Emily Henderson shows off her surprisingly affordable yet chic vintage art collection

We all know that interior designers steer the latest design trends, and the current love for character means that designers are fully embracing eclecticism and individualism. As a result, using vintage and antique decor is becoming an increasingly popular way to enrich our homes.

Decorating with art is a classic and fool-proof way of inviting character into the home. Incorporating meaningful, handcrafted pieces showcases individual tastes and styles all while accessorizing a room with color, pattern, and texture. Emily Henderson is a designer who's recently shown off her love for vintage art, taking to Instagram to reveal her impressive collection.

Boasting an impressive collection of eleven pieces, Emily runs us through her collection and shows us how to choose art for the home. Teaching us a thing or two about decorating with vintage, we've been inspired to hit up our local flea market and get hunting for some painted gems.

She starts by showing a cubist-style painting that she's placed in a nook in the kitchen, but a piece that instantly caught our eye was the little framed dog painting that Emily hangs on her bathroom window.

A somewhat unconventional placement for bathroom art ideas, Emily's undoubtedly been brave with the positioning of this picture but it makes sense when you look clearly. The window is an often overlooked area that doesn't have much decoration, so placing a colorful painting in the center is a clever way of accessorizing an otherwise empty space.

A pair of flower still lifes stood out too. Emily placed one above the other, transforming an empty wall into an area bound to catch the eye. Bought for only $75, Emily has placed the picture in gold tarnished frames and has matched them with a gold reading light – the perfect antique setup.

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Emily shows us that antique and flea markets are the best places to buy art. Moving onto her next finds, she flaunts a statement piece placed on the wall in her dining room and a scenic seascape hung above a chest of drawers in the hallway. These pieces are lovely but it's the next flea market find that's reeled us in.

Expressionist in style, the painting depicts the side profile of a woman, finished in bright primary colors. Emily says she 'splurged on a gold frame' to enhance the vibrancy of the piece. Paired with an antique-style gold sconce, Emily creates a dreamy little display that feels high-end and timeless.

Art is one of the best ways to decorate with antiques. It's a surprisingly easy yet impactful way of elevating any empty surface. Still-life paintings are typically simple in subject matter but feel classic and high-end. Emily places another one on her kitchen countertop, bringing some color and warmth into the area.

Emily's ninth vintage piece of art is a geometric, cubist-style piece. She hangs the large picture above her fireplace, sitting perfectly on the mantel. Art is an easy way to style a mantel, providing a living room with ample character and rustic charm while filling an empty surface. Emily places the piece in a more minimal style room to contrast with the white walls and neutral decor, adding a pop of color and texture.

We love Emily's unconventional use of art. She's not been afraid to place pieces in overlooked areas that don't typically feature pictures. The last piece of art is a great example of this. The small painted landscape has been placed in an antique wood frame which she's positioned within her kitchen shelves. This charming little piece brings an all-important warmth and character to the kitchen, elements that can sometimes be neglected in kitchen design. With a total price tag of $80, the framed picture proves that shopping second-hand is sometimes the best way of sprucing up a dull area.

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Emily has shown us that decorating with art is one of the best ways to hop on the vintage trend for 2025. Her pictures fill every room with charm and character, proving you can create an eclectic space even on the tightest of budgets.