Instantly Elevate Your Garden With This Vintage Estate Sale Find

If you frequent estate sales, you know how many amazing treasures they can yield. Sometimes, the sheer amount of beautiful garden decor and yard furniture can be almost overwhelming. One type of decor you'll particularly want to keep your eyes peeled for is wrought iron furniture, as this material is generally quite expensive but can often be found at more reasonable prices at estate sales.

Wrought iron is often so expensive that HGTV's Erin Napier doesn't think it is always worth the cost. It can be a fantastic material in the garden, though. It commands such high prices in part because of its toughness and the unique designs it can be formed into. Not only is it slow to rust, but it is also quite resilient — as opposed to cast iron, which is far more brittle. 

If you can find it at a good price, wrought iron is a way to add charm and elegance to your yard. Depending on the details of the design, it can easily fit in with the formal plantings of stately yards, quaint cottage gardens, and everything in between. So, whether you're looking for a new patio set or even a trellis for your vining plants to grow on, searching estate sales for wrought iron is a great way to add both style and practicality to your garden.

Of course, not every wrought iron piece is the right fit for every yard. Think carefully about what themes and inspirations your garden design is pulling from first, even if you're able to find it for a good price. While an imposing black wrought iron gate might be perfect for a formal yard or even a striking goth garden, it could look out of place in a rustic cottage setting. Don't forget, though, there may be some aspects of a wrought iron piece that you can change to better fit your garden. Wrought iron is commonly painted, so don't pass up a piece just because the color doesn't work for you and your yard. With a bit of work, you can add a fresh coat of paint and your own personal touch to it.

You also don't have to use a piece of furniture or decor for its original purpose. An old gate or section of railing may be a perfect trellis for your vegetables that grow on vines. A wrought iron table base that's missing its top may still work as a plant stand. This is especially charming in more rustic and cottage-style gardens.