I’m a Vintage Seller, and I Can’t Keep This ’90s Decor Staple Stocked in 2025

For the last couple years, I’ve been selling vintage pieces on Facebook Marketplace with a focus on the mid-century modern and 1970s eras. I’m all about brass figurines, punchy floral linens, and collectible glass. But lately, I’ve been feeling my 1990s roots calling to me. 

I’ve been seeing more and more of the things in my room growing up, and the nostalgia is real. In grade school, I was obsessed with all-things astronomy, and celestial decor happened to be popular at the same exact time. Things like my throw blanket, which featured a large smiling sun, and my notebooks with celestial covers have been popping up on places like Instagram, TikTok, Etsy, and eBay — this time under the description of whimsigoth, a style filled with fanciful, ethereal imagery that nods to the 1990s and Y2K. Think: suns, moons, and all kinds of celestial details.

I thought vintage celestial decor was gaining steam, but I never truly witnessed it in real life until I sold a couple 1990s celestial items through Marketplace. My two most popular items to date? A set of two celestial prints featuring artistic moons by Lorraine Rossi and a woven table runner displaying sweet-faced suns and a variety of stars, moons, and planets. Each listing received thousands of views in the hours after I posted them, and I couldn’t believe how many messages I received inquiring after them. 

In my Marketplace profile, I’ve now added “1990s” to the eras I specialize in and have started branching out into other 1990s trends, selling vintage angel artwork and colorful plastic tumblers you’d be likely to spot in an episode of Full House. But celestial decor has a special place in my ’90s-loving heart. There are so many ways you can decorate with these vintage pieces in your own home, I wanted to share a few tips with you on this resurging motif in case it appeals to you as well (and you’ll even see a few of my own pieces here, too).

Since the 1990s wasn’t all that long ago (at least it doesn’t feel that way for me!), a lot of celestial decor still looks fairly new when you stumble across it in thrift stores. But there are small details that give pieces away as authentic vintage. 

First, pay attention to color palette selection. Many of the era’s suns and moons appear on blue backdrops, and these pieces tended to feature other hues that were popular during the era like burgundy and dark yellow. 

Next, keep an eye out for certain types of fabrics and finishes that were trending in the ’90s. Many textiles were woven to look like tapestries back then, a trend that dominated throw blankets, place mats, table runners, and more. And since the ’90s also seemed to be all about faux metallic finishes, you’ll find brush-painted gold and silver frames often surround true ’90s celestial art prints.

If you’re unsure if a piece is really from the 1990s, use Google Lens. It may not matter to you at all if you like the overall look of a piece, but you might be able to unearth details about what’s in front of you if you’re curious.

Vintage celestial decor is just starting to trickle into the secondhand market, so pieces aren’t always as readily available as other categories of things. So when I find something out in the wild, I get pretty excited. If you’re looking to quickly build your collection, I recommend shopping online marketplaces like Etsy, eBay, and Mercari. Be specific with your search terms (i.e. “1990s celestial wall art,” “vintage whimsigoth,” and “vintage celestial tapestry”). 

Start following sellers who specialize in vintage celestial decor, like Instagram’s @vingtage90switch and @goldn.vintage. These accounts also provide inspiration on how to decorate with these finds.

Celestial motifs were basically on everything you can think of back in the ’90s. To streamline your hunt, though, consider limiting yourself to one or two types of pieces. For example, candlesticks and votives showcasing stars and moons will look beautiful together on a dark evening, or you could go for tapestries and linens to really give your bedroom or dining table a whimsigoth vibe. 

I’ve started bringing some of these celestial pieces from the 1990s into my own decor, which is a blend of mid-century and boho 1970s. I find the free-spirited vibes of these eras work well together, which means the glass sun candleholder I scored at Goodwill looks great alongside my tie-dye Nemadji vase. When decorating with vintage celestial decor, don’t be afraid to mix time periods. 

On the flipside, vintage celestial decor also looks right at home amid modern pieces. In a neutral, minimalist space, a sunburst mirror can become a pretty focal point. A cozy celestial print throw blanket will also stand out in a simple Scandi style room that prioritizes hygge. 

Or … just go all out. Craft an entire vintage celestial gallery wall, create a moody celestial theme for your bedroom, or decorate an entire bathroom in soothing moons and stars. 

For now, I’m just dipping my toe into this trend, with single pieces for my table (like this mug) or a piece of art for a bathroom. But as soon as I get a chance to raid those cardboard boxes in my parents’ basement that I know are packed with celestial decor from my childhood, I think you’ll be seeing a lot more suns and moons in my decor. Believe me, these motifs are coming for homes everywhere!