If you had told me a year ago that I’d be setting alarms on Saturday mornings to drive across town and stand in a stranger’s driveway, I would have been concerned.
Yet here we are.
Less than a year ago, I walked into my first estate sale. Since then, I’ve spent countless weekends peeking inside china cabinets, digging through bookshelves, admiring other people’s collections, and occasionally carrying something heavy to my car while trying to convince my husband it was absolutely necessary.
I’ve learned a lot.
I’ve made mistakes. I’ve bought things that looked amazing at the sale and less amazing once I got them home. I’ve also found pieces I absolutely treasure.
While I’m still learning, there are a handful of things that consistently catch my eye. Whether I’m decorating my own home or sourcing pieces for my shop, these are the estate sale finds I almost never leave behind.
1. Blue & White Porcelain
If estate sales have taught me anything, it’s that blue and white truly goes with everything.
Once I started noticing blue and white porcelain in beautifully decorated homes, I couldn’t stop seeing it. Ginger jars, planters, platters, bowls, boxes—if it’s blue and white, chances are I’m stopping to take a closer look.
What I love most is how versatile it is. It works in traditional homes, coastal homes, grandmillennial homes, and even modern spaces that need a little warmth and character.
A blue and white planter filled with hydrangeas feels timeless. A pair of ginger jars on a shelf instantly makes a space feel collected.
The best part? Estate sales are often where you’ll find the most interesting pieces—the ones that don’t look exactly like everyone else’s.
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2. Vintage Books
One of the biggest surprises since I started shopping estate sales has been vintage books.
Not first editions.
Not valuable books.
Just beautiful books.
The kind with faded covers, worn spines, and colors you can’t quite find anymore.
Before estate sales, I never would have understood why people decorated with books. Now I completely get it.
Books add height. Color. Texture. Personality. They make a room feel lived in rather than staged.
Some of my favorite finds have cost less than a fancy coffee.
And if they’re about gardening, decorating, birds, travel, or the sea? Even better.
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3. Silver & Brass
Confession:
The first few estate sales I attended, I walked right past tarnished silver.
I thought it looked old.
Turns out that was the point.
Now silver and brass are some of the first things I look for.
A silver tray on a coffee table. A brass cachepot holding a plant. A silver bowl filled with shells collected over the years.
These pieces add warmth and history in a way that newer decor often can’t.
And unlike trendy decor, they somehow manage to look better with age.
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4. Decorative Trays
I firmly believe every home needs at least a few trays.
Not because they’re practical.
Although they are.
Because trays make everything look intentional.
A stack of books becomes a vignette.
A collection of shells becomes a display.
Three random objects suddenly look like you know exactly what you’re doing.
Estate sales are one of my favorite places to find trays because the details are often so much better than what you see in stores today.
Beautiful handles. Decorative feet. Patina. Character.
They do the styling work for you.
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5. Pieces That Tell a Story
This last category is harder to define.
It’s not a specific item.
It’s a feeling.
Sometimes it’s a hand-painted plate.
Sometimes it’s a framed bird print.
Sometimes it’s a piece that reminds me of my grandmother, a beach vacation, or a home I once admired.
The longer I shop estate sales, the less interested I am in perfection and the more interested I am in personality.
I don’t want my home to look like a catalog.
I want it to look collected.
These are usually the pieces that come home with me.
The slightly unusual things.
The things that make me smile.
The things that make guests ask, “Where did you find that?”
And honestly, those are almost always my favorite finds.
Final Thoughts
The funny thing about estate sales is that I originally started going because I thought I might find a few decorating pieces.
What I didn’t expect was how much inspiration I’d find.
Every home tells a story.
Every collection reflects someone’s interests, travels, hobbies, and memories.
And every estate sale teaches me something new.
While I’m still learning, these are the categories I find myself returning to again and again.
If you’re new to estate sales, start with what you love.
Trust your eye.
Buy what makes you smile.
And don’t be surprised if you suddenly find yourself setting alarms on Saturday mornings too.