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Estate sales, yard sales, and antique shops were regular weekend destinations for my brother and me as kids. My parents, always on the hunt for period-appropriate decor for our Staten Island 19th-century house, made sure of it. Since then, I’ve had a love for home design and…read more
For more than 10 years, I’ve led Apartment Therapy’s real home content, producing thousands of house tours from around the world. Currently, I live in my maximalist dream home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with my partner, a perfect dog, and a cute cat.
Designers think that the motivation behind this shift is strongly tied to the emotional and nostalgic connotations of vintage style. “There is a yearning for things that have emotion behind them and a story behind them, and sort of that little bit of whimsy and discovery that you find with vintage pieces,” says designer Stacy Garcia, CEO & Chief Inspiration Officer at Stacy Garcia Design Studio in New York.
But beyond just the feeling of nostalgia, what makes a vintage piece truly stylish today? If it was solely about nostalgia, wouldn’t we all be installing plush green carpet and linoleum floors again, too? So I spoke with some interior designers to find out which vintage pieces specifically are poised for a style renaissance in 2026. Read on for your de facto designer-curated thrift store shopping list!
Many of us seem to be leaning into cozy “grandma hobbies” today — like knitting, needlepoint, and sewing — so it makes sense that quilts would make a comeback, too. “The bold geometry of patchwork quilts feels modern again. Especially if you pair them with other solid bright colors and let them really be the star of the show,” says Jessica Ahnert Davis, owner and creative director of Atelier Davis.
In a world of fast furniture and disposable decor, these pieces feel even more meaningful and comforting, Garcia adds. “There’s a renewed appreciation for quilts and handmade textiles because they bring warmth, texture, and a human touch into the home,” she says. A quintessential grandma creation, quilts are finally having their moment and being recognized for the craftsmanship that makes them truly special.
And while we’re returning to an appreciation for craftsmanship, traditional furniture details are seeing a resurgence, too. Things like tufted cushions, fringe trim, and skirted sofas or chairs are suddenly everywhere again. “These elements feel nostalgic yet fresh when mixed with modern pieces, creating spaces that feel curated rather than overly styled,” Garcia explains.
The Apartment Therapy 2026 State of Home Design report found that vintage textiles will be one of the most sought-after items in secondhand shops this year, so it makes sense that you’re seeing embroidery everywhere right now. Whether displayed as art or used as upholstery, embroidered pieces are on everyone’s list right now. Ksenya Malina of New York interior design studio Time & Place Interiors agrees, saying she’s seeing a rise in embroidered towels and linens as well.
In the same vein, Malina also predicts we’ll see a resurgence of upholstered or embroidered footstools and ottomans, as decorators strive to inject functional antique accents into modern homes. Not only are ottomans a great spot to rest your feet at the end of a long day, she says, but they’re also useful to hold a tray of drinks or appetizers when you entertain.
People are finding so many ways to repurpose vintage candy dishes and cookie tins — from jewelry holders, to knickknack bowls, to ornate centerpieces. “When displayed together as a collection, candy dishes can look so fun and sculptural,” Davis says. “Especially with light streaming in from a window behind.” Or, try clustering a few old-school cookie tins together to hide coffee-table clutter.
China cabinets are yet another example of an attempt to add personality, history, and a sense of storytelling back into our spaces, according to Garcia. “China cabinets are coming back because people want to actually see and enjoy the things they’ve collected over time, rather than hide them away,” Garcia says.
Displaying collections like that, whether china or something else, can also be a gateway to connect with your history and loved ones. Glass hutches increase visibility and encourage use of items that might otherwise be hidden away in a drawer. “Putting a tea set out and actually sitting and using it … making yourself a glass of tea and having a friend over — there’s something so nice about that,” Garcia says.
We might not be laying out a formal dinner table each night anymore, but that doesn’t mean you can’t (or shouldn’t) pull a few great pieces of silverware out from grandma’s set every now and then, Malina says. “A couple of beautiful vintage serving spoons elevates even a casual table setting (takeout included). And mix-and-match silverware pieces give an eclectic, French look to your meal,” she explains. This is an easy way to add some whimsy and old-world glam to the everyday.
We’re definitely seeing a shift toward warmer ambient lighting in homes right now, and candles are a huge part of that. Vintage candlesticks can seriously elevate the look.
Malina suggests adding an antique candlestick or two to your favorite shelf. If you’re feeling really funky, you can even create a grouping of mismatched candleholders of differing heights on your sideboard for a pretty vignette. “To give it an authentic look, light the candle briefly and then blow it out, so that the wick turns black,” Malina says.
Olivia Harvey is a freelance writer and award-winning scriptwriter from outside Boston, Massachusetts. She’s a big fan of scented candles, getting dressed up, and the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley. You can make sure she’s doing okay via…read more
As I recently moved to a new apartment in Los Angeles, I’ve been on the hunt for affordable organizers — particularly for my kitchen. Lucky for me, Aldi just dropped a new batch of 26 kitchen organizers. The organizers are exactly what I’ve been looking for — inexpensive (priced $29.99 and below), highly practical, and aesthetically pleasing. I’m planning on purchasing several, and once you have a look you’ll want to get them too.
Aldi is constantly adding products to its home improvement collection, and this upcoming bunch includes super-handy kitchen organizers that will help you arrange your pantry or fridge. There are 26 organizers to choose from, including a grocery bag saver, a kitchen towel holder, under-shelf organizers that come in a two-pack, a magnetic organizer rack, and even a slide-out drawer. Purchasing these organizers is a no-brainer if you’re looking for functional pieces that are sturdy as well as well-priced (the products range from $4.99 to no more than $29.99).
I love these Kirkton House kitchen organizers because they’re sleek, practical, and perfect for compact spaces such as my kitchen. They also feature a minimal design aesthetic, which complements homes of various design styles. And these kitchen organizing items are so budget-friendly and versatile that you could get several of them for different rooms in your home. I’m buying a few kitchen towel holders and under-shelf organizers for my kitchen and bathrooms.
The idea of a playroom is changing, and honestly, it was overdue. The old version was simple: bright primary colors, plastic bins, loud toy clutter, and a space that adults tolerated rather than enjoyed. But families today live differently. Homes are more open-plan, routines are shared, and spaces are expected to work harder than ever.
That’s why the grown-up playroom is becoming one of the smartest and most stylish rooms in modern family homes. It’s not a kids-only zone, it’s a multi-generational space designed for play, lounging, learning, hosting, and everyday life. Think: soft neutral palettes, comfortable seating, built-in storage, and a layout that welcomes toddlers, teens, parents, and grandparents equally. A grown-up playroom doesn’t mean less fun. It means better design, where toys can exist without taking over, and where the space still feels like part of a beautiful home. Here are 18 practical and design-forward ways to create a playroom that works for every age.
A grown-up playroom begins with what you don’t see first: the backdrop. Instead of colorful walls that visually shout “kids live here,” choose a calm base like warm white, soft beige, greige, or muted taupe. Neutral walls make the room feel larger, cleaner, and more connected to the rest of the home, especially if your playroom is part of an open layout. The best part? A neutral base lets you bring in color through toys, books, and artwork without the room ever feeling chaotic. It also makes it easier to evolve the space as your children grow. What works for building blocks today can still work for board games and homework later.
The most successful multi-generational spaces work because they don’t force everyone to do the same thing. Create zones that naturally support different ages and activities. For example, a soft rug area for toddlers, a table corner for puzzles or crafts, and a comfy lounge zone for teens or adults. Even in small rooms, zoning can be done with furniture placement, lighting, or a change in rug texture. When the playroom supports multiple rhythms at once, it becomes more usable throughout the day. It’s less “kids corner” and more “family room with playful purpose.
A reading corner adds softness to a playroom and gives the room a calmer personality. It’s also one of the most multi-generational features you can add, toddlers can flip board books, older kids can unwind, and adults can join in without feeling out of place. Use a soft chair, a floor cushion, or a built-in bench with pillows. Add a small lamp for warmth and a low bookshelf for easy access. This corner encourages quiet time and balances louder play. The best playrooms aren’t just about activity, they’re about comfort and rhythm too.
A grown-up playroom works best when seating feels flexible, casual, and welcoming for every age. Alternative seating,like floor cushions, poufs, oversized beanbags, or even a soft daybed,creates a space that adapts to how families actually use the room. Kids naturally gravitate toward floor-level comfort, while adults appreciate having extra spots to sit during playtime or movie nights. Choose options in textured, neutral fabrics so they feel elevated rather than messy. When seating is varied, the room feels less like a “kids zone” and more like a multi-generational lounge.
Kid-friendly colors don’t have to mean loud primary tones. In a multi-generational playroom, color works best when it’s softened, think dusty blue, muted sage, warm terracotta, or buttery yellow instead of neon shades. This approach keeps the room cheerful and child-friendly while still matching the rest of the home. You can introduce color through rugs, cushions, artwork, or a single accent wall rather than painting everything bright. The result feels balanced: fun for kids, calming for parents, and stylish enough that adults don’t feel like they’re spending time in a nursery.
A snack nook is one of the most practical upgrades you can add to a grown-up playroom. It reduces constant trips to the kitchen and keeps little hands busy in a controlled way. A small cabinet, a mini fridge, or a dedicated shelf with water bottles and easy snacks can make the space more self-sufficient,especially for families with multiple kids. Add a small tray, wipe-clean surfaces, and a waste bin nearby so cleanup stays simple. It’s a small “real life” feature that makes the whole room more enjoyable for both kids and adults.
Floating shelves are a smart way to add storage while keeping the playroom looking polished. They’re perfect for displaying storybooks, framed prints, and a few beautiful toys,without the heaviness of large furniture. In multi-generational spaces, shelving helps you style the room like a living area while still keeping essentials within reach. Keep frequently used items lower and decorative items higher for safety and balance. When the shelves are curated rather than overfilled, the playroom feels intentional, calmer, and more grown-up, even when it’s actively being used.
Natural light is one of the biggest reasons a playroom feels welcoming. Bright, airy light makes the room feel healthier, more spacious, and more connected to the rest of the home,especially important for multi-generational spaces where adults want comfort too. Use sheer curtains or light-filtering blinds instead of heavy drapes, and keep window areas clear so daylight can spread naturally. Mirrors can also help bounce light around, especially in smaller rooms. The more daylight you bring in, the easier it becomes to keep the room feeling fresh and calm,even with toys around.
Floating your furniture simply means pulling it slightly away from the walls to create better flow. It’s a designer trick that makes a room feel more spacious and intentional,perfect for a grown-up playroom that needs to handle movement, play, and lounging. A sofa placed a few inches off the wall, a rug anchoring the seating zone, and a chair angled into the space can completely change how the room feels. This layout encourages conversation and keeps the playroom from feeling like a storage box. It also makes it easier to create separate zones for different ages.
Mixing patterns can make a playroom feel layered, cozy, and full of personality, but the trick is control. Instead of using lots of loud prints at once, stick to a consistent color palette and layer patterns through different textures: a striped rug, a subtle geometric cushion, and a playful but muted throw. This keeps the room visually interesting without becoming overstimulating. Pattern adds warmth and helps hide wear and stains, which is practical in family spaces. Done thoughtfully, pattern mixing makes the room feel designed, not cluttered, fun enough for kids, tasteful enough for adults.
A grown-up playroom becomes even more valuable when it can double as a space for family gatherings and celebrations. Party-friendly design doesn’t mean turning it into an event room, it simply means choosing flexible furniture, creating open floor space, and having easy cleanup options. Think stackable stools, a large rug that anchors the room, and lighting that feels warm in the evenings. A hidden storage system helps you tidy toys quickly when guests arrive, and a snack or drink station keeps hosting simple. When the playroom is party-ready, it naturally becomes a true family hub.
Smart storage solutions are what separate a beautiful playroom from a stressful one. Multi-generational spaces need storage that can handle toys, books, games, crafts, and sometimes even tech accessories, without constantly spilling into the rest of the home. Closed cabinetry keeps the room visually calm, while baskets and bins make daily cleanup quick. Consider storage benches, ottomans with hidden compartments, or modular shelves that can change with your child’s age. The goal is a space that stays functional for years, not one that needs redesigning every time your family routine changes.
Using vertical space is one of the easiest ways to keep a playroom organised without eating up valuable floor area. Tall shelving, wall-mounted cabinets, and floating shelves allow you to store more while keeping the room open for play and movement. This is especially helpful for multi-generational spaces, where you want enough room for kids to spread out but also space for adults to walk, sit, and relax comfortably. Store everyday toys on lower shelves and display books or décor higher up. Vertical storage keeps the room practical, polished, and easy to maintain.
A grown-up playroom can still be fun, it just needs playfulness that feels intentional rather than chaotic. You can add a chalkboard wall, a small climbing corner, playful artwork, or colorful cushions without covering the entire room in bright plastic. The trick is choosing a calm base and letting a few fun elements shine. This way, the room stays exciting for kids but still comfortable and stylish for adults. When the space feels playful and welcoming to everyone, it becomes a true family zone, not just a room kids use alone.
Lighting makes a massive difference in whether a playroom feels chaotic or calm. Bright overhead lighting can feel harsh and overly functional, like a classroom. For a grown-up playroom, layer your lighting. Start with a warm ceiling light, then add a floor lamp, table lamp, or wall sconces. Soft lighting helps the room feel cozy and intentional, especially in the evenings. It’s a simple upgrade that instantly makes the space feel more like a living room and less like a storage room for toys.
Open concept layouts work beautifully for grown-up playrooms because they make the space feel connected to the rest of the home rather than isolated. When the playroom flows into a living area, dining space, or kitchen, it becomes easier for adults to supervise while still relaxing or multitasking. The key is using smart zoning, like rugs, furniture placement, and lighting, to define the playroom area without closing it off. Open layouts also help the space feel larger and brighter, which makes it more welcoming for all ages.
In multi-generational homes, the kitchen is rarely quiet. It’s where meals happen, conversations start, and routines overlap. The best family kitchens are designed for movement and teamwork, more than one person should be able to cook or prep without bumping into each other. Add an island with seating for kids and adults, or create a small breakfast corner where grandparents can sit comfortably. Use pull-out drawers and clear pantry organization so everyone can find what they need. A kitchen designed for shared use feels calmer, more social, and easier to live in every day.
Dining spaces in multi-generational homes need to handle everything, from quiet breakfasts to big family meals. Flexibility is everything. A dining table with extendable leaves, stackable chairs, or a bench option allows the space to shift naturally. Consider mixing formal and casual seating: chairs on one side, a bench on the other. This adds warmth and makes room for more people without crowding. Also, lighting matters, a warm pendant light instantly makes dining feel more inviting. When dining is flexible, hosting becomes easy and everyday meals feel more relaxed.
Designing for multi-generational living is really about creating a home that feels comfortable for everyone, kids, teens, parents, and grandparents,without sacrificing style. From grown-up playrooms and flexible living rooms to practical kitchens, calm bedrooms, and easy-to-navigate layouts, the goal is always the same: spaces that support real family life while staying beautiful and functional. Thoughtful zoning, smart storage, durable materials, and warm lighting make a home feel more balanced, relaxed, and welcoming at every stage. For readers of Home Designing, these ideas show how intentional interiors can bring generations together in a way that feels effortless, modern, and truly livable.
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I organize the Before & After series and cover DIY and design. I joined AT in October 2020 as a production assistant. I have an MA in Journalism from the University of Missouri and a BA in Journalism from Belmont University. Past editorial stops include HGTV Magazine, Nashville Arts Magazine, and local magazines in my hometown, Columbia, Missouri.
Olivia Harvey is a freelance writer and award-winning scriptwriter from outside Boston, Massachusetts. She’s a big fan of scented candles, getting dressed up, and the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley. You can make sure she’s doing okay via…read more
By now, you’ve probably seen the headlines: We’re having one of the worst cold and flu seasons in recent memory. And I, for one, want no part of it! I had the flu once, nearly 20 years ago, and it totally wiped me out. Most memorable were the backaches and being too tired to watch TV — never again, please. To avoid a repeat performance I got my flu shot months ago, and to ride out the rest of the season I’m relying on this clever home upgrade parked next to my bathroom sink.
Automatic soap dispensers are a hallmark of public bathrooms in part because it’s one fewer surface that’s touched with unwashed hands, and the Simplehuman Liquid Sensor Pump brings that hygienic practicality home. I’ve been using the soap dispenser in my bathroom for a year-and-a-half, and I can’t recommend it enough to anyone who will listen. The touch-free soap dispenser reduces any friction one might have with hand-washing — and in fact, it actually makes me want to wash my hands more.
You may have come across Simplehuman before by way of its trash cans, whether that’s the step version our team loves or the sensor can that opens with the wave of your hand. But in my opinion, Simplehuman’s automatic soap dispenser should be getting way more shine. The device dispenses soap as soon as the sensor under the nozzle detects your hand (or any object), and how much it releases depends on where your hand is: a little if it’s close, more if it’s farther away. It also makes this satisfying little mechanical noise as it’s working, which I think adds to its futuristic appeal.
The soap dispenser holds 9 ounces of the liquid soap of your choosing, including alcohol-based hand sanitizer (I prefer to stock up on the brand’s own soap via Amazon). It measures just under 3 inches in diameter, meaning it can fit on even the smallest of bathroom countertops like mine. I love its sleek look. Powered by a lithium ion battery, it can last for up to four months on a full charge. I can’t even guess how many handwashes that powers — a few thousand, or maybe even more?
In all my time with Simplehuman’s sensor pumps, I have yet to find an issue with how they look, feel, or work. That’s “pumps,” plural, because shortly after I received my bathroom soap dispenser (courtesy of the brand to test), I purchased the kitchen-friendly setup with one pump for hand soap, another for dish soap, and a removable sponge caddy — all of which sit on a magnetic base. I’ve also purchased five as Christmas gifts for family members! And although they weren’t the direct recipients, my niece and nephews are the ones most enamored of the device. They actually get excited to wash their hands before dinner, calling its contents “magic soap.”
One downside I thought I’d experience more often is the pump running out of battery — because honestly, I don’t need one more thing to remember to charge! But the battery life really does last for several months, and a little warning light flashes before the pump totally dies. If I plug it in each time I give my bathroom a deep clean, I never have to worry about it running out of power.
In short, Simplehuman’s touch-free soap dispenser turns one of the most mundane activities every single one of us has to do (especially right now) into a luxury. Who knew disease prevention could be this fun? Simplehuman offers quick delivery and free shipping, but you can also find the soap dispenser at Amazon, Crate & Barrel, Sur La Table, and other retailers you already shop at.
When I hyper-focus on a task, I’m known to go ALL IN. And that’s exactly how I approached the giant job of digitizing all of our old photo albums. We crowdsourced suggestions, took some deep dives into message boards, and Googled the heck out of it. From there, I narrowed our options to 5 photo digitization methods that we tested for quality, price, and speed. There was one clear winner for us, but also lots of other good ways to go about it (even free ones!), depending on your personal priorities. So I’m going to lay out everything we tried, and why we had a clear favorite.
As always, none of the products or methods mentioned have been sponsored or paid for. Everything was bought and tested with our own money, and we’re sharing what we liked best for no other reason than: we really did like it best!
We tried to pick a range of tools and techniques. Some free, some pricier. Some suspiciously fast, some more intricate. They were:
*Our printer from 2018 is still going strong, so that link is the closest current model.
I also filmed a quick, 90-second video of how method #2 (the Photomyne app) and #4 (the Plustek scanner) operate, since they’re the more “new-fangled” techniques we tried.
Note: You can also view this video on YouTube.
In testing each of these, we paid close attention to the following criteria:
That last one is important because, like most people, we have OVER 1,500 old photos to scan. So it’s easy to lose steam if digitizing them feels like a slog. So, for us, that became the deciding factor for the overall best method.
Fair warning: you’ll see these pics of young John and little Sherry A LOT in this post. I used them to get apples-to-apples comparisons on quality. I also chose this particular shot of Sherry because it’s a little dark, letting us see how these scanners handle poorly lit photos.
And unless otherwise noted, I’m showing these photos here WITHOUT EDITS or ADJUSTMENTS. This gives you an idea of what you’ll get straight out of the camera or scanner.
Most of us already own a phone, so it’s hard to beat the $0 price tag for this method. So if cost is your #1 priority, you’ll be glad to know your phone’s camera is a good quality option (I’m using an iPhone 16 Pro). However, this approach takes time, patience, and some setup for the best results.
If you go this route, here’s how to get the highest quality photos of your photos:
Shooting a grouping of prints together (like shown above) can be efficient, but you’ll lose some quality. Notice how the left images are a little blurry? That’s because my camera is pulled back to capture the group. For the best result, photograph your photos one by one so you can be closer to each print.
Overall, this method was way too slow for me. Even though it only took me 4 minutes to photograph 50 photos, I spent nearly 30 mind-numbing minutes cropping each one into an individual file. So, despite its pros (zero dollars! zero special equipment!), this method was way too inefficient.
VERDICT: Best method for digitizing a small number of photos without spending any money, otherwise, skip this.
If quality is your top priority, I was most satisfied with the flatbed scanner in the HP Envy printer we already own… but only just by a hair. This method cost us $0 to try, but a new one sells for about $99. That’s about 1/2 the price of the special photo scanner I’ll discuss in a moment.
When I say “quality,” I mean that the scans were the clearest and most vibrant result without any edits or adjustments (see below). It also handled non-photo scans the best, like the greeting cards and letters I found in one of our albums. So if I were judging on versatility, this would probably win too.
I got similar results on the darker, indoor photo of Sherry. The files from my flatbed scanner were the most “ready to go” straight out of the camera/scanner. Again, the Plustek was a very close second.
Like the iPhone, the big drawback to this method is speed. I wasted a lot of time arranging photos on the glass, waiting for the scan, and then straightening & cropping the scans into individual photo files. This was the slowest method by far, so I wouldn’t recommend it if you have lots of photos.
VERDICT: Best for scanning a small number of photos you want at the highest quality. Likely will drive you crazy and you’ll never finish if you have a large amount of pictures.
When we asked for photo scanner recommendations on Instagram, the Plustek ePhoto Scanner was the clear favorite – and we can see why! We were a little hesitant to spend $200 when we already owned a flatbed scanner, but over 1,000 people recommended it so we went for it… and I’m so glad we did. The speed and convenience it offers are lifesavers for an undertaking like this.
Just place a photo facedown into the scanner, and it automatically feeds through in seconds. A moment later, an already-cropped file appears in the accompanying software, ready to save. I breezed through 50 photos in less than 5 minutes, making it waaaaay faster than the two methods above. Plus, it was so simple I could’ve done it all day.
VERDICT: Best for fast & easy scanning of large batches of photos without sacrificing good, high-quality results.
I was actually pretty unhappy with the quality of my first few Plustek scans. They were dark and took a lot of adjusting to look…just okay. But after playing with some settings in the “Preferences” menu, I solved my problem! So before you dive in, do a few test scans and noodle settings until you’re happy.
You can see my preferred settings below – the most important was turning on the ICC Profile. I liked “Photo Scanner (M21)” the best.
Here’s an example of what my scans looked like at first (left) and after I turned on the ICC profile (right). You can see how much brighter and more vibrant they are on the right.
The ePhoto software that comes with the scanner also includes some built-in photo & color adjustment tools, but I find them to be a little clunky. Luckily, most of my scans come out just fine without extra work.
If buying an extra device is a non-starter for you, an app like Photomyne is a good alternative. It supercharges your phone’s camera by auto-cropping your photos (see below), making it much faster than your iPhone alone. It’s not free ($60/year) and some editing features are behind additional paywalls, but there is a 3-day free trial you can use to test drive it.
As I noted above with the iPhone Camera, shooting a big group at once can reduce the quality of the individual photographs – but you’ll also lose some of the “magic” the app offers by shooting pictures one-by-one.
I didn’t splurge for any of the paid editing features, but some of the free ones seemed more gimmicky than actually useful. For instance, an AI facial-sharpening tool tended to make everyone look just a little…. off. You can see what it did to teen Sherry below. Note from Sherry: “those are someone else’s teeth in my mouth.”
Overall, I thought Photomyne did a good, quick job of scanning – even a smidge faster than the Plustek. But the physical process of arranging & photographing things was more cumbersome and prone to error than simply feeding prints through a scanner. I also felt the quality left something to be desired (a little dull & blurry). So some of the efficiency would be lost in having to edit and adjust them all afterwards.
VERDICT: Second best for speed if you don’t want to purchase a scanner.
I chose to test Photomyne because of its ability to scan and crop multiple photographs at once. However, another popular digitizing app is PhotoScan by Google Photos. It only does 1 photo at a time, but uses an interesting technique to eliminate glare – even with the flash on! The app guides you to position a circle over four white dots on your screen, taking a scan at each corner. Then it stitches the multiple captures together seamlessly.
My results were mixed, however. Some attempts were blurry, and others still had glare. Plus, the process of taking multiple photos to get 1 scan was tedious. So I wouldn’t use this for bulk projects like mine. But it is free to use and links directly to a Google Photos account!
LegacyBox is a third-party scan-by-mail service that digitizes both photos and videos in a variety of formats (prints, 35mm negatives, slides, DVD, VHS, etc). They ship you a box, you send it back with photos inside, they digitize everything, and then return the originals to you. You can receive your final files via cloud download, thumb drive, or CD. My order is still processing, but it’s hard to imagine an easier, more hands-off process than this!
I will update this post once I’ve received my final files, so I can’t speak to quality yet. But I’m pretty certain LegacyBox will lose handily on both cost and speed (it’s expensive and takes a while).
I snagged a holiday discount to digitize 50 photos for $25, but after taxes, fees, shipping & handling, and shipping protection, my total was closer to $55. Sure, there would be economies of scale if I sent a bigger batch, but it quickly becomes the priciest option listed here (500 photos will set you back about $350).
As for speed, LegacyBox says standard processing takes 4-6 weeks, which doesn’t include the time to ship the box back and forth. So while it may not require a lot of your personal time, it’s not a great option if you’re in a hurry. And once you get the digital files, remember you still have to put them into a photobook and get that printed, so they don’t make the entire process hands-off.
VERDICT: Best if you have time and want an easy outsourced option to get the job done – especially if money is no object.
After all my testing, I’ve digitized hundreds of photos – but still have hundreds more to go. And the method I’ll be continuing with (if it wasn’t already obvious) is… the Plustek ePhoto Scanner!
It’s pretty much the ONLY method I can imagine using for such a large collection of photos. There’s no tripod, no shipping, no carefully arranging prints on a white backdrop or scanner pane. The Plustek is easy to set-up, simple to use, and even makes the process somewhat (dare I say?) relaxing. So if you can spare the $200ish to snag this scanner, I think you’ll be very glad that you did. I know we are! And now I know why over 1,000 people recommended it to us when Sherry asked for suggestions on Instagram.
I’m grateful we’ve landed a digitization method, but there’s still plenty of work ahead! In addition to scanning everything, we want to make sure everything is backed up (locally & on the cloud) and then print several photobooks to replace our bulky albums.
You can see below how photobooks can hold hundreds of photos in a MUCH thinner format than the old puffy albums above. Each of the thin books below holds about 450 photos while the puffy ones above hold about 225. To put it another way: that’s ten years of photos (around 4,500!) below in those much thinner books, and fewer than 5 years of photos (around 1,125) in those puffy albums above, which take up about 4X more space.
In summary, we’re thrilled to be reclaiming some extra storage space when we finish this project! And we’ll feel a lot more secure once we have all our photos securely stored in multiple places (many of the photos in our old puffy albums exist only there… so if something happened to our house, they’d be lost forever).
Once we’ve finished this entire photo digitizing journey (what is this, The Bachelor?) I plan to write a final post with all of our tips & lessons learned from this undertaking. And I’ll be sure to address what we’re doing with the old photos we are keeping. Don’t worry, we’re not throwing everything away!
*This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
