Vintage furniture and décor is having a major moment, given that many secondhand items are both affordable and easy to incorporate into your home in just an afternoon. If you’re tired of waiting for packages to arrive in the mail or are just looking for a new resource for home accents, be sure to take a trip to the Georgetown Flea, a fixture in Northwest D.C.
Located in the parking lot of Hardy Middle School on 35th Street in Georgetown, the Flea is open every Sunday year round from 8 am to 4 pm. We advise arriving on the earlier side so as not to miss out on vendors’ best offerings and to walk around before the area gets too crowded. Additionally, the flea starts to wind down in the afternoon, so stopping by early will ensure that you can fully scope out all there is to explore.
While the Georgetown Flea has grown to include a wide range of clothing vendors in recent years, you can still shop plenty of decorative pieces that will add a touch of personality to any room of the home. If you’re in need of artwork, for example, the Flea is an excellent place to go, whether to shop or simply to gather inspiration. We spotted plenty of pre-framed pieces that can help you kickstart that gallery wall you’ve been wanting to hang, and there are also lots of loose posters that would look excellent in a basement or child’s room.
There are also plenty of beautiful woven, Turkish style rugs for sale at the Flea. These are rich in color and would look stunning in the hallway, kitchen, or placed over a simple, classic jute. You certainly won’t spot the same styles in your neighbor’s house!
If you’re in the market for smaller decorative pieces, don’t miss out on the extensive collection of glassware available at the flea. Why not give your bar cabinet a brand new look with some colorful vintage glass that you’ll actually be excited to use? If you’re a Wedgewood collector, make note that we spotted lots of beautiful blue and white pieces at the Flea recently, too. These pieces always look elegant displayed on a nightstand, dresser, or coffee table.
Keep in mind that while some Flea vendors accept electronic payment, it’s always smart to arrive with cash in hand, which can oftentimes help you score a better deal when bargaining. It’s also wise to stop by the flea several times throughout the year, as vendors are often rotating and arriving with new items—remember that if you spot something and leave it behind, it may not return the following week!
Sarah Lyon is a New York City-based freelance writer, originally from Bethesda, MD. She contributes to a number of national design and lifestyle publications like Architectural Digest, Apartment Therapy, MyDomaine, the Washington Post, and more. Sarah also works with designers to help them style spaces for photo shoots. Find more shelfies on her Instagram page, @sarahlyon9
