In the wide world of antiques, buying a piece of art for the wall or pottery for your bookshelves is easy, but, when it comes to the big stuff, it can be hard to know what to shop for that will complement what you already have. And, if you’re starting from scratch, it can be even more difficult. There is so much out there to choose from that it can be very intimidating!If you’re confused about what antique furniture you need or what’s actually worth investing in, then you’ve come to the right place. Below, I’ve rounded up the foundational antique pieces that every home needs based on your own personal decorating style. (Not sure how you actually identify your style? Keep reading and we’ll help you decide!)Related StoriesIf Your Style is Grandmillennial...Lincoln BarbourA collection of Spode’s pheasant plates feels right at home in this stately wood hutch. ...Shop for a HutchIf there is one thing the grandmillennial loves, it’s antique dinnerware. From piled up china plates to loads of silver, a grandmillennial’s collection needs a place of honor, which is why every grandmillennial needs a good hutch. While these can fetch a pretty penny, they’re timeless pieces that can travel from house to house and will evolve with changing styles. Humble pine is a classic choice but seek out one with dark, polished wood for a fancier feel. Related StoryIf Your Style is Maximalist...Rikki SnyderDesigner Christina Salway’s Hudson Valley farmhouse mixes eras and design styles with ease thanks to her expert touch. ...Shop for Furniture with Folk Art FlourishesWe already know maximalists love color and pattern more than anything else, so they probably have enough soft goods to fill two houses. Instead, the maximalist should hunt for furniture with folk art flourishes. Hand-painted details that have happily patinaed with age add just the right amount of roughness to a space without sacrificing on the beauty. Seek out wedding chests or wardrobes, like the one shown here, for a folk art piece with some visual heft. Related StoryIf Your Style is Farmhouse...Erin KellyDesigner Liz Dutton kept her family’s Ohio farmhouse simple with a rustic Jenny Lind bed and classic white bedding. ...Shop for a Jenny Lind BedSure, there are countless reproductions of Jenny Lind beds, but nothing compares to the joy you’ll experience finding one in the wild—even better if it’s dug out from the back of a barn or uncovered in your great aunt’s attic. Jenny Lind beds, named after the Swedish songstress who became a national superstar when she traversed America in the mid-1800s, are simple, which ensures they’ll fit seamlessly in any bedroom, regardless of what other furniture or textiles you already have. Related StoryIf Your Style is Cottagecore...Kirsten FrancisThis breakfast nook by designer Stephanie Perez is a cottagecore dream thanks to wicker baskets, a skirted bench, and mix-and-match pillows. ...Shop for Wicker Baskets You can never have enough wicker baskets, at least that’s what the Beatrix Potter books would have you believe. Woven baskets are as practical as they are pretty, serving as the perfect stash spot for blankets or freshly plucked garden veggies. While true antique baskets may run on the higher end of the price scale, vintage ones are just as stylish and usually can be picked up at your local antiques mall for under $20. Related StoryIf Your Style is Preppy... Laurey W. GlennThis entry from designer Whitney McGregor blends country sensibilities with classic preppy flair....Shop for a Scrubbed Pine DresserScrubbed pine furniture adds just the right layer of humble texture that a prep style devotee needs. Still steeped in history and charm, scrubbed pine dressers work in a variety of spaces. They make great display and storage pieces in an entry but look equally chic in a guest or kid’s room (try one as a bedside table!). Their chameleon nature is exactly why they can move quickly at an antiques show or on an antiques shop’s floor, so if you see one take it as a sign from the antiquing powers that you NEED it. Related StoryIf Your Style is Minimalist...Brian WoodcockShown here with another Shaker favorite—the peg rail—this simple chair is as humble as it is hardworking. ...Shop for a Ladder-Back Chair Yes, the minimalist deserves a little fun too. Now I know you aren’t one to fill your house with superfluous things, especially just in the name of a good deal. If the minimalist is bringing something into their home it has to be functional and timeless, and if there is one group of aesthetes who matches that outlook, it’s the Shakers. Both timeless and chicly utilitarian, a Shaker-style ladder-back chair is exactly what the minimalist needs. (And don’t forget that peg rail to keep things neat and tidy!)Start Shopping!Anna LoganSenior Homes & Style EditorAnna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she has been covering all things home design, including sharing exclusive looks at beautifully designed country kitchens, producing home features, writing everything from timely trend reports on the latest viral aesthetic to expert-driven explainers on must-read topics, and rounding up pretty much everything you’ve ever wanted to know about paint, since 2021. Anna has spent the last seven years covering every aspect of the design industry, previously having written for Traditional Home, One Kings Lane, House Beautiful, and Frederic. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. When she’s not working, Anna can either be found digging around her flower garden or through the dusty shelves of an antique shop. Follow her adventures, or, more importantly, those of her three-year-old Maltese and official Country Living Pet Lab tester, Teddy, on Instagram.