Have you ever noticed how antiques seem to whisper stories of the past? The creak of a wooden wagon wheel or the crackle of an old record? It’s like a time machine trapped inside an object. Anyway, if you have a love for restoring old things (and let’s face it, some of us can’t resist rescuing the battered and bruised), why not let others pay you for it? People are always looking for someone to breathe life back into their forgotten treasures.

There was a gentleman in his old age (a grandfather), for example. He retired a long time ago, worked for the Forestry Commission and suddenly had all this time on his hands. Most people would’ve just picked up a crossword puzzle or something, but not him. No, he started restoring antiques. At first it was just a way to keep busy. He always said he liked the smell of old wood and grease (weird, right?). But soon neighbours and random people started asking him to fix their antiques.

His two big projects? Restoring old carriages and repairing phonographs. He’d spend days sanding down splintered wood, repainting faded colours and replacing squeaky hinges on wagons that looked like they’d come straight out of a Western film. He once joked that it felt like giving CPR to history. The phonographs were trickier with tiny parts, fiddly wires and belts that refused to stay in place. Still, there’s nothing like hearing one of these machines crackle back to life after decades of silence.

People loved his work, but frankly he didn’t charge much. He was more interested in the craft than in making a bank. And that’s the thing, you don’t have to turn it into a huge business if you don’t want to. Take the Instagram accounts of @adrianalanltd or @thehouseofantiques from the UK, for example. They refurbishes antique furniture and curiosities on the side and posts their pieces on Instagram. They started out with just a passion for vintage markets and now some of their finds sell for hundreds online.

Oh, speaking of online! Sites like Etsy and eBay are goldmines for selling refurbished antiques. And they’ve been buzzing with demand lately.

But don’t think it’s all smooth sailing. Restoring antiques takes patience. Sometimes you’ll take a piece apart and find you’ve made it worse. Or you may lose hours searching for spare parts that only exist in some forgotten corner of the internet. And then there’s the emotional rollercoaster. One moment you’re thrilled. The next, you question every decision.

There’s still something magical about turning trash into treasure, isn’t there? Each piece has its quirks, its scars, its personality and so do people. So whether you’re doing it to fill your weekends, earn a bit of pocket money or connect with history, restoring antiques is more than a hobby. It’s a way of leaving your mark on time itself.

For a comprehensive list of antique dealers and enthusiasts on Instagram, check out this article from Antique Collecting.