My favorite part of any antique hunting trip is finding hidden treasures in unlikely places. It’s like treasure hunting without all the pirates, snakes, and mosquitoes. Here are a few of my favorite places to search for hidden treasures when you’re out antique hunting:
| Takeaway |
|---|
| Antique hunting can be a fun and rewarding hobby for anyone who appreciates the beauty and history of old items. |
| Doing research and having a keen eye for detail are important when looking for hidden treasures while antique hunting. |
| Antique items often have fascinating stories and histories behind them, adding to their value and allure. |
| Caring for and restoring antique items is an important task for collectors and enthusiasts to preserve these treasures for future generations. |
| There are many resources available, including online guides and forums, to help you become a successful treasure hunter. |
Doors
Doors are a great place to find hidden treasures. They can be made of many materials, including wood, metal and glass. You can find them in many places such as inside houses and barns.
When looking for hidden items in doors, look under the doorknob area or along the jamb on both sides of the door. You may even find some old clothespins hanging off a nail!
“Antique hunting can be a rewarding and exciting hobby for anyone who appreciates the beauty and history of old items. If you’re new to the world of antique hunting, check out our beginner’s guide to antique hunting for tips on getting started and finding hidden treasures.”
Dark Wood
Dark wood is the most common type of furniture, and it’s also the most durable. Dark wood has a natural luster that can be enhanced with a clear coat or wax. Darker woods are less likely to crack, chip or warp than lighter-colored woods like pine and maple.
The downside? Dark-colored furniture is more expensive than light-colored furniture because it’s less common, which makes it harder for antique hunters to find deals on items that have this particular shade.
Darker woods are also more difficult to work with because they’re harder than lighter colored types and will require more effort from you during repairs or restoration projects.
This may mean that you’ll need special tools (such as sandpaper) and/or training if you plan on working on your own projects involving these types of materials.
Wood Floors
Wood floors are a great source of antiques.
Look for wood floors that have been covered up by carpeting or linoleum. If you look carefully, you can still see the outline of the original floorboards underneath these coverings.
This can be especially true if the covering was put down many years ago, as it may have bubbled up over time due to moisture buildup in your home’s wooden subflooring.
Look for wood floors under tile: Tile is another common covering for antique flooring, but its presence does not necessarily mean that there’s nothing under it!
Sometimes tile will sit over top of old boards without actually embedding itself into them; in this case it would be easy enough to just remove one section at a time until your entire floor is exposed again (this works especially well if you’re doing this on an incline).
You might even find other types of materials underneath your tiles—like brick!
“When it comes to finding antiques, sometimes the most unexpected places can hold the greatest treasures. From flea markets to estate sales, our guide on finding antiques in unexpected places can help you expand your search and discover unique items.”
Old Doors
Old doors are not just for door duty. A door that’s been replaced or is no longer needed can be used in the following ways:
As a headboard. This is a great option if you want to give your bedroom some character, but don’t have the money for an entirely new bed frame.
You can also add accent pillows, lamps and wall art to create a cohesive look between the bed and wall space around it. If you have an old dresser that needs something new, consider using it as a nightstand next to your new doorway headboard!
As a side table or coffee table. It’s pretty simple—just pick up one of these from Goodwill (or wherever else finds are sold) and use it as extra storage space for remotes and magazines!
As a bookshelf (with stain). An old door makes an excellent piece of decor when stained with dark colors like black or browns; this will give it an antique appearance while still allowing its natural wood grain texture to come through prominently in any lighting conditions throughout your home’s interior design scheme(s).
Windows With Glass Insets
If you’re hunting for an antique home, look for windows with glass insets. These are often original to the house and can be found in a variety of styles, including colonial and craftsman.
If you know what type of architecture your house was built with, it’s easier to identify these types of windows.
If you don’t have any idea what style your home is from the outside, check out this great article on identifying architectural styles by Scott Gibson Design.
“Antique items often have fascinating stories and histories behind them. If you’re curious about the background of your own antique finds, be sure to read our article on the fascinating history behind antique finds to learn more and appreciate your items even more.”
Window Frames
When you’re looking for antiques, it’s easy to get caught up in the mindset of looking for items that are old. While that may be true about some of your finds, there are also plenty of other types of antiques that can add value and beauty to a room.
One example is window frames. Window frames with decorative molding and stained glass add charm to a house and can also be quite valuable if they were made by an artist or designer who used high-quality materials like leaded glass or shutters on them.
Here are some tips on how you can find these hidden treasures:
Look for windows with double panes – this indicates quality craftsmanship since it takes more time to install two layers rather than one layer with no air gap between them;
Search through antique shops – antiques stores typically carry more elegant styles than thrift stores do so if you’re looking for something fancy then invest in going somewhere else;
Hunt down flea markets/yard sales – these types of places often have more expensive goods because people tend to spend more money while shopping there but don’t stay long enough at each location so they’ll sell their items quickly instead of waiting until they move onto another location before selling anything off again (which usually happens when someone buys something but doesn’t want any part in helping pack up supplies).
“Preserving antique items for future generations is an important task for antique collectors and enthusiasts. Our guide on antique restoration and preservation covers the basics of caring for and restoring antique items so that they can be enjoyed for years to come.”
Doors With Decorative Molding
Finding hidden treasures can be a lot of fun, but sometimes it’s hard to know where to look. You might start with the obvious places like antique shops and flea markets, but if you want something truly unique, there are plenty of places that don’t usually come up in conversation.
One such place is door molding. You may have noticed that older houses often have decorative trim around their doors; these days they’re mostly just used as decoration or architectural elements (if at all), but back in the day they could actually be used for practical purposes: keeping dust from getting into your home!
Door molding can add some character to any room and make for great decorating opportunities (or even DIY projects).
Parsonage Doors
You’ve probably seen a parsonage door before. They’re the most common type of door in the United States, but they’re also highly collectible.
Parsonage doors are made of wood and have a glass inset in the top half of the door (a clear or colored pane).
They can be painted or stained, depending on what kind of look you prefer. You’ll find these doors in homes and barns as well as other buildings like churches, schools and warehouses.
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French Doors With Sidelights
A double door with sidelights is a fantastic way to bring natural light into your home. This style of door looks great in both modern and antique homes, and its versatility makes it perfect for any room.
You may be surprised at how much more space having French doors can add to your home they’re fantastic as room dividers, allowing you to add flair while keeping the flow between rooms flowing smoothly.
Sconces Or Sconces Beside Doorways
Sconces or sconces beside doorways are often overlooked. They can be one of the most important items in your home when you’re looking for hidden treasures.
Sconces or sconces on the wall is another place to look for hidden treasures. Sconces on the wall above a shelf are also a good place to look for hidden treasures. Sconces or sconces on the wall above a window can also help you find some of these hidden treasures!
Decorative Window Boxes And Planters On Windowsills
Window boxes are a great way to add some greenery, color, and interest to your home. While most people think of them as just for flowers and plants, you can also use them for herbs or small shrubs. If you don’t have a garden area in your yard that gets enough sun, this is a great option for getting those plants growing inside!
There are many different styles of window box kits available at specialty garden stores—you can find some really interesting designs that will add flair while providing additional natural beauty to your property.
If none of these look right for your home environment or style preferences then there’s nothing stopping you from making one yourself!
All it takes is some decoupage paper ripped into strips followed by gluing onto the outside edges using hot glue sticks (these will keep insects out).
You could even add an old piece of wood from an old cabinet door if wanted too – just cut it down so it fits snugly inside the opening without sticking out beyond any part where sunlight might enter into room during daytime hours (such as placing directly against glass pane when closed).
Conclusion
So, with all that you’ve learned today, you’re ready to go out there and have some fun with your antique hunting adventures.
Remember, they don’t have to be expensive or complicated—with a little research and some patience in searching through a few junk piles here and there, you’ll be amazed at what treasures you can find! You never know what might turn up next time.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to help you on your treasure hunting journey:
Top Tips for Antique and Vintage Treasure Hunting: A blog post with practical advice for finding unique antique and vintage items.
Finding Buried Treasure, Caches & Hoards: A comprehensive guide to using metal detectors to find buried treasure, caches, and hoards.
Become a Treasure Hunter: A How-To Guide: An article that covers the basics of becoming a treasure hunter, including tips for finding treasure and selling your finds.
FAQs
How can I find hidden treasures in antique shops?
There are a few strategies for finding hidden treasures in antique shops, including looking for items that are tucked away in corners or behind other items, checking out items that haven’t been polished or restored yet, and asking the shop owner or staff for recommendations.
What is deep seeking and how does it work?
Deep seeking is a method of using metal detectors to search for items buried deeper in the ground, such as buried caches or hoards of treasure. It involves using a larger and more powerful metal detector that can detect objects at greater depths.
Are there any legal issues with treasure hunting?
In some cases, treasure hunting may be regulated or prohibited by law. It’s important to research and follow local laws and regulations before going on a treasure hunt.
How can I sell the treasures I find?
There are a variety of ways to sell the treasures you find, including online marketplaces, antique shops, and auctions. It’s important to research the value of your items and find the best venue for selling them.
What equipment do I need to become a treasure hunter?
The equipment you need will depend on the type of treasure hunting you plan to do. Basic equipment may include a metal detector, a shovel, and protective gear such as gloves and boots. For deep seeking, you may need a larger and more powerful metal detector.
Hi there! My name is Hellen James, and I’m here to talk to you about treasure hunting. I’ve been a fan of treasure hunting ever since I was a kid, and if you’re a fan of treasure hunting or just like the idea of finding a long-lost fortune, then this blog is for you.