It’s no secret that secondhand is having a serious moment in the design world—and we’re all the better for it. But which antique styles are rising to the top of shopping lists right now? To find out, we gathered insights from dealers and designers alike—including members of the Country Living Design 100—who have front-row seats to the trends. Ahead, they share five types of vintage and antique furniture and decor that are high on discerning customers’ wish lists right now.
Not-So-Serious Furniture
While plenty of antique furniture leans traditional and formal, Portland, Oregon designer Jessica Helgerson says more laid-back, playful pieces are having their moment. “There’s a current trend toward antique furniture that feels playful and eclectic,” she says, noting that multifunctional designs—like chair-lamp hybrids—fit right in. “For me, this trend is manifesting in a total love affair with the work of midcentury French furniture makers Guillerme et Chambron, whose whimsical pieces definitely fit that description,” she reflects.
Quirky Trinkets
Matt Albiani, cofounder of Mate Gallery in Santa Barbara, California, has seen increased interest in what he describes as “little take-homes.” One example? “Vintage salt-and-pepper shaker sets, usually from 1950s/1960s Japan,” he shares. “The ultimate hostess gift.”
Antique Silver
Abigail Albers, the co-owner of The Found Cottage in Hudsonville, Michigan, will always find brass to be beautiful, but lately, she’s partial to silver. “Antique silver makes a great conversation starter,” she says. “Now I’m on the hunt for the perfect antique silver toast rack to add a little charm to my brunch table.”
Folk Art Furniture
Move over, simple hutches! According to Eliza Harris, the chief creative officer at Sister Parish in Litchfield, Connecticut, painted cabinetry and other examples of folk art furniture are in vogue at the moment. “I think it’s tied to a growing desire to collect, and to beautifully display, meaningful objects,” she says. “There’s also a renewed openness to color, and the perfectly imperfect finishes and folk-art details found on these pieces bring a warmth and authenticity that feels especially appealing right now.”
Federal Styles
2026 marks the 250th birthday of the United States, and Americana is top of mind for many. As such, Lindy Whitlock Bickish, the cofounder of The Potomac Collective with outposts in Alexandria and Richmond, Virginia, has seen a growing interest in both Federal-period furniture and decor. On the furniture front, chests of drawers in particular are in demand, while convex eagle mirrors are also capturing customers’ attention. “Federal-era pieces capture the optimism of the early republic,” Bickish says. “You see it in the eagle motifs, the confident proportions, and the extraordinary woods that were available when America’s forests were still largely untouched."
