Antiques Are Trending, and Abilene Is the Place to Shop

Everything old is new again, and that is very good news for antique shoppers!

Antiques and vintage finds are having a major moment in home décor. Designers are mixing old and new, bringing antique furniture back into modern homes and embracing pieces that feel collected over time rather than purchased all at once. From antique silver and blue-and-white china to vintage holiday decorations and beautiful wood furniture, some of today's biggest decorating trends can be found by doing something people have enjoyed for generations: going antiquing.

And Abilene, Kansas, is a great place to start your treasure hunt.

With multiple antique malls and shops, dozens of vendors and thousands of square feet to explore, you never know what might be waiting around the next corner.

What's on Our Antique Shopping List?

Antique Silver

Get out the polishing cloths! Silver is shining again. Antique trays, candlesticks, serving pieces, flatware and other silver accessories are finding their way back onto tables, mantels and shelves. Designers are once again embracing silver as an accent, while antique dealers report renewed interest in old silver pieces.

We think this trend calls for an old-fashioned silver polishing party. Gather your friends, bring your favorite antique finds, break out the silver polish and see what shines underneath years of patina.

Blue & White

Blue-and-white china never really disappeared, but it is definitely enjoying another moment. Blue Willow, transferware, ginger jars, plates, pitchers and other blue-and-white ceramics are being mixed, matched and displayed throughout the home.

Have an incomplete china set? Don't give up on it. Antique shopping is half treasure hunt and half reunion when you finally spot that missing plate or cup.

Brown Furniture

Yes, really. That solid wood furniture your grandparents loved is cool again.

Mahogany, walnut and other darker woods are returning as decorators move away from perfectly matched, mass-produced interiors. Antique dressers, side tables, hutches, desks and cabinets can add craftsmanship and personality to a room, and mixing furniture from different periods is part of the look.

So before you paint that beautiful old dresser, you might want to reconsider.

Vintage Glassware

Open the china cabinet because vintage glassware deserves to be seen. Crystal, Depression glass, colorful glassware, serving pieces and vintage barware can turn an ordinary table into something memorable. Vintage glassware is among the nostalgic pieces designers are incorporating into today's homes.

Vintage Art & Frames

Gallery walls are much more interesting when they don't come out of a box. Look for landscapes, portraits, botanical prints, old photographs, mirrors and unusual frames that can be mixed together. Even an empty antique frame can become part of the display.

Quilts, Needlework & Textiles

Grandma was onto something. Quilts, needlepoint, embroidered linens and other vintage textiles are finding new appreciation as décor. Instead of hiding a beautiful quilt in a closet, shoppers are using textiles to bring pattern, craftsmanship and history into their homes.

Vintage Holiday Décor

This might be our favorite.

As the seasons change, start watching antique booths for vintage Halloween and Christmas decorations. Old ornaments, ceramic trees, blow molds, postcards, holiday dishes, Santas, bells, candleholders and other decorations can bring a little nostalgia to your celebrations.

And here's the fun part: you have to hunt for them. You can't order the exact same display everyone else has. When you find the perfect vintage Christmas ornament tucked into an antique booth in Abilene, it becomes part of your own holiday story.

Ready to Hunt? Start in Abilene

Make a day of it and see what you can find at Abilene's antique shops.

1. Abilene Downtown Antique Mall / Mud Creek Antiques

Two stores and more than 7,500 square feet of shopping make this a great place to start. Browse primitives, furniture, glassware, signs and plenty of unexpected finds from multiple dealers.

2. Countrypolitan

Part antiques, part home and garden emporium and always fun to explore, Countrypolitan combines old and new with architectural pieces, country furnishings, seasonal décor and plenty of inspiration for your home.

3. Buckeye Antiques Mall

Located in historic downtown Abilene, Buckeye Antiques Mall is filled with one-of-a-kind treasures. This is the kind of stop where the fun is simply seeing what you discover.

4. Vintage Bling & Antique Things

Don't forget to look for the little things. Vintage jewelry, glassware, collectibles and unusual finds can be just as much fun to discover as a statement piece of furniture.

5. Yesterday's Rose Antique Mall

Save plenty of time for this stop! Yesterday's Rose offers 8,000 square feet of shopping with more than 70 vendors. Look for glassware, jewelry, pottery, toys, china, furniture, linens, advertising pieces, signs, books, primitives and more.

The Best Antique Find Is the One You Weren't Looking For

That's part of what makes antique shopping so much fun.

Maybe you're searching for the missing piece of your grandmother's china. Maybe you need an old sign for the garage, a silver tray for your next dinner party or vintage ornaments for your Christmas tree. Or maybe you aren't looking for anything in particular.

Those might be the best shopping trips of all!

Grab a friend, make room in the trunk and plan an antique shopping getaway to Abilene, Kansas.

Come for the hunt. Leave with a story.