Treasures From Paris: What I Learned About Packing and Shipping Flea Market Finds
We’re just five weeks away from heading back to the flea markets in Paris, and I can hardly wait. I’ve been planning this trip for over a year, but what I’m thinking about right now isn’t clothes. It’s how to pack all those treasures so they make it home safely.
(If you’re curious what I do pack to wear, I wrote about it here.)
Part of the magic of shopping at Paris flea markets lies in how it incorporates the art of slow decorating. It isn’t about rushing to fill a room. It’s about wandering until you find the piece that feels like it’s been waiting for you. Sometimes that means crossing the ocean for the treasure that will carry your story home.
All of this, except for that marmalade jar, was packed in my suitcases! Next time, I will ship books! They are heavy!
What Worked Last Year
1. Pack extra space
I brought an empty checked bag, and this year I’ll do it again with a carry-on tucked inside. Having that extra space kept me from panicking at the end of the trip.
2. Use the market shipper
At the Foire de Chatou, I shipped a couple of boxes straight from the market. They have a shipper on site who either collects your purchases from vendors or the vendors drop them off. It saved me from carrying copper pots through the fair. My boxes arrived at home about a week later, packed perfectly.
3. Decide what’s worth shipping
Sometimes shipping makes sense. Sometimes it doesn’t. I passed on a sign I loved because the cost to send it was more than double the price I’d paid. But when a vendor offered me a deal on marmalade jars, I realized I could resell them at home and cover the shipping on the piece I really wanted.
The Packing Puzzle
The rest of my finds, boots, a bag, and a few paintings, came home with me. That’s when things got tricky.
At the airport, I was packing, repacking, and shifting things from one bag to another. My checked bag was overweight, and my carry-ons were nearly double the limit. The agent almost made me check one. After some nervous sweating and a lot of polite smiles, she finally let me through. I walked onto the plane, praying no one would stop me. Thankfully, they didn’t.
The Best Part
Unpacking at home was pure joy. Every piece brought me back to the moment I found it.
My Plan for Next Time
This year, I’ll check an extra bag from the start. It costs 100 euros, but the peace of mind is worth it.
If Paris flea markets are on your list, learn from my mistakes. Plan ahead for the treasures you don’t even know you’ll find. And when you unwrap them back at home, you’ll see more than antiques—you’ll see memories of a morning in Paris, a vendor’s smile, the thrill of the hunt. That’s the heart of slow decorating. It’s collecting with intention, letting each piece carry a little romance and a story of its own.
