Gone are the days when being hip meant choosing only the best of modern design to enhance your living space. Now, if you want to have real interiors style, you take your lead from the past. The look is mix-and-match, and vintage sits comfortably with the best of the high street. Judging by the buzz in the salesrooms and at the decorative fairs, the message is out: antiques are making a comeback.

Those in the know, who have been quietly snapping up pieces, are well versed in their appeal. Apart from their obvious aesthetic appeal, each piece is likely to be a one-off, ooze quality and craftsmanship — and, of course, stand the test of time. “They don’t make them like they used to” is a phrase I hear often on the Antiques Roadshow. And it’s true. Here’s how to find the best.

WHERE TO GO… STARTING POINTS

AUCTIONS Buying at auction is one of the most exciting ways of snapping up antiques. Canny trade buyers keep tabs on what’s happening through the Antiques Trade Gazette newspaper (ATG: www.antiquestradegazette.com), www.the-saleroom.com and www.invaluable.com, all of which have up-to-date listings. To pinpoint your dream purchase, try the lot-finder service offered by most listings sites and the bigger salesrooms.

DEALERS Get to know a good dealer and they will look after you for life. Members of the British Antique Dealers’ Association (Bada: www.bada.org) and the Association of Art and Antique Dealers (Lapada: www.lapada.co.uk) are governed by strict codes of conduct, which means you can buy with confidence. Use their Dealer Search services to find dealers who match your interests. It’s worth knowing that many high-street dealers also exhibit at specialist fairs. These venues may be closer to your home than the shop itself.

FAIRS The Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair (www.decorativefair.com) is a treasure trove for anyone after eye-catching antiques. The Grosvenor House Art and Antiques Fair (www.grosvenor-antiquesfair.co.uk) sees treasures worth £500m on show. At the other end of the scale is the Newark Antiques Fair (www.dmgantiquefairs.com) — Europe’s largest, with more than 4,000 stalls. Again, the ATG is a useful place to look for fair listings, from general to specialist.

CAR-BOOT SALES AND FLEA MARKETS Car-boot sales offer plenty of portable items — glass, ceramics and textiles. Keep an eye out in your local paper for dates; or, for a small fee, you can subscribe to the car-boot calendar (www.carbootcalendar.com). A trip to Europe’s flea markets can be a great way to buy into vintage style. Gold Crest Holidays (www.gold-crest.co.uk) offers three- and five-day coach tours that take in some markets in France.

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HOW TO BUY

AT AUCTION Do your groundwork. Attend the pre-sale viewing, check prospective purchases for damage and don’t forget to measure up, to ensure things will fit back home. On the day, set a realistic bidding limit, taking into account the salesroom charges. Let things get going first, and if the price is still within budget, surprise the room by pitching in towards the end. Collect your item as soon as you can, otherwise you might find yourself paying storage costs.

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