9 antique trends to look out for when thrifting in 2025

Decorating with a mix of old and new creates interiors filled with depth and interest. So, making sure you're up to date with antique trends means you can look out for seriously stylish pieces.

Whether you're on the lookout for big furniture pieces or smaller decorative items, experts say there are a few things you should keep an eye out for this year – especially if you want to up your game when decorating with antiques.

From unique decor to furniture from bygone eras, these are the antique trends to have on your radar for 2025 – and worth getting your hands on during your second-hand shopping haunts.

9 antiques trends to have on your radar in 2025

For many people, collecting and decorating with antiques is already a perfected practice, but for others, it's a new world that can be a bit of a minefield to navigate.

'People should always try to buy an antique before looking for something new, for obvious reasons. Some of the bigger pieces benefit from being antique because they are such great value for money, and these can become the main pieces in any room, and you can accessorize around them,' says antiques expert Matthew Cox.

From case goods to smaller decor pieces, these are the antique trends designers and dealers say you should know about in 2025.

1. Antique tapestries

Move over framed art – there's a better way to decorate your walls that adds a statement design feature full of texture and visual appeal. Antique tapestries have been slowly rising in popularity – and 2025 is the year they finally get the full appreciation they deserve.

'I continue to be amazed by the rich array of antiques on 1stDibs and the ways in which collectors and interior designers are gravitating back to them. Among the most interesting categories gaining traction with our audience today are antique tapestries, which, like all textile art, offer a warmth and visual richness to a room that paintings and prints just can’t,' says Anthony Barzilay Freund, editorial director at 1stDibs.

'The most valuable – and sought-after – examples were made by the Aubusson, Beauvais and Gobelins factories during the 17th and 18th centuries in the Verdure style (although later versions can be appealing too and found at a slightly lower price point),' he adds.

2. Drinks trolleys

Wine fridges, glass-fronted cabinets, and glass racks have all cropped up recently as good places to store and display beverages and glassware, but in 2025, antique and vintage drinks trolleys are the most desirable choice.

'Drinks trolleys are always going to be good, but I’d likely look for them in brass and glass or painted metal with mirrored shelves rather than wood,' says interior designer Benji Lewis.

'Remember to have not only your booze on it but also glasses and an ice bucket – even a small chopping board for your lemon and your mixers if you have space,' he adds.

3. Art Nouveau designs

It's not always one particular item worth looking out for, but antiques of a certain era or style can surge in popularity (and value). And in 2025, Art Nouveau pieces are worth keeping an eye out for. And this year's trend for mid to dark tones wood caters perfectly to this era.

'Although Art Deco works have long been among our most desirable antique offerings, we’ve been seeing growing interest in pieces in the slightly earlier Art Nouveau style, whose organic forms were inspired by the natural world,' says Anthony.

'These pieces incorporate into their design flowers and foliage and sinuous curves and they are often characterized by skilled craftsmanship (and fine woods and other luxurious materials).'

4. Wall-mounted candle holders

Smaller decorative pieces are always worth looking out for. They add character and charm to spaces in a less expected way. And in 2025, wall-mounted candle holders are the antiques to look out for.

'Wall-mount candle holders are still all the rage – and the vintage ones are the best! Look for antique brass, silver, or iron. I love these in hallways or dining rooms,' says Thea Bloch-Neal of Curated by Thea.

In this dining room, the designer has opted for elegant, decadent wall-mounted candle holders, but simpler designs like those in the Spanish Revival style can look just as striking.

5. Mid-century designs

Another era with antiques that are always popular and sought after, antiques by Mid-century designers and makers are always an exciting find, and they are set to be a big trend again in 2025.

'Mid-century is still great to look out for, not least because with thought you can either blend it in with trad furnishings or make it work in a modern setting,' explains Benji.

Furniture, decor, and even glassware from the era are all worth keeping an eye out for. Mid-century pieces work seamlessly with a multitude of interior design styles and embrace this year's growing trends for wood accents and primary play.

5. Antique case pieces

There's no denying the quality of antique furniture – especially large wooden pieces. The craftsmanship is exquisite and the attention to detail is unrivaled – they just add something extra special to interiors.

'We love sourcing large antique case pieces for our projects because the quality joinery and solid hardwood construction are far superior to a new piece mass-produced in a factory for the same cost in today's market – if you are lucky enough to source these pieces from a local antique shop,' says Sarah Henley of Henley Design.

'In New England, we are blessed with many fantastic antique stores, including European Country Antiques in Cambridge Massachusetts, where we sourced a simple French armoire for the music room of our Boston client's residence. The scale of the piece helps balance the room, and the simple, hearty character of the piece grounds the eclecticism of the space,' she explains.

6. Japanese antiques

In 2024, regionally-inspired designs such as Japandi and wabi sabi have dominated interior design trends, and for the year ahead, it's Japanese antiques that are topping the trends for pieces to look out for.

'We are noticing that antiques from Japan are once again striking a chord with collectors in the West. Gilt byobu screens and antique Tansu cabinets are among the most searched-for pieces in this category,' says Anthony.

Also appealing are European and British Japonisme pieces (which align with the shift toward Art Nouveau). When Japan reopened to the west in 1876, the country’s prominent pavilion at that year's international exposition in Philadelphia had a profound influence on decorative and fine art taste,' he adds.

As designers and homeowners continue to appreciate the unique designs created by Japanese makers and designers, expect to see more antiques that feel at home in these popular design aesthetics.

'Today’s appreciation for organic materials and silhouettes and an interest in the wabi-sabi aesthetic helps to explain the current pull toward Japanese antiques, whose simplicity of form has a very modern feel. Though not technically antiques, mid-century designs in the Japanese style are hot, including Ingo Maurer’s Uchiwa lighting and Isamu Noguchi’s Akari lamps,' Anthony explains.

7. Antique dining chair sets with sculptural details

It can be tricky to find matching sets of antique pieces, but when you do, designers say you should absolutely take them home with you. And this year, dining chair sets are the focus.

'Lately, we have been on the lookout for antique sets of dining chairs that strike the balance of sculptural interest to set off the room and just the right amount of approachable informality to make guests feel right at home. Early 20th-century antique dining chairs are often scaled slightly larger than their earlier predecessors which lends comfort to the dining experience (especially after re-padding and reupholstering the seats– an easy and inexpensive upgrade),' says Sarah.

'We recently sourced a set of George III-style mahogany dining chairs for our client's dining room in Boston. The wavy motif on the backs adds a charming element to the room, and the printed linen seats add levity to the heaviness of the mahogany frames, helping merge the antiques with the more contemporary pieces in the room – including a Beata Heuman rise-fall pendant light, a set of Louise Roe hand blown glass balloon vases from Copenhagen, and a walnut dining table of a mid-century modern design.'

8. Lighting and unique decorative objects

It's those finishing touches that give a scheme personality and visual interest, and in 2025, it's all about using antique designs to make your design really stand out.

'A vintage light fixture can really transform a space, having something unique and special in each space (or many somethings!) is a very important part of our design process,' says Elizabeth Mollen, of Stone Textile Studio.

'We love incorporating antique lighting wherever possible! Our massive dining room chandelier is from an antique market in Paris,' she adds.

9. Small wooden stools

If you're new to decorating with antiques or are simply looking for smaller pieces to add a characterful feature to your home, small wooden stools are a lovely addition in several rooms of the home and are enduringly popular.

'Small antique stools are good for all occasions and can add so much charm to a room; I love them in bedrooms and living room spaces,' says Thea.

They can be tricky to find in good condition, but if you see any on your thrifting trips, make sure to snap it up – it can be used as a side table in so many spaces. In this bathroom, a small wooden stool keeps decor and towels dry next to the bath.

From larger furniture pieces to the decor of certain eras and designs by makers in particular regions, 2025's antique trends offer a vast and varied selection of styles – and the perfect guide to the pieces you should look out for when thrifting this year.