5 min readYou've probably heard the saying, "They don't make them like they used to"—perhaps from your grandmother herself. When it comes to home decor, that sentiment often feels especially true. From sturdy serving pieces to beautifully crafted solid wood furniture, our grandmas’ homes are often filled with timeless items that have endured for decades in both quality and style. Whether they're treasured family heirlooms, precious collectibles, or everyday household pieces that evoke a sense of nostalgia, these are the kinds of finds worth holding onto.
To uncover the most valuable treasures hiding in Grandma's house, we asked interior designers to share the seven pieces they believe deserve a second look. Some carry impressive resale value, while others are priceless because of the memories and history they represent. Either way, these often-overlooked items have lasting appeal and deserve a place in today's homes. More than just beautiful objects, they reflect exceptional craftsmanship, tell meaningful stories, and create connections across generations—making them well worth preserving for years to come.
Iconic Pottery
McCoy pottery is something most of our grandparents have in their breakfronts, and it’s now being handed down to a new generation or found in antiques shops and flea markets all over the country, says designer Bethany Adams of Bethany Adams Interiors. “It’s highly collectible and very beautiful,” she says. “The unusually shaped vases and vessels in muted hues are among the most interesting pieces to my mind.”
Adams’s styling advice? Choose a piece in a color that contrasts with your room and set it atop a stack of coffee table books, or fill a bud vase with a simple flower. The bold pieces are easy to weave in with your more modern decor.
China Collections
While dishwasher-safe dinnerware is the default these days, there’s something special about porcelain. A 10- to 12-person fine china set can easily be worth more than $1,500, designer Samantha Stathis-Lynch of New Jersey–based Samantha Ware Designs says.
“In my book, the more subtle the color and patina, the better,” Stathis-Lynch says. “I keep an eye out for warm white serving dishes clad in ornate blue and brown motifs. The more intricate the design, the more valuable the piece will be, so look for motifs depicting country scenes or ornate flowers.” A full set of this type of transferware is hard to come by, so if your Grandma has one, you know it’s valuable.
Porcelain Figurines
Whether you’re perusing grandma’s shelves or wandering around a local thrift store, porcelain figurines are always worth keeping an eye out for, Stathis-Lynch says. “As a young girl, I can remember spending countless hours admiring my grandmother’s beautiful objects and oddities,” she says. “I would eagerly investigate her shelves, taking note of all the intricate porcelain, glass, and trinkets she collected during her travels.”
To identify high-quality, high-value pieces, check the bottom for a maker’s mark and an item number. The better the condition, the higher the price tag will be, she says, so be wary of items with chips and cracks and instead look for larger figurines that evoke a sense of movement. Sathis-Lynch’s favorites include Lladró and Meissen doll-like figurines. Individual ones can be worth several thousand
Floral Textiles
“What grandma didn’t have chintz in their home back in the ’80s?” Sathis-Lynch says. “Mine certainly did, and it made an everlasting impression on me.”
A trend she’s been spotting: repurposing vintage floral drapes. Whether they’re reused as window treatments or turned into pillows, the sun-faded florals add character to a space, she says. “Think Dorothy Draper–chic but at little to no cost,” Sathis-Lynch says.
Lane Acclaim Series Furniture
Designer Megan Pflug of Megan Pflug Designs recommends hanging onto anything from the Lane Acclaim Series, especially the midcentury coffee tables. These furniture pieces were made for the mass U.S. market in the 1960s, so there’s a good chance your grandparents had some in their home.
“The line is characterized by a dovetail joint detail on the tabletop,” Pflug says. “I inherited one from a friend’s parents in my early twenties, and it’s one of the only pieces of furniture from that era of my life that I still use.”
Well-made and perfectly scaled, these pieces can range in price from a few bucks from a seller who doesn’t know what they have on their hands to around $1,500. Because they were nice but mass-produced pieces, they’re not too hard to find. One note from Pflug: “The wood has a natural finish, and I would read about how to maintain it rather than opting for a modern water-based stain.”
Majolica Oyster Plates
Oyster plates make great wall decor and fun serving pieces, Pflug says. Majolica ones are especially collectible: This well-made serveware comes in rich colors and quirky flora and fauna designs and is among the items you should never pass up if you see them at a flea market. Pflug says she’s seen majolica plates for under $10 at a thrift store and going for as much as $60,000 elsewhere. Wedgwood, Minton, and George Jones plates made from 1850 to 1900 are highly valuable, Pflug says.
“I love a grouping hung on the wall in the dining room,” she says. “They look great flanking a mirror and are a great way to add a little color and pattern.”
Majolica is also a perfect gateway into English country style, especially if you are new to working with patterns and colors. If you’re a maximalist, layer them over wallpaper for a layered pattern-on-pattern look.
Italian Lighting
When we think of the 1950s and ’60s, the first thing that often comes to mind is Scandinavian furniture, like Danish dining sets and Swedish consoles. But Italian lighting shouldn’t be overlooked, Stathis-Lynch says, especially Stilnovo, maker of one of the most iconic lamps every design lover should know. Founded in 1946, Stilnovo loosely translates from Italian as “new style” and was booming by the 1960s.
“I am always on the lookout for vintage Stilnovo floor lamps, which are seemingly harder to come by these days, making their prices exceptionally high,” she says. These slim-based lamps, manufactured from the ’50s to ’70s, can run anywhere from a couple of thousand to well over $10,000.
Keep an eye out for a maker’s mark or country of origin imprint, usually located on the bottom of the lamp, as well as lamps that haven’t been rewired for the U.S., as they tend to be less expensive than those that have, Stathis-Lynch says.
