The Valuable Vintage Curtains You Shouldn't Leave The Thrift Store Without (If You Find Them)

Vintage curtains can be a beautiful way to add character, charm, and a sense of age to your space. While options include curtains in many different styles, fabrics, and decades of design, some of the most dramatic are typically full length drapes and heavy, which often have a weightiness and textured feel that newer drapes often lack. One popular designer of vintage drapery fabrics, Schumacher, has spent over a century making a luxe name for themselves with beautiful woven textiles that are still in demand among designers and homemakers. They can be a gorgeous element to add some pattern and vintage flair to any space.

While rare, you can occasionally find these draperies in a thrift store for a budget-friendly price, but are likely apt to fare better in your search of antique stores and vintage textile providers. Other great places to look include online auction sites like eBay and vintage resellers on sites like Etsy. You can also still buy a newer selection of their fabrics, all with the same elevated look, from their website, as well as matching wallpapers, bedding, and other accessories.

Schumacher was founded in 1889 in New York, and quickly became one of the most popular sellers of luxury textiles and related items among the elite. They were known for exquisite fabrics designed with the decade in mind, evolving right along with contemporary trends, including Art Deco and the Mod 1960s, with some of their creations working their way into the famous homes of Jackie Kennedy, Mamie Eisenhower, and Mick Jagger. Schumacher's prints are varied, from handmade block prints to more machine made fabrics in florals, stripes, toiles, damasks, and other popular prints through the decades.

This means if you stumble upon these luxe textiles secondhand, you get the chance to use them in your home, where they can be a perfect element to revolutionize your curtain game by adding pattern, texture, and vintage flair. Depending on the print, these textiles fit an abundance of styles, from more modern and mod spaces to elevated traditional rooms and farmhouse homes. Use them as luxe window treatments alone or to layer your curtains with lace or sheer panels. Or, turn them into upholstery material for pieces like ottomans, accent chairs, and benches. You could also make pillows, lampshade covers, or use the textiles for other purposes, where they can instantly add a vintage look and impeccable beauty. Use several Schumacher patterns together for perfect pattern mixing.