Give Your Garden Timeless Charm with Antique Accents

Does your garden feel like it’s missing a touch of the unexpected? A sprinkling of bygone charm? I’m going to show how easy using antiques in the garden is and the 5 things to keep your eye out for when you are shopping.

5 Ways To Give Your Outdoor Spaces Character With Antique & Flea Market Finds

What’s an easy way to give your garden a cottage look on the quick?? Add a few antique store or flea market finds to it! I’m going to show how easy using antiques in the garden is and the 5 things to keep your eye out for when you are shopping.

Where To Shop

I’m lucky to live in an area that is just loaded with great little spots to go antiquing. You would be amazed at how many Antique Stores there are up and down the New England Seacoast! There’s no better way to kill an afternoon than working your way through a few of them looking for treasures.

We had a rainy Saturday last weekend. Since there was no gardening in the cards for me, I visited one of my favorite local spots The Collector’s Eye in Stratham, New Hampshire.

It’s housed in an old barn and is just so much fun to walk through.

Another spot I always find interesting pieces for my home and garden is Sage Farm Antiques located in N. Hampton, NH. This spot only opens a handful of times each year for weekend shows.

Flea markets and vintage fairs are not only fun but usually loaded with interesting things that will add instant charm to your garden.

If you are around the North Shore part of Massachusetts, my favorite flea market is Todd Farm in Rowley, MA on Sunday mornings (get there early for first dibbs).

The Vintage Bazaar New England is a 4 times a year show with hundreds of vendors. I always find interesting pieces to add to my garden and porch at the shows.

Here Are 5 Things To Look For When Antiquing

Have you ever been to a flea market or antique store and spotted something that just screams “garden potential”? It could be a rusty old watering can, a charming birdbath, or even a weathered statue. Antiques can add a touch of unique character and history to your outdoor space, and they’re often more affordable than new garden decor.

1. Metal Garden Decor

The first thing to keep your eye out for is any kind of metal garden decor…well because it’s already made for a garden!! The thing is, you will never get such a great patina if you buy a new piece.

Old watering cans, birdbaths, statues, and planters can all add a touch of vintage charm to your garden. Just be sure to drill drainage holes in the bottom of any metal containers that you plan to use for planting

I fell in love with this armillary… oh, that chippy green paint!! It would look darling in the center of a bed of herbs or lavender, wouldn’t it??

This metal planter would look so pretty with a small trailing plant on your front porch.

On a recent antiquing trip I found a stack of vintage croquet wickets. I thought they would look amazing and add to planters as supports. The best part is that they were only $2 each!

Vintage metal garden towers are perfect for adding an English garden feel. This one was under $40.

2. Wood Trays/ Boxes

Wood trays, boxes, and crates can be used so many ways in your outdoor spaces. I have an old wooden soda crate on my front porch now with some Spring decor on it; you can see my Vintage Spring Porch here.

An antique toolbox can be filled with flowers and set on a small table on your porch.

You could use a bulb crate to store garden tools or pots of flowers.

Isn’t this one gorgeous??? I loved it!!

Pop a big pot of Summer annuals into a wood crate for a super pretty, rustic look in your garden. An old bistro chair or wooden chair makes a good spot to put it on too.

At the rear of my cottage garden I set up a potting bench and decorated it with some of my vintage finds including a wooden farm crate.

3. Pails & Buckets

Here’s one of my favorite ways to use antiques in the garden! I really have a thing for old pails and buckets…metal and wood; I love them all!!

One thing to remember when using a metal tub, pail, or bucket is that you will need to punch some holes in the bottom for drainage. I just drill a few drainage holes in the bottom of my buckets before I plant; even if I’m using a pre-potted plant in a pail I still make a drainage hole in the bottom so my plant isn’t sitting in water if we have heavy rain.

Wood buckets and pails make interesting spots for your flowers. They do better when protected from the elements though.

4. Child-Sized Pieces

There are so many fun things you could use in your garden that would originally be made for kids. When I was antiquing the other day I saw a few different antique pieces that would look fab in an outdoor space!!

Some things to look for are child-sized benches, chairs, doll/baby strollers, or tricycles.

You could put an old tricycle in a perennial bed as a point of interest.

Can you picture this little wicker chair with a big metal pail of flowers sitting outside your garden gate?? Swoon!!

A vintage stroller filled with a pot of cascading blooms would brighten anyone’s day!

Here you can see just how adorable an old stroller looks as a porch accent filled with flowers.

5. The Birds & The Bees

Look for unique birdhouses and bee skeps at the antique store or flea market. My store had some really cute ones!

I loved the look and shape of this birdhouse!! I went back a couple of times to look at it…

This bee skep was an inspiration for me. I’m going to try and recreate one for my garden…stay tuned!!!

I hope this quick guide for using antiques in your garden is helpful!

Oh, and my #1 tip when I’m antiquing is to always walk through the store twice!! You always miss things on your first loop!!

Adding a touch of vintage charm to your garden doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated. With a bit of creativity and a stroll through your local antique store, you can create a truly enchanting outdoor space that’s bursting with personality. Are you ready to start treasure hunting?

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