4 min readPictured above: Ashley Hotham Cox’s family room where she has many of her antique treasures on display.
No matter the aesthetic of your home, there’s always a place for an antique or two (or 10). From new traditional to variations of contemporary style, there are bound to be some vintage items that’ll make your space look more layered with added character and a charm you simply can’t find with new pieces.
This is the perfect time of year to start thinking about what in your home you can switch up or refresh. To get the lowdown on which antiques people are buying this time of year, we reached out to three designers—Jennifer Baxter, Victoria Maggard, and Gaia Guidi Filippi—who shared what types of pieces homeowners are looking for, both for themselves and as gifts.
Additional copy by Meghan Shouse.
Pedestals and Plinths
Salvaged architectural pieces are always going to be popular, like doors or fireplace surrounds for example, but Baxter is really drawn to antique pedestals and plinths at the moment. “A pedestal gives one object, like a vase or a sculpture, its own focal point and gives a neglected corner or window bay some personality,” she explains. These displays can feel formal or museum-like if you want, but they don’t have to be styled that way; they can be kept fairly casual. “Even a marble or alabaster plinth looks warm with a few branches in a simple glass vase.”
Maps
For history buffs, vintage maps as art are taking the antique world by storm at the moment. “They introduce color, pattern, and a personal story (where you grew up, where you met someone special, your favorite travel destination) that you never need to second-guess or defend,” Baxter says. “I like to hang them on chains from a picture rail so the collection can grow without a new nail hole.”
Drop-Leaf Tables
If you've ever enjoyed a meal on an extendable dining table, you are already familiar with the concept of leaves. When it comes to dining tables, the leaves are usually separate, completely removable pieces that slide into a designated slot in the table. Drop leaves, on the other hand, attach to the table by a hinge that keeps the leaf upright, making the table larger. Or, the leaves can fold downward, making the table smaller. Either way, the leaf is visible.
"These are especially great for small spaces, or even larger living or great rooms where the homeowner likes to entertain," Filippi explains. "On a daily basis, this table sits beautifully against a wall or sofa as a console, with objects and decor on it. But when you need to, it does double-duty as a card table or an extra dining table."
Accent Chairs
Even in small spaces, an accent chair—especially an antique one—adds instant charm and character. "There's just no limit to how you can customize and make an antique accent chair work in your space," Filippi says. "From painting it to reupholstering it and giving something old that has served another household an entirely new life." Alternatively, you can always leave it as is if you like the slightly worn look of an antique seat. "And with chairs, there's such a vast availability of periods, styles, and price ranges. It's the easiest thing to incorporate into a design."
The great thing about antique accent chairs is that they actually pair really well with more contemporary desks, tables, and more, so if you want to juxtapose time periods, start with a centuries-old chair style. Baxter is also a big fan of incorporating an antique chair into a space. She says, "Antique chairs are often where personality enters a room, and antique chairs, in particular, carry an instant sense of character."
A specific style of accent chair that’s making its comeback in 2026 is the wingback chair, according to Maggard, who loves using them at the ends of a dining table, flanking a gaming table, or a single one alone in a quiet corner. “While there are plenty of modern interpretations, antique wing chairs have a character that's difficult to replicate,” Maggard says. “The exaggerated proportions, dramatic wings, and unusual silhouettes make each one unique.” The strong form is still wonderfully surprising.
Small Art Pieces
“As interiors become more layered and personal, we're seeing a renewed appreciation for antique oil paintings, particularly smaller works,” Maggard says. Just because a painting is small doesn’t mean it can’t make a statement while still feeling approachable thanks to its modest size. “You can fall in love with a painting at an antique shop and almost always find a place for it at home,” Maggard explains, adding that it’s also a design-forward way to make a change without too much of a commitment.
This is what Baxter loves about small oil paintings and drawings as well, that they can be found a home almost anywhere. “There’s just an undeniable pleasure in finding something unexpected that speaks to you,” Baxter says. “It's not the same pressure as hunting for the perfect piece to fill a wall; and an imperfect, one-of-a-kind painting that you found makes a room feel distinctly yours rather than like a showroom.”
Bar Cabinets
Antique bar cabinets are perhaps less accessible than, say, antique chairs, but they are definitely worth looking into if you like to entertain. Bar cabinets have been around for a long time, but they really gained popularity toward the end of Prohibition in the United States. Decades later, throughout the 1960s, they were one of the most popular pieces of furniture any stylish homeowner could snap up.
"Depending on the style, they can be sultry, masculine, or give distinctive nods to a period that immediately injects interest into a piece of furniture that is functional and a gathering point," Filippi adds. "And again for small spaces, when closed, they can also serve the dual purpose of being a place to display objects."
