By no means do you need to buy all of your furniture and decor items brand new. In fact, you shouldn’t be doing so when you can save major cash (and help the environment!) by going the secondhand route. Plus, who wants their home to look just like everyone else’s? Finding furniture to thrift is a great way to differentiate yourself and showcase your personal style.
Below are 10 items that are better to buy at the thrift store. (That is, if you’re lucky enough to find ‘em.) While you most likely won’t come across all of these pieces in one go, you’ll want to add them to your long-term thrift shopping list!
Featured image from our interview with Claire Zinnecker by Michelle Nash.
Bar Carts and Barware
There’s nothing like a vintage bar cart to add character to your living or dining room. While there are plenty of stylish contemporary bar carts and cabinets on the market, I’ve found that vintage styles are always the most visually appealing and unique looking. Bonus points if you come across something brass with wheels to bring traditional European-inspired flair into your space.
Once you’ve found your perfect cart, keep your eyes peeled for vintage glassware and bar accessories, too. I’ve picked up some of my most favorite drinking vessels at thrift stores and love that they’re visually appealing yet not too precious. If a $4 wine glass breaks in the sink, it isn’t the end of the world.
Picture Frames
I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of seeing the same few mass-produced big box store frames in everyone’s homes. It doesn’t matter whether the art inside isn’t your style. If you look at the thrift store art section with the intention of sourcing great frames, your outlook will change entirely. My favorite types of frames to thrift for are ornate gold ones with beautiful carved detailing. You can still place a more modern piece of art inside for a nice juxtaposition.
Trays
I love a good thrifted tray. I have trays everywhere throughout my apartment. There’s one on my coffee table, another on my bar cart, a third on my dresser, and so on. All of these trays are fairly different in style but have each been secondhand finds. You really can’t go wrong when shopping for a tray, and there are so many different styles to choose from as far as material—whether you’re drawn toward something made out of wicker, glass, silver, or wood.
Don’t hesitate to grab a few trays in multiple sizes. A small one is nice on the nightstand, a larger one can keep daily products organized in the bathroom, and the list goes on and on.
Table Lamps
I am a bit of a lamp fanatic and can never resist looking at the different bases and shades for sale every time I visit a thrift store or flea market. Brand new lighting costs a pretty penny, so if you’re able to find even just a base that speaks to you and decide to order a new shade online, you’re still saving money. Note that some lamps, if they’re truly old, will need to be rewired. You will of course want to plug a lamp into an outlet (many thrift stores will allow you to do this) before bringing it home to double check that it works to your liking. Don’t forget that even the smallest of lamps can serve a purpose in your home. There’s nothing cuter than a petite lamp on a kitchen counter. It creates such a warm, welcoming vibe.
Books
My built-in bookshelves are filled to the brim with coffee table books of all kinds, and I’m proud to say that I’ve purchased at least half of them, if not more, secondhand. Every time I’m at the thrift store, I’ll make a beeline to the book section in search of titles that speak to me. Pro tip: If you’re not thrilled with a paper cover’s look or condition, take it off and see what the spine looks like underneath. Many books at the thrift shop unfortunately have covers that are torn or weathered, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised to find some awesome-looking spines that really pop on my shelf.
While I’ve found plenty of contemporary books at the thrift store, I love coming across vintage books about design, entertaining, and the like. These are so fun to flip through for inspiration, and they also add so much charm to any space.
Mirrors
No living room or bedroom is complete without a mirror. If your style leans Parisian, eclectic, or mid-century, you’ll want to head to the thrift store to find a mirror or two for your home. It’s always nice to be able to view a mirror in person before purchasing it in order to evaluate its quality. (Is the reflection distorted? Is it sizable enough for you to take OOTD photos?)
I love the idea of incorporating a thrifted mirror into the bathroom, too. In one of my past apartments, I was able to remove the bland medicine cabinet that was installed above my sink and chose to hang an ornate looking, thrifted mirror there instead. My bathroom looked so much more elegant as a result! Don’t shy away from a mirror with a bit of age to it, either. I love a bit of patina on a mirror,” says Sarah Horton, a content creator and vintage enthusiast. “It gives a piece that old world feel.”
Casegoods
Many people are of the belief that furniture was simply made better in the past, making it a key piece to look for when thrifting. Amy Courtney, the founder of Amy Courtney Design, agrees that case pieces including dressers, cabinets, and side tables should make it to the top of your secondhand shopping list. Such items are “often overlooked in thrift stores but can be real treasures,” she says. Plus, she adds, “Solid wood pieces with good bones can be refinished or repurposed to suit your style!”
Candlesticks
Laurie Jones always keeps an eye out for candlesticks, particularly brass ones, at the thrift shop. “Unlike the imitation brass they sell in stores today, vintage brass looks beautiful when polished or left in its natural patina,” says the founder of vintage store House 15. Plus, she notes, candlesticks can shine in truly any spot. “They can be used virtually anywhere in your home—the fireplace, dining room table or coffee table,” Jones says. “Don’t let finding just a single candlestick stop you from getting it.”
Vintage Oil Paintings
Get that museum-quality look for much, much less! “Vintage oil paintings are a great opportunity to have a unique, one of a kind piece of art,” Jones says. “The materials used and the frames tend to be better quality than mass-produced art today.” This tactic also makes it easy to own a one of a kind piece without the art gallery budget. Whether you lean a painting, display it on a gallery wall, or even prop it up on an easel is up to you.
Accent Chairs
Jones finds that thrifted accent chairs are a great buy. “They are cost effective and at the same time superior in their craftsmanship for their price,” she says. “Finding one with a fun fabric adds character and a one-of-a-kind piece for your room. It’s a piece you can keep for years and can easily be refreshed by reupholstering.” Even if you don’t stumble upon a pair, a single chair is still worth bringing home, by no means does everything in your space need to be matchy-matchy.
