I think some of it comes with visiting those type of shops more frequently along with looking at decorating magazines. I personally love decorating magazines and I get so many ideas that it helps me when I shop at antique shops to look for specific things. I have also found for me personally, to buy things that I love or am drawn to and I always find a place to use it even if it's not right away.

I love to shop antique shops and shop from the most expensive down to the ratty dusty dirty ones. It's in the latter you find the treasure and usually it's treasure you've seen in the former. But like the saying, "you have to kiss a lot of pigs before you find a prince" goes, you don't find true treasure EVERY time you venture out. Those you say that they've found this in a dusty old shop have been at that shop or other similar shops A LOT and this one time there it was -- a treasure!

But when someone comes over, there are all your treasures and in telling about them it sounds as if you go someplace and there is another treasure waiting to be found -- not so -- those treasures are hours and hours of shopping and visiting antique malls and out of the way stores.

Martha

yes, what linderhof and sis said.... I have some things that are cute and inspired and that people are excited about when they see them. Those are about 5 items from 30 years of looking and a little bit of luck. Most of my 'finds' have come from the dirty little junk shops where most people don't want to get their hands dirty, flea markets and garage sales. I probably looked at 50 to 100 places before I ever spotted one of the treasures- lots of frogs, lots of frogs!!!...It also helps to develop the practice of visualizing what any piece could be used for except the obvious. Practice on things you have no interest in and when something really grabs your attention you will know it has true potential as your treasure. I have a friend who is a decorating genius and who has done this for years. She pointed out colors and shapes that went with things I already had, and helped me see potential. Maybe it would be obvious to some but I had to be taught. I have gotten more 'finds' more frequently since I have learned how to visualize. best wishes

The over-stuffing is just the economics: you pay the same for a booth if it's empty or jammed.

It takes patience. I expect about a 5-10% success rate - for every 10 to 20 stores I inspect, or 10-20 visits to a store, I'll find something really worthwhile.

I have a mental inventory of things I need or want: multipurpose things for storage or decor, wall art and rugs are always on the list, furniture would have to be spectacularly well-priced to be worth the hassle.

Have a set pattern that will cover the store: I cover the aisles around the perimeter, then up and down the middle, scanning for things of interest. I am usually looking for something of certain colors or shape or function: If it doesn't go with my decor, it slides past. A flash of the right color, on the other hand, will bring me across the store looking at it.

I'm more like you, Joaniepoanie. I reach sensory saturation relatively quickly in overstuffed, layered shops. As Lazygardens mentioned, though, I find it easier when I have a mental search list. I also find that I may need to make more than one circuit of a shop so that I can see the items that are not at eye level.

These gals are so right, Joanie. It takes a lot of patience and perseverance . . . and then again, sometimes you just have to be in the right spot at the right time. I love shopping antique and consignment shops. I think I have a pretty darn good eye for seeing the possibilities in things, but sometimes there just isn't anything out there I need or want. I spent a good part of a week recently hunting through many, many dusty, crowded and sometimes very depressing consignment and antique shops in the area for a couple of items for DH's office . . . and, as always, keeping an eye out for anything that might work in our home. I eventually found one thing for his office, nothing for our home . . . BUT just by chance I did find a huge bargain . . . a large David Yurman enhancer (pendant) for a necklace for only $24! I usually never look in the jewelry cases at these places, but this one time I did and I found a $650+ enhancer for only $24. BTW, it is totally not worth $650 or even $200 in my opinion, but I do love David Yurman's designs and I love my new jewelry piece. So, keep an open mind and a keen eye out for possibilities. You never know when you might come across a real find. Just don't lose heart.
Lynn

Thanks for the tips everyone...I guess patience is key...and maybe going in not expecting to find anything...I'll keep at it!

My strategy is to go in looking for something and then be thrilled when I find something utterly random, but perfect for some other thing on my mind.

Recently, while on the hunt for textiles for DDs wedding, I found an exquisite wrought iron gate for our front yard. Ive been on the look out for a gate for 4 years, but this is the first one Ive run across that is perfect (and perfectly priced I didnt even haggle). No fabric found, tho!

I love shopping in antique/junk shops, but like everyone else, rarely walk away with anything. I'm incredibly cheap though, and I won't buy anything unless I feel like I'm practically stealing it.

I have the most luck at auctions. I might not walk out with high priced rare antiques, but I can usually buy large furniture in relatively decent shape for under $10. I've walked out with dressers, headboards, and all kinds of good buys for $1. Auctions probably won't work if you're looking for something specific, but are nice if you're just looking for a dresser or table for crafts.

Location maybe? My sister and I spent five days scouring the "antique" stores in the Virginia Beach area and found nothing to speak of. Stopped by our local shop upon return, and found the cutest little old child's snow shovel that will make a perfect winter door hanging.
It's no wonder she loves to shop here (Illinois) when she visits.

I shop them with "I have that!" and "it's priced at what?". That draws my eye to things I don't have and might like/need. Don't shop much lately, don't need anything, but you never know.

I think it also depends on how down and dirty you're willing to get. I used to live in a town that had the best thrifts. There were four or five that were all within a few miles of each other. I could spend an afternoon and come home with a truckload of neat finds...old jewelry, linens, old china, interesting furniture, lamps, accessories, etc.

However...you have to sift through all of the dirty broken krap, dollar store cast-offs, and highly overpriced made in China stuff. Some of those places have mediocre heating and cooling, and questionable staff.

The local antique malls may have a fancy tea room, smell of potpourri, and are filled with....a lot of the same stuff.

Keep digging, keep looking, and some days you find a treasure. Other days, you just need to come home and take a shower.

The other thing that I find helpful is to look online at eBay, etsy and CL to get a feel for prices. That way I can be confident that I got a deal. Also have measurements of your spaces and a tape measure with you if you are looking at furniture so you can be sure the size will work.

As others have said, patience and a little bit of luck are required.

ROFL . . .but so right, Franksmom!!! "Keep digging, keep looking, and some days you find a treasure. Other days, you just need to come home and take a shower. " Oh yes!

Yep. There's a new indoor flea market/antique mall near me. I gave it a walk through the other day, and it looks like there might be some treasures in there. But it's not air conditioned. In Texas. In August. I'll come back to browse in the fall.

There's also a "hotel liquidator" close by that has miles and miles of tacky, dirty, used hotel furniture and accessories, but tucked in with all of that is some very cool pieces, along with massive bins full of drapes, acres of lamps and shades, and a small section of rooms with really fabulous vintage furniture.

It seems like the places that I shop, you need steel-toed shoes and a tetanus shot before you go.

Most small towns here are thriving downtown because of new antique/boutique stores. You can find beautiful painted furniture for almost nothing, along with nice antiques. It's the boom small towns needed.

Facebook helps their business which is great. A store will post something and it's gone within 24 hours. It's so nice not to drive 30 minutes to the city to find antiques.

I always come away with something if there's a lot to choose from.