There’s such prestige associated with the word “antique,” isn’t there?  Because it usually refers to items that were made before the advent of mass production, it connotes hand-made quality, uniqueness, and careful craftsmanship.  As we all know, antiques can command exorbitant prices at auction… or rock-bottom prices at yard sales.  If you’re interested in buying them, how do you know what to purchase?

I have one rule:  Unless you’re a true connoisseur who’s buying investment pieces, buy an antique item only because you really, truly love it.

Have you noticed that, often when someone learns they have a valuable item on Antiques Roadshow, they declare they’ll never sell it?  They own the piece for all kinds of reasons that have nothing at all to do with monetary value:  sentimental value, aesthetic appeal, and so on.   Many people bring their treasured heirlooms to the show only to learn they’re worth very little money, but it doesn’t lessen the intrinsic value of the heirlooms to the individuals who own them.

An antique can be a luxuriously decorated headboard or a rickety old wheelbarrow.  What antiques appeal to you will depend on your lifestyle and approach to interior design.  Don’t just buy an antique piece because it’s an antique.  Apply the same logic to it that you’d apply to a new purchase.  Is it well made?  Is it suitable for your décor?  Is it functional?  Is it within your price range?

Give yourself permission to buy the things you love – new or old, formal or informal, inexpensive or top-of-the-line.