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If you’re looking for quality furniture on a budget, thrifting is one of the best ways to source affordable decor. Even if your interior is predominantly modern, you can still find timeless pieces secondhand that can fit your space. Thrift stores offer endless styles to choose from — you just have to know what you’re looking for. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the variety, targeting certain items can make the process more enjoyable and successful. With the range of styles and quality of pieces, thrifting is often superior to buying new.

From accent pieces to statement furniture, finding the perfect addition to your home can be rewarding. There’s nothing quite like snagging a solid item at a reasonable price point. Plus, secondhand pieces often come with a fascinating history. If you want a piece of furniture that doubles as a conversation piece, vintage items are ideal. Before you shop for furniture at modern marketplaces, consider sourcing them from thrift stores. Designers often recommend searching for specific furniture secondhand before going elsewhere. These expert tips for thrifting home decor will teach you which furniture pieces to prioritize.

Wood dining chairs can be found in almost any large thrift store. so there’s no reason not to take a peek at your local secondhand store before buying new. Their widespread availability is just one of many reasons to consider adding vintage dining chairs to your space — you’ll have plenty of unique options to choose from! Often made of solid wood with careful craftsmanship that’s more rare to come across today, they are one of the most valuable items to seek out at a thrift store. Secondhand dining chairs are not only less expensive to purchase initially, but you can always resell them to other vintage chair seekers — potentially even for profit. The accessible price tag, durability, and resale potential beat any manufactured wood alternative at modern marketplaces. 

The beauty of dining chairs is that they don’t need to match. Although a uniform look might seem standard, you can create an eclectic display with mismatched chairs. This is also a great way to reuse chairs that you currently have. To change up the look of your space, simply add a few vintage wood chairs to your current display. You can also replace chairs with a wooden bench on one side of your table for an asymmetrical look. Don’t be afraid of mixing different wood tones. Though, limit it to approximately three different wood tones to maintain some consistency, but still enhance visual variation.

Vintage dressers can serve a multitude of practical and aesthetic purposes — just ask Joanna Gaines! The “Fixer Upper” star used a vintage dresser in her dining room for additional dishware storage. She painted it bright green, using the eye-catching piece as an opportunity to add a pop of color to an otherwise neutral space. You have a higher chance of finding a solid wood dresser at a thrift store for an affordable price, and the solid wood surface makes it much easier to sand it and paint it in your perfect shade. Vintage dressers also frequently have dovetail drawers, offering more durability in comparison to modern drawer designs. You can use vintage dressers as an unexpected colorful credenzas or sideboards anywhere in your home. 

Painting vintage furniture is an excellent way to breathe new life into a piece. If you’re looking for a similar earthy shade to Joanna’s, go for the ultra-popular Olive Grove by Magnolia. Once you’ve selected your desired shade, make sure to fill any significant scratches or holes. Consider the Realinn Wood Furniture Repair Kit before starting the painting process. After the piece is completely dry, sand the surface thoroughly. Vacuum the residual debris before applying your paint primer. Always apply at least two coats of paint for optimal coverage. The beauty of vintage pieces is that you don’t need to be too worried about achieving perfection, as a few flaws will only complement the antique look.

Bar carts have been around since the early 19th century. They were heavily popularized in America in the 1920s — think gilded, metallic bar carts with art deco details. Although modern bar carts are currently under debate as to whether they are still trendy, thrifted vintage bar carts remain timeless and multi-functional. You can instantly add character to your space with a vintage bar cart and matching antique accessories. Because it is small and often mobile, a bar cart is a great accent piece and way to start introducing thrifted pieces into your space.

There are several styles of bar carts to choose from, depending on your stylistic goals and the architecture of your interior. For a simple, yet timeless, look, mid-century bar carts will add a retro touch that still suits a modern space. If you have a compact corner to fill, a round bar cart can be a space-saving solution. For a splash of antique style, look for one with a gilded or metallic structure. A nickel finish is ideal for a blend of classic and contemporary style. If you’re after a more natural appearance, consider a woven option like rattan.

If you’ve ever furnished a space, you know that lamps can be pricey. Modern lamps are often made from cheaper materials than they were in the past. To avoid paying more for a lesser quality piece, consider thrifting a standing lamp for your living space. Sarah Bilotta, House Digest‘s design historian explains: “I would absolutely recommend checking thrift stores for vintage lamps before buying a new lamp. Not only is this a more sustainable, eco-friendly way to shop, but lamps in all shapes and styles are easy to find at thrift stores.”

When a certain lamp starts trending, it’s hard to escape the style. If you’re tired of seeing the same lamp over and over again, it’s time to check the thrift store. The only caveat to be aware of is that antique lamps may need rewiring to suit modern outlets and circuits. Although you can rewire a vintage lamp on your own, it’s always best to consult an electrician if it is your first time. Rewiring can be done for as little as $25, which means it may be well worth paying a professional. Remember — just because you are shopping vintage, doesn’t mean you should try to be a DIY expert. It’s better to get the most out of your thrifted lamp than to end up damaging it by being overly ambitious. 

Like other wood pieces, most modern bookshelves are made from composite materials like MDF or laminate, rather than solid wood. The craftsmanship of antique shelving units is far superior to current offerings, and secondhand bookcases also represent a long history of intellectual tradition. Thrifted bookshelves will undoubtedly add a visual narrative to your home. But beyond just showcasing your collection of literature, vintage bookshelves can be used to store practically anything. Consider using a bookshelf as pantry storage, office shelving, or even a display case of memorabilia.

Always make sure to measure your space before bringing home a large piece. Although you can customize your bookshelf in several ways, the size is difficult to alter. Once you’ve officially thrifted a vintage bookshelf that fits your space, it’s time to make it your own. A super simple DIY is to add patterned wallpaper to the interior for a pop of visual interest. You can also easily rearrange, or remove, the shelves to suit your needs. Another idea is to organize and display your favorite books with this adorable vintage flip idea.

Another multi-functional piece to thrift is a wooden headboard. They are super easy to paint and refinish to suit your sleeping space. The carved, ornate details on a wooden headboard are difficult and expensive to replicate, so repurposing these antique pieces can save money and add character you wouldn’t find in a contemporary alternative. Even if you already have a headboard for your bed, vintage headboards can be repurposed for a wide range of interior upgrades.

Learn how to give your kitchen a rustic transformation by thrifting a wooden headboard — you can turn it into an oven hood or a breakfast bench with some clever carpentry. Another way to reuse a thrifted headboard is as a custom fireplace surround. Because it is essentially a decorative plank of wood, any wood-based decor can be elevated with an antique headboard. If you decide to paint the headboard as a part of your DIY project, make sure to use a small paintbrush instead of a roller or spray paint in order to maintain any carvings or decorative detailing.

Another piece of furniture that is easy to revive is a thrifted desk. If you really want something special, source an antique desk constructed prior to 1920. Some woods used before mass furniture production are no longer used today because they’re endangered, and therefore you won’t be able to find modern alternatives that compare! Plus, pieces this old will hold their value over time. To determine whether the desk you’ve found is salvageable, there are a few thrifting tips to consider. Surface-level scratches and flaws can be fixed, but deep grooves and heavy stains can be trickier. When in doubt, keep looking! Even if a piece appears to be one-of-a-kind, you can often search for the brand name via the stamp or logo on the back. You can also take a photo of the product and reverse image search to find a similar piece for secondhand elsewhere. However, if the defects are only slight, refinishing the desk can be worth the end result.

Beyond sanding, prepping, and staining, there are several hacks to keep in mind when refinishing a vintage desk. The first tip is to do all of your work in bright or natural light. If you try to refinish a desk in a dimly lit space, you might miss certain imperfections. You should also make sure that your designated area is free from debris that might get stuck to the wood in the staining process. Pro tip: If you’ve found a desk, but the drawers are sticky, don’t fret! You can use sandpaper or bar soap to make the drawers open and close with ease again.

If you’re new to the thrifting world, it’s okay to start small. Compact pieces like side tables are a great first vintage purchase and they can still make a major impact on the individuality of your interior design. While thrifted pieces may not always be technically one-of-a-kind, the likelihood of seeing an exact replica of a thrifted side table is much slimmer than a contemporary piece. A thrifted side table will ensure that your home looks original and true to you. You can move them around your space and easily customize them as your style changes. Side tables fall into the perfect category if you are a minimalist at heart and like to keep clutter to a minimum. From wood to metal to acrylic, there are countless materials and styles to consider.

Side tables aren’t limited to interior use. They are a valuable thrift store item you shouldn’t overlook for your garden. If you’ve selected a solid wood piece, it is possible to seal it for outdoor use. Use a product like Hope’s 100% Pure Tung Oil or Rain Guard Wood Sealer. It’s always best practice to move your furniture inside during extreme weather. If you’re looking for other materials to consider for outdoor furniture, acrylic is naturally waterproof. When selecting a suitable metal side table for your outdoor space, look for furniture made of aluminum, galvanized steel, or stainless steel, as these don’t rust.

Upholstered pieces can be thrifted as well — as long as you know what to look for. Armchairs or reading chairs can add comfort to your home and act as the perfect accent piece. For optimal longevity, look for solid wood frames and hand-tied springs. Remember, if the fabric doesn’t suit your taste or it has heavy flaws, reupholstering is always an option that can still cost less than buying the piece brand-new. One major benefit of thrifting and reupholstering, rather than buying new, is the environmental impact. It’s far more eco-friendly to reupholster a chair than have one end up in the trash and buy a new one. Plus, because an armchair is small, it is easier to reupholster than, let’s say, an entire sofa. You can curate the perfect pattern and color scheme for your space without contributing to overconsumption.

When it comes to inspecting an upholstered piece of furniture, start with the frame. Peer under the armchair to check to make sure the frame doesn’t have any cracks. Although you can steam clean the item and even reupholster the surface, you should still check for smoke smells, water damage, and mold. Plus, it’s always best practice looking for evidence of dreaded bed bugs. These pests will look either light tan or dark brown and be about the size of an apple seed or smaller. If there are small, rust-colored spots speckled across or underneath the furniture, don’t risk it. And don’t forget that fabric furniture isn’t the only material that can be infested. Bed bugs could be lurking in your wooden furniture, and here’s how to get rid of them.

From the detailed frame to the subtle surface patina, there’s something special about an antique mirror. If you love a perfectly imperfect look, a thrifted mirror is a great way to achieve that “je ne sais quoi.” In fact, many companies offer an “antiquing” service to give a modern mirror a vintage effect. However, real antique mirrors are preferable if you want an authentic look. Plus, if you’re looking for a large-scale mirror to enhance your living space, thrifting can be a more affordable approach. For a French-inspired look, try hanging a large, gold-framed mirror over your fireplace or on the wall in your main living space. Even in a contemporary interior, a vintage mirror can create an instantly luxurious look.

If you can’t find the perfect secondhand mirror for your space, you can also turn vintage windows into mirrors using a spray. Grab a can of the Krylon Looking Glass Spray in silver. Like every restoration or transformation project, you should always clean the glass thoroughly before applying the product. Make sure to tape over any bits or grids you don’t want to cover and apply at least two coats to achieve the mirrored effect. Before you start your thrifting journey to purchase your mirror — or makeshift mirror — don’t forget to check out the thrifting terms you have to know to be a pro.