My Favorite Garden & Home Finds

If you walk through my home, you’ll probably notice pretty quickly that I’m drawn to anything that looks like it could have come from an old garden shed, greenhouse, farmhouse or antique shop. I love pieces that feel collected rather than perfectly coordinated. Things that have a little age, texture and character. And if it can hold flowers or a plant? Even better. Over the years, I’ve found myself reaching for the same kinds of pieces again and again. I move them from room to room, change them with the seasons and find completely new uses for them. Here are a few of my favorite garden-inspired finds that always seem to make their way into our home.

Old Wooden Boxes

I will almost always stop for an old wooden box. I love the warmth and character they bring to a space, especially when the wood is worn and imperfect. They’re also incredibly easy to decorate with. I’ll use them to hold plants, stack books inside them, fill them with seasonal finds or simply leave them empty because sometimes they’re beautiful all on their own.

Wire Baskets

Wire baskets are another favorite because they add texture without feeling heavy. They’re perfect for holding rolled linens, old books, garden supplies, magazines or even a collection of little flower pots. I especially love the older ones that are a little rusty or imperfect. Those are usually the ones that come home with me.

Metal Buckets

Okay, this one might actually be a problem. Haha! I buy old metal buckets all the time with absolutely no plan for what I’m going to do with them. But eventually, I always find something. They’re perfect filled with fresh or dried flowers, branches, garden tools or seasonal greenery. I use them inside and outside, and I love how something so simple can add so much character. Apparently my decorating philosophy is: buy the bucket and figure it out later.

Watering Cans

It probably isn’t surprising that watering cans are another thing I can’t resist. I love vintage metal watering cans especially, whether they’re actually being used in the garden or simply sitting on a shelf with flowers spilling out of them. They’re functional, beautiful and one of those little pieces that instantly brings a touch of the garden indoors.

Old Flower Pots

Give me an old terracotta pot with a little moss, discoloration or age and I’m happy! I actually prefer flower pots once they stop looking brand new. There’s something about the patina they develop over time that makes them so much prettier. I stack them, tuck them onto shelves, use them for plants and mix them into seasonal displays. Even an empty old flower pot can be beautiful.

Old Books

Old books are one of my favorite ways to make a room feel collected and lived in. I love stacking them underneath plants, tucking them onto shelves or simply displaying a few beautiful covers. Garden books and botanical books are especially hard for me to pass up, but sometimes I’ll buy an old book simply because I love the color or worn binding.

Garden-Inspired Art & Pictures

I love bringing garden elements into our home in ways that don’t necessarily involve actual plants. Botanical prints, vintage flower illustrations and sweet little herb prints are some of my favorites. They’re an easy way to bring color and nature into a room, and they work almost anywhere — a kitchen, hallway, bookshelf or little corner that needs something extra.

Plants — Real & Faux

There can never be too many plants! Real plants will always be my favorite because they bring so much life into a room, but I have absolutely no problem mixing in a good faux plant where a real one isn’t practical. I love plants tucked onto bookshelves, trailing from a pot, sitting in a kitchen window or filling an otherwise empty corner. If a room feels like it’s missing something, there’s a very good chance my solution will be: add a plant.

Dried Herb Wreaths

Dried herb wreaths combine so many things I love — gardening, texture, natural materials and that slightly old-fashioned cottage feeling. They’re beautiful hanging in a kitchen, on a pantry door or even layered into a shelf display. And because they’re made from natural materials, they don’t feel overly “decorated.” They’re simple, a little imperfect and beautiful in a way that feels timeless.

A Home That Feels Collected

I don’t think a home has to be filled with expensive or perfectly coordinated things to be beautiful. Some of my favorite pieces are the things I’ve stumbled across without looking for them — an old bucket at an antique shop, a wooden box I didn’t need, a stack of worn books or a flower pot that’s seen better days. Over time, those little finds start to tell a story. They move around the house. They get used in different ways. They change with the seasons. And somehow, they become part of what makes home feel like home. Maybe that’s why I’m always drawn to things that aren’t quite perfect. A little rust, a little patina, a little wear — and preferably somewhere to put a flower.