Discover how Brocante Style brings warmth and character to autumn decorating. From patina‑rich architectural salvage to worn wooden boxes and rusty garden tools, explore the pieces that make fall antique picking so soulful
Autumn has always been the season when patina feels the most alive. The warm light, the softer air, and the deeper colors make every worn piece — from rusty garden tools to old wooden boxes — feel richer and more soulful. Back in Illinois, fall was when I found my best Brocante treasures. The cool mornings, the antique fairs, the warm wood tones… it all felt like Brocante in motion.
Brocante isn’t just about antiques — it’s about the stories held in pieces that have lived a life. And autumn is the season when those stories seem to rise to the surface.
Brocante –
Brocante? What in the world is Brocante, you ask. Furthermore, who cares? Grab a seat and let’s talk about brocante!
Generally speaking, the definitions of Brocante include the terms vintage or secondhand items that are sold at a flea market or similar venue. It is a French term that can mean regularly held events such as flea markets. One who sells antique and vintage goods are called brocanteurs in France. I guess you could call me a former brocanteur since I used to set up at flea markets, antique shows and hold estate sales!
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Where Did The Word “Brocante” Come From?
The term, brocante, may have originated from the Dutch word brok, meaning a piece or fragment. This makes sense as collectors can find various pieces and things to either repurpose or to use as originally intended. The phrase “bric-à-brac” used to describe decorative trinkets comes from this idea of gathering bits and pieces!
As for who cares about the meaning of brocante, the answer is simple! Anyone who loves vintage, second hand or repurposed items is interested in brocante!
And once you understand the heart behind Brocante, the next question becomes: where do you actually find pieces with this kind of soul?
Brocante Decorating Ideas for Autumn
Architectural salvage has always been part of my Brocante heart — the worn corbels, porch brackets, and fragments with great shape. They carry history in every curve, and in autumn, that history feels especially warm and welcoming.
Before we can start decorating with Brocante, we first need to have some brocante pieces to work with.
Where to Find Brocante
If traveling to Paris to wander a true brocante market isn’t possible right now, you can still find pieces with that same soulful charm much closer to home. Local flea markets, antique fairs, architectural salvage shops, and even small-town antique stores are wonderful places to discover patina-rich treasures.
Autumn is one of the best seasons for finding Brocante-style pieces — the antique fairs feel cozier, the colors are warmer, and the vendors often bring out their most character-filled items. Corbels, porch brackets, worn wooden boxes, primitive crates, and rusty garden tools all seem to shine a little brighter in fall.
I’ve picked at shows big and small over the years — from local Illinois fairs to the Round Top, Texas spring show — and no matter the season, the thrill is always the same. But there’s something about autumn picking that feels especially nostalgic and full of possibility.
Local antique shops can be a wonderful resource for vintage or flea market style items. I found this cute wooden stool when I was in Madison, IN this past winter.
Garage Sales, Tag Sales and Estate Sales are excellent places to find your favorite items.
Facebook Marketplace and Craig’s List are two other sources of places to find brocante . My cousin in Indianapolis found this piece for me on Craig’s List in Zionsville, IN a couple of years ago.
I brought it to Florida and now use it in my office. It is a piece of brocante that holds other pieces of brocante! My unique style of decorating that I call “Kim Style” is rooted in world of brocante!
Auctions are another great place to find brocante. As part of my downsizing process, I sent a number of items that would be considered brocante to the auction. You can read about the downsizing process here: Thyme to Let Go
Sometimes, a person can even shop their own house to find vintage items that they had forgotten they had.
Or they can repurpose a vintage item in order to give it new life! I’ve always believed in using what you have — especially in autumn, when the warm light makes even the simplest salvage pieces feel soulful. A rusty garden tool, a primitive crate, or a weathered wooden box can become the perfect fall accent.
I used the old built in cabinet to make a stand for the old swing. The stand won’t last long being flat on the ground but it worked for my purpose!
Another way I repurposed on item was to turn this industrial cart into a plant stand, complete with an old hog feeder to hold a few of the plants and some garden tools.
FALL PICKING MINI‑LIST
When I’m out picking in autumn, I’m always drawn to the same kinds of pieces:
• corbels with great shape
• porch brackets with patina
• worn wooden boxes
• primitive crates
• rusty garden tools
• old terracotta
• wire baskets
• anything with warm wood tones
These pieces feel especially right in fall — they echo the season’s warmth and texture.
Fall decorating is all about warm wood, soft texture, and pieces with history — the same elements that make Brocante so irresistible.
Where to Use Brocante
Brocante can be used to decorate or accent areas inside your home or outside. Use the items as they were originally intended or you can repurpose them. In the photo below, I use an old hog feeder to hold a patriotic display.
When I had the flower shop, people would often times bring items they no longer wanted and just give them to me. One item was an old rusty can that still had green and red lettering on it and a checkerboard pattern. It was large enough to put an artificial Christmas tree in.
In the right hand corner of the above picture is one of the conservatories by Dad made me. He was a little leery of making it as he always said he wasn’t a carpenter but I think he did a great job. It is currently in our lanai, filled with plants.
I found this old lard bucket in the backroom of the farmhouse. I used it to hold artificial hydrangeas in front of the fireplace. The piece of fence and the old garden tools could be considered brocante items too!
Old doors can be used in a variety of ways. I share a few ideas in this post Curious About How To Use An Old Door
A few years ago, I found this old door at a Fall Brocante event. Someone had turned it into a sign by stenciling on the back of the door.
I have used it in a number of places in our home. It is currently on the lanai, adding interest to a cozy corner.
Using brocante in your home simply takes imagination. And now, when Dave teases me about “junking up the Florida house,” I can just smile and say, “It’s not junk… it’s Brocante.”
To Learn More:
If you love decorating with patina-rich pieces, I shared more of my favorite architectural salvage ideas for autumn here:
Architectural Salvage Decorating Ideas for Autumn
Find more about Brocante Style here:
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