As someone who has spent years scouring flea markets and antique shops around the Helsinki region — and always keeping a close eye on what’s catching on right here — I’ve noticed some wonderful shifts in what we are collecting this year. If you look at what is truly defining the Finnish antique and vintage scene in 2026, it beautifully blends bold nostalgia, premium craftsmanship, and deeply personal storytelling.
I often browse vintage and antique shops and closely follow social media. Trends are clearly visible in vintage and second-hand items too. Past eras and styles are rediscovered at regular intervals.
The powerful nostalgia related to this the “grandma’s house effect”. By this, I mean that people’s gaze and interest are often directed toward items from their own childhood — though not necessarily what they had in their own home, but rather something slightly older that brings to mind their grandma’s house.
About twenty years ago, 1950s and 1960s items and design interested young decorators. Now, the next generation establishing their first home is turning their gaze toward the 1970s and 1980s. New generations get interested in new types of items. In the future, their children will likely admire the world of objects from the 1990s and 2000s.
This is good to keep in mind when considering which items to part with, for example, when clearing out a grandparents’ home. Items that middle-aged people find old-fashioned or even kitsch might be exactly what the new generation craves.
Sustainable choices, fresh and new
What are young, 20-to-30-year-old decorators looking for right now?
Ecologia and Recycling
Ecological consciousness is strongly on the surface. Recycling and sustainable consumption are important values. In furniture, high-quality materials are preferred — wood such as pine, marble, brass, chrome, and smoked glass, for instance. It is notable that young people do not choose an item just because it was made by a specific designer. A more important selection criterion is that the item or piece of furniture happens to please their own eye.
Vintage items are often unique, allowing one to build a personalized ensemble. High-quality and durable materials are another important reason. Old furniture often used solid wood, genuine leather, and other natural materials that withstand time and use better than many modern products. Vintage decor is an investment in both quality and durability.
Materials
Among materials, pine is on a strong rise. The Bonanza sofa set, which has already become a new classic, is popular.
Rattan is favored by the youth. Rattan coat racks and wall-mounted rattan plant stands can be found on many young social media influencers’ feeds. Also, the so-called “Venice chairs”, which combine rattan and chrome, are well-liked. They are modeled after Marcel Breuer’s Cesca chair, and many people are now decorating their homes with the countless copies manufactured in the 1980s and 1990s.
Among the linens, there might be tablecloths or clothes sewn from Marjatta Metsovaara, Marimekko, or Artek fabrics. They all interest today’s consumers. Clothes by Vuokko also have their own fans.
Regarding ryijy rug, check if they have the mark of the Friends of Finnish Handicraft (Suomen Käsityön Ystävät), as those are highly sought after.
Decorative objects and Lighting
Vintage decor is more relevant than ever in 2026. One of the biggest reasons is the craving for individuality: few people want a home that looks exactly like their neighbor’s.
In decorative objects, there is demand for brass products. The most requested items are Functionalist (funkkis) furniture and Alvar Aalto furniture. Customers want to find something personal and distinctive for their home decor.
Examples include colorful glass fruits by anonymous designers: cherries, bananas, and pears. Of course, if an “Apple” by Oiva Toikka is found among them, a middle-aged person might pick it up.
Nowadays, there is demand especially for the so-called “harebell lamps” (kissankellolamput). Classic lamps in good condition, such as those designed by Alvar Aalto and Paavo Tynell, always have their own market.
Murano lamps do not usually need to be advertised for long either.
Tableware that was in everyday use can sometimes be just as interesting as the items in the display cabinet. You might find old-production drinking glasses by Aino Aalto there, for example. Those who established their homes in the 1950s and 60s may have kept glasses or pitchers designed by Gunnel Nyman or Nanny Still in everyday use, alongside design by Tapio Wirkkala and Kaj Franck.
Ecological sustainability and responsibility have risen to unprecedented value. By choosing used furniture and objects, you reduce the need for new production and support the circular economy. At the same time, you make your home cozy, warm-hearted, and completely unique — exactly the kind of place where it feels good to be.
It is such an exciting time to be a collector in Finland. The focus is completely on soulfulness, sustainability, and quality that lasts for generations.
