The later in the day you shop at a flea market, the better bargains you will get.
When to go —
The later in the day you shop at a flea market, the better bargains you will get.
martha stewart living
Five to ten percent off is a good bet -- don't push your luck when bargaining.
How to bargain —
Five to ten percent off is a good bet -- don't push your luck when bargaining.
martha stewart living
Bargain for groups of items -- the dealer may want to unload!
Smart bargaining tip —
Bargain for groups of items -- the dealer may want to unload!
martha stewart living
If you really want an item, hold on to it, tight! Dealers recognize that whoever is touching an item has first claim to it.
When you really want it —
If you really want an item, hold on to it, tight! Dealers recognize that whoever is touching an item has first claim to it.
martha stewart living
Iron garden tables from the mid-twentieth century are easy to find at flea markets, but they often look plain. Give one instant style with a fresh coat of paint in a sunny shade and easy-to-install caning (no weaving required).
Cane-top table —
Iron garden tables from the mid-twentieth century are easy to find at flea markets, but they often look plain. Give one instant style with a fresh coat of paint in a sunny shade and easy-to-install caning (no weaving required).
martha stewart living
Just because an antique platter or plate is scratched, cracked, or broken, doesn't mean its useful life has to end. Its patterned border can be used as the decorative frame for a mirror.
Antique platter mirror —
Just because an antique platter or plate is scratched, cracked, or broken, doesn't mean its useful life has to end. Its patterned border can be used as the decorative frame for a mirror.
martha stewart living
You've found a charming chair at a flea market, but it lacks a seat. Not to worry: Fix it in no time by weaving a new one.
Webbed seat —
You've found a charming chair at a flea market, but it lacks a seat. Not to worry: Fix it in no time by weaving a new one.
martha stewart living
Found a lamp with a base you love but a shade that's just not right? Update it with a custom-pleated paper shade that fits right over the old one.
Lampshade slipcovers —
Found a lamp with a base you love but a shade that's just not right? Update it with a custom-pleated paper shade that fits right over the old one.
martha stewart living
Flea-market finds and dollar-a-glass specials can be transformed with monograms, stripes, and whimsical polka dots.
Etched glass —
Flea-market finds and dollar-a-glass specials can be transformed with monograms, stripes, and whimsical polka dots.
martha stewart living
Modern windows no longer accommodate outdoor shutters, but that's no reason to pass shutters by at flea markets or secondhand shops -- when cleaned up and painted, they make charming indoor accessories.
Indoor shutters —
Modern windows no longer accommodate outdoor shutters, but that's no reason to pass shutters by at flea markets or secondhand shops -- when cleaned up and painted, they make charming indoor accessories.
martha stewart living
Old belt buckles can take on a new role as miniature picture frames. Gather these curios on a bureau, or display them as refrigerator magnets.
Belt-buckle frames —
Old belt buckles can take on a new role as miniature picture frames. Gather these curios on a bureau, or display them as refrigerator magnets.
martha stewart living
Don't disregard an old table because it's missing a leg or appears to be a bit banged up -- half of it can have a second life ahead as a graceful console. The best candidate for this project will be a table that's already split in the middle to accommodate a leaf.
Half-table console —
Don't disregard an old table because it's missing a leg or appears to be a bit banged up -- half of it can have a second life ahead as a graceful console. The best candidate for this project will be a table that's already split in the middle to accommodate a leaf.
martha stewart living
Vintage soap dishes are the perfect size and shape to hold all sorts of odds and ends.
Soap-dish shelf —
Vintage soap dishes are the perfect size and shape to hold all sorts of odds and ends.
martha stewart living
A solid old door, refinished and hung sideways, becomes a perfect -- and perfectly inexpensive -- headboard for a bed.
Door headboard —
A solid old door, refinished and hung sideways, becomes a perfect -- and perfectly inexpensive -- headboard for a bed.
martha stewart living
Add mid-century polka dots or bright 1970s swirls to your home by turning vintage silk scarves and handkerchiefs into cushion covers.
Silk scarf pillows —
Add mid-century polka dots or bright 1970s swirls to your home by turning vintage silk scarves and handkerchiefs into cushion covers.
martha stewart living
This chic seat has been reupholstered with a terry cloth towel, rendering this flea-market treasure perfect for the bathroom.
Chrome chair —
This chic seat has been reupholstered with a terry cloth towel, rendering this flea-market treasure perfect for the bathroom.
martha stewart living
Transform everyday vessels into elegant vases by coating their interiors with glass enamel.
Painted glass bottles —
Transform everyday vessels into elegant vases by coating their interiors with glass enamel.
martha stewart living
To keep your kitchen sink uncluttered, shop flea markets or housewares stores for pretty little trays to hold sponges, brushes, and dish and hand soap; the trays minimize spillover to the countertop and enable you to remove multiple small items quickly when you need to clear the sink. Find a glass bottle with a spout in which to decant your dishwashing liquid; the main supply can hide under the sink.
Kitchen sink organizer —
To keep your kitchen sink uncluttered, shop flea markets or housewares stores for pretty little trays to hold sponges, brushes, and dish and hand soap; the trays minimize spillover to the countertop and enable you to remove multiple small items quickly when you need to clear the sink. Find a glass bottle with a spout in which to decant your dishwashing liquid; the main supply can hide under the sink.
martha stewart living
Leftovers are the bane of the sewing room as well as the kitchen. But the same creativity that inspired cassoulet can save odd lengths of fabric from ragbag ignominy. One idea: Use strips of cloth or lace to trim the opening of a cotton pillowcase. A monogrammed handkerchief from a flea market can be folded diagonally and machine-stitched to a pillowcase, creating a wonderful gift for someone with the right initial.
Hankerchief pillowcase —
Leftovers are the bane of the sewing room as well as the kitchen. But the same creativity that inspired cassoulet can save odd lengths of fabric from ragbag ignominy. One idea: Use strips of cloth or lace to trim the opening of a cotton pillowcase. A monogrammed handkerchief from a flea market can be folded diagonally and machine-stitched to a pillowcase, creating a wonderful gift for someone with the right initial.
martha stewart living
What began as an unremarkable piece of furniture becomes a bold, modern design statement when adorned with leaves and vines. <br /><br />Click on the double arrow below to find more tips for shopping at flea markets and yard sales.
Decoupaged dresser —
What began as an unremarkable piece of furniture becomes a bold, modern design statement when adorned with leaves and vines.

Click on the double arrow below to find more tips for shopping at flea markets and yard sales.
martha stewart living
Their sleek glass and porcelain rods long gone, enameled, ceramic, and metal towel-bar supports often turn up at flea markets. Attractive -- but what can you do with them? Show off the hardware in another room.
Kitchen rack —
Their sleek glass and porcelain rods long gone, enameled, ceramic, and metal towel-bar supports often turn up at flea markets. Attractive -- but what can you do with them? Show off the hardware in another room.
martha stewart living
Wrap goods in vintage napkins, handkerchiefs, or other linens graced with lively patterns, and the packaging itself will serve as an added gift. Look for linens at flea markets or online. Fabrics are particularly helpful when wrapping articles whose shapes don't lend themselves to paper. The rest is a cinch: Gather fabric around item; tie with ribbon.
Vintage linen gift-wrap —
Wrap goods in vintage napkins, handkerchiefs, or other linens graced with lively patterns, and the packaging itself will serve as an added gift. Look for linens at flea markets or online. Fabrics are particularly helpful when wrapping articles whose shapes don't lend themselves to paper. The rest is a cinch: Gather fabric around item; tie with ribbon.
martha stewart living
Floral frogs typically inhabit vases, where their job is to keep flowers standing upright, but they work just as well as place-card holders
Floral frog place cards —
Floral frogs typically inhabit vases, where their job is to keep flowers standing upright, but they work just as well as place-card holders
martha stewart living
Old-fashioned enamel milk pails, available at flea markets and farm-supply stores, have a rustic charm. Place sword ferns or similar plants in 10-inch pots inside large buckets; consider ferns in 4- to 8-inch pots for smaller pails. If the bucket is too deep, put an upturned plastic pot inside, and stand the plant on top. Remove plant to water.
Milk-pail planters —
Old-fashioned enamel milk pails, available at flea markets and farm-supply stores, have a rustic charm. Place sword ferns or similar plants in 10-inch pots inside large buckets; consider ferns in 4- to 8-inch pots for smaller pails. If the bucket is too deep, put an upturned plastic pot inside, and stand the plant on top. Remove plant to water.
martha stewart living
A vintage medicine cabinet is just the right size to stash jewelry, perfume, and other accoutrements.
Jewelry cabinet —
A vintage medicine cabinet is just the right size to stash jewelry, perfume, and other accoutrements.
martha stewart living
Vintage letters are a clever way to designate hooks on a coat rack. Try to match the style of the letter to the personality of the owner. These flea-market finds are easy to install -- secure an initial above each hook with adhesive mounting squares, which can hold up to two pounds, or use a heavy-duty two-part epoxy intended for most surfaces.
Assigned spaces —
Vintage letters are a clever way to designate hooks on a coat rack. Try to match the style of the letter to the personality of the owner. These flea-market finds are easy to install -- secure an initial above each hook with adhesive mounting squares, which can hold up to two pounds, or use a heavy-duty two-part epoxy intended for most surfaces.
martha stewart living
These two flea-market cupboards looked nothing alike, yet it wasn't hard to turn them into a single piece that functions like an armoire. All we did was paint them the same shade of white and blue-green and then add polished-nickel latches and crown molding. We stacked them and placed display items in the glass-front and linens underneath.
Stacked cabinets —
These two flea-market cupboards looked nothing alike, yet it wasn't hard to turn them into a single piece that functions like an armoire. All we did was paint them the same shade of white and blue-green and then add polished-nickel latches and crown molding. We stacked them and placed display items in the glass-front and linens underneath.
martha stewart living
In this clever transformation, a foldable cot is topped with trays -- a great feature for a party; the trays can be removed to the kitchen for easy loading and unloading of hors d'oeuvres.
Military cot coffee table —
In this clever transformation, a foldable cot is topped with trays -- a great feature for a party; the trays can be removed to the kitchen for easy loading and unloading of hors d'oeuvres.
martha stewart living