Buying a home is a major milestone, but furnishing it can feel rushed. Big-box stores offer quick solutions, yet many mass-produced items lack the longevity and character homeowners are looking for. If you want a space that feels high-quality, the best home decor items to buy secondhand are often better than anything on a showroom floor.
According to the Ikea Life at Home Report, 60% of people say their home should reflect their personality. Here are 10 things you should thrift for your home instead of buying new.
Jump Ahead
- Mirrors
- Vases and Vessels
- Tables
- Framed Art
- Wood Furniture
- Lamps and Lighting
- Shelving and Display Units
- Accent Chairs
- Fibre Rugs
- Decorative Trays and Catch-Alls
Mirrors
Retail stores often overcharge for mirrors, and newer frames are usually made of lightweight plastic or resin. When you thrift a mirror, you get heavy glass and a solid wood frame for less. Additionally, older mirrors tend to have thicker glass that provides a clearer reflection.
To use this in your home, remember that large mirrors make small rooms feel bigger. This is a perfect trick for new condo owners. Look for heavy wood frames that you can spray-paint matte black for a modern, sleek look.
Vases and Vessels
High-end boutiques often sell ceramic and glass vases for $80 or more, but you can frequently find the same look at a thrift shop for under $10. Beyond the price, vintage vessels often show a level of craftsmanship that is rare today.
For a high-end designer look, group three vases of different heights on a shelf. Mixing a heavy glass vase with a matte ceramic one adds instant visual interest.
Tables (Coffee, Side, and Console)
Modern “flat-pack” tables are typically made of particle board. They chip easily and are hard to repair once damaged. Older secondhand tables are often solid wood or wrought iron. These materials can last for decades and survive multiple moves. You can use a sturdy console table behind your sofa in an open-concept living room to define the space. This creates a clear “zone” for the living room without blocking light or traffic.
Framed Art
Professional framing is one of the highest hidden costs in interior design. At a thrift store, you’re essentially buying a high-quality frame and getting the art for free. Look for solid wood or ornate plaster frames that feel substantial.
If you don’t like the art, swap it out for a personal photo or a piece of textured wallpaper. You can create a “gallery wall” above your sofa using frames of different sizes but the same color. This adds instant personality and charm to a new home.
Solid Wood Furniture
When searching for the best home decor to buy secondhand, look for hardwoods like oak and maple. Older dressers and desks used “dovetail” joints—interlocking wood teeth—rather than staples or glue. Pull out the drawers and inspect the construction. If you see interlocking wood joints on the sides, it’s a sign of quality and a piece that can be easily sanded and restained to match your aesthetic.
Lamps and Lighting
Lighting acts as the jewelry of a room. Vintage lamps offer unique shapes, such as 1970s mushroom styles and heavy brass bases, that you won’t find in a standard catalog. Older lamps often use heavier materials like marble or solid brass. They feel more stable and look more expensive compared to modern plastic versions.
Don’t worry about a dusty or an outdated lampshade because shades are easy to replace. Swap in a new linen shade and a vintage base suddenly feels high-end.
Shelving and Display Units
Big-box bookshelves often sag under the weight of real books. Vintage units from the 1960s or 1970s were built to hold weight without bending or warping. Look for metal étagères or solid wood bookcases for your home office. These pieces are much easier to move than flimsy particle-board units that often fall apart during a relocation.
Use an open-back bookshelf as a room divider to add storage while keeping the space feeling airy and bright.
Accent Chairs
New accent chairs can cost thousands of dollars at retail stores. Look for secondhand frames with a durable structure and sturdy legs, and avoid fully upholstered pieces to ensure they are easy to clean.
If the frame is beautiful but the fabric is dated, you can have it reupholstered in a modern fabric. Here are a few great options to consider:
- Performance Velvet
- This is a popular choice for modern homes. Unlike old velvet, performance velvet is easy to clean and resists stains.
- Bouclé
- You may recognize this fabric by its looped, “bumpy” texture. Usually found in white, cream, or soft grey, bouclé makes a chair look cozy and expensive. It works best on chairs with rounded shapes.
- Heavy Linen Blends
- Pure linen wrinkles easily, so look for a “linen blend.” These fabrics are more durable and hold their shape better.
- Performance Tweed
- If you want a mid-century modern look, try a performance tweed. This fabric uses different colored threads woven together. It is very tough and hides wear and tear well. It is a smart pick for chairs in high-traffic areas like the living room.
Natural Fibre Rugs
Worried about thrifting a rug? Natural fibre rugs are more resilient than many people expect. Materials like wool and cotton can be professionally cleaned to look nearly new, and wool is naturally stain-resistant thanks to the lanolin in its fibres.
A smaller vintage wool rug works exceptionally well in a home office or entryway, where it can showcase a unique pattern without overwhelming the space.
Decorative Trays and Catch-Alls
Small details make a house feel lived-in and organized. Trays and bowls are excellent thrift finds because they are purely aesthetic and don’t “wear out.” Look for marble, brass, or carved wood to add texture to your coffee table or kitchen counters.
Use a brass tray on your entryway table to catch keys and mail. This keeps your surfaces organized and prevents clutter from spreading through your new home.
Why Secondhand Beats Showroom New
Finding the best home decor to buy secondhand is a smart way to bring high-end materials into your home. By choosing vintage pieces, these items turn a house into a home while keeping your moving costs under control.
Secondhand decor can stretch your budget further once you find the right place to call home. Explore Zoocasa listings and start your search today.
