important to practice sustainable consumption patterns, like buying vintage and thrifting, to help close the loop on the constant production of new goods.

Tips for Sourcing Vintage Items Sustainably

So, now that we know the benefits of vintage decor, where are the best places to find it all? Don’t worry… I’ve got you!

Thrift Stores and Antique Shops

My very favorite place to source vintage decor is at thrift stores.

Thrift shops, at least from my experience, have the best prices with a huge variety of items to choose from. If you are new to thrifting or need some help with how to best navigate thrift stores, you can read my in-depth thrift shopping guide!

To find thrift stores in your area, try using thethriftshopper.com.

Antique shops are also another favorite destination for finding vintage items. Though a tad bit pricer, there are still loads of wares to be found for affordable prices.

The best part about shopping at antique malls, other than shopping sustainably, is that you are not only supporting a small business, but you are supporting the vendors who sell their goods at antique malls, which is basically a small business within a small business. I can get behind that any day of the week!

Online Marketplaces

Another place that I frequent for sourcing vintage decor are online stores. For some, this is a super popular option due to the sheer convenience of it. Online shops also have a ton of variety and usually contain more rare pieces.

Online vintage shops can include:

Etsy
e-Bay
Mercari
FB Marketplace

Flea Markets and Estate Sales

Another option would be to check out flea markets. Filled with the best kind of junk, there is something for everyone at a flea market and for great prices.

Try using fleamapket.com to find flea markets in your area.

Estate sales are another great option for sourcing vintage decor items, especially if you are looking for furniture. You can find estate sales around your location by using estatesales.net.

Identifying Quality and Sustainable Pieces

Through much practice, lots of thrifting, and watching YouTube videos, I’ve learned what a quality item looks and feels like. After you hunt vintage for a while, you get it. You’ll see a quality, sustainable piece from across the room and just know.

My best advice here is to just go out and learn by doing. Pick things up. Compare things. Turn things over. Feel things. Look for stamps and markings or flaws in the glass or glaze. Then one day, you’ll notice that it just clicks and becomes second nature.

Decorate Consciously With Vintage Finds

Okay! Now, let’s get to the fun part…decorating with vintage! Styling each space of my home with vintage finds truly makes my heart so happy. There’s just nothing else like it.

Anything that is vintage or purchased secondhand is sustainable and healthy for the environment, but let’s chat about a few specific types of sustainable vintage decor below.

Examples of Sustainable Vintage Decor

Vintage Wood Furniture

Whether it be large-scale furniture, a small side table, or a decorative item, the beauty and durability of antique and vintage wood pieces is absolutely stunning. There are so many benefits to sourcing solid wood furniture over modern day pieces that contain particleboard or MDF.

In my home, 99% of my real-wood furniture has been thrifted. Each of the items that I’ve sourced is at least 30+ years old! They are still just as beautiful and functional now as they were then.

They include:

dining table and chairs
dining room hutch
sideboard
my dresser
end tables
curio cabinet

Vintage Textiles

Oh boy oh boy…when it comes to vintage decor, linens are one of my weaknesses. If you were to ever go antique shopping with me and don’t see me for a while, you can assume that I’m on the floor, digging through a pile of linens.

I just can’t help it…old table runners, quilts, tea towels, doilies, and hankies are the prettiest things and can be found for just a few dollars! The unique patterns and incredible handmade craftsmanship found on vintage textiles is such a gift.

So, I don’t ever feel bad for bringing home yet another hanky from the thrift store because now it gets to live with me instead of being thrown in the trash. The thought of that makes me so sad!

For simple and sustainable home decor ideas, try:

placing hankies underneath decor items to anchor them
sticking a hanky inside of a vintage bowl or vase and let the pretty detail hang out the front
styling table runners in vignettes, on shelving, across the top of a curio cabinet, or in a hutch display
using doilies underneath lamps or picture frames

Secondhand Vintage Dishes and Glassware

‘Hi, I’m Rachel and I have an obsession with vintage dishes:)’

If you thought linens were my weakness, vintage dishes, specifically floral patterns, are even more of a weakness. I’m not one to buy everything I see because, truly, no one can have all the things. But, put me in the dish aisle at the thrift store? I have to save them!

There are too many to name, but just a few environmental (and beautiful) benefits of choosing vintage dishes, ceramics, or glassware over new ones are: you can find unique designs and/or patterns, it’s a budget-friendly way to shop for housewares, you are re-using existing decor, and helping to keep un-needed waste out of landfills. It’s a win all around!

Dishes aren’t just for the kitchen anymore, either. I love to decorate with dishes all over the house!

Here are a few ideas:

stack up plates for height in a vignette
use platters as background decor in a hutch or shelf display
style a selection of floral dishes inside a basket
hang vintage pitchers or cups from a peg rail
adorn a mantel with a collection of ironstone or milk glass

Re-Claimed Materials

When shopping for sustainable home decor, re-claimed and salvaged materials are such a pretty option. Many of these items come from old houses, torn down barns or farms, old churches, etc…If re-claimed materials don’t have a story to tell, I don’t know what does!

Re-claimed materials can most easily be found at flea or vintage markets, salvage shops, estate sales, or online sources.

Included are items such as:

wood corbels
old windows or doors
antique mantels
rosettes and other trim detailing such as bead board or plinths
pillars, turned wooden spindles, or finials

Re-using these old items in your home adds such character, warmth, and special detail.

hang an old window on a wall as art
place old finials or turned wooden legs in a crock or basket for hearth decor
style small rosettes into a vignette
build an accent wall using old bead board
use corbels to hold up a shelf or act as bookends

Shop My Selection of Favorite Vintage Dishes

Styling Your Home with Sustainable Vintage Decor

Finally, let’s chat about a few specific decorating ideals when it comes to vintage. Each of the methods below are practical ways to style vintage finds into your home whether you are a maximalist, a minimalist, or somewhere in between!

Curated Collections

One of the easiest ways to style your home in an affordable and sustainable way is through the use of curated collections.

I’ve chatted about this topic many times here on the blog but it’s because I adore how collections of things look when displayed together. This method of decorating is something that I use and practice in my home all year round!

I want to stress here the word curated…meaning a collection of something(s) that have taken time to source and collect. Curated collections don’t happen overnight! Most of my vintage collections have taken years to acquire but that’s because I’m choosing quality over quantity. You truly have all the time in the world, so it’s okay to be picky about the items you bring in to your home.

Examples of curated vintage collections can include:

milk glass
ironstone
pottery
books
transferware
dishes or glassware
art

Minimalist Decor

As you probably know, I like to stick to a minimal decorating style in my home. It’s not that I don’t like having stuff around, it’s just that I don’t like clutter.

One of the many amazing benefits of vintage decor is that it easily complements a minimalist aesthetic. Due to the natural beauty and simple nature of vintage and thrifted wares, they flow effortlessly into a minimal decor scheme.

By using say, milk glass or ironstone in a vignette, you have the ability to use it just as it is or add simple accessories to it such as a linen, a couple of floral stems, or a few books.

It doesn’t take much to decorate with vintage because it’s already inherently beautiful!

vintage art styled with a n antique oil lamp for minimal and sustainable home decor

Natural Materials

And, last but not least is the use of natural materials. Decorating with elements from nature is as sustainable as you can get when it comes to home decor!

Not only are natural items eco-friendly, because they literally are nature, but they can be free if you forage for them (in a sustainable way)!

I use natural decor throughout my home all year round, depending on what’s available. Natural decor elements can be added to shelf displays, styled in a vase as a table centerpiece, sprinkled into vignettes, hutch displays, and more!

Some examples of natural materials that you can use for decor accents can include:

pinecones
acorns
pine boughs
sticks or twigs
birch logs
flowering branches or wildflowers
wood rounds

Closing Tidbits on The Sustainable Choice: Why Vintage Decor is Eco-Friendly

If you’ve made it all the way to the end, thank you! Talking about vintage AND sustainable living is a huge passion for me, so I had lots to say.

It’s my sincere hope that, through my words on the sustainable choice and why vintage decor is eco-friendly, you are able to see the power that we have as humans to swing the pendulum of sustainability towards hope.

Be encouraged to shop secondhand, opt for vintage, and live sustainably, finding a renewed sense of purpose along the way.

Let’s talk about it and keep the discussion going on Instagram @theantiquedjourney! What can you do, or are going to do, to make more sustainable choices in your home decor? Let me know if I can help in any way!

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