Thrift stores, flea markets, antique shops, auctions, and estate sales. They’ve always been around, but are currently enjoying a huge boom in popularity.

Some experts say the economy just has us all looking to pinch a penny. However, social media has opened up awareness of what’s possible as well as what’s overdone, from a design standpoint. Add online shopping making the same stores and goods widely accessible to all, and it’s no wonder we’re on the hunt for something different.

As any reseller will tell you, thrifting for the perfect pieces is a true skill and a bit of an art. And that doesn’t even begin to describe what it takes to integrate it into your home. 

We’re going to help you start today. Here are some tips for creating a cohesive look using both thrifted and new finds.

Start scoping, not buying

Thrift stores can be overwhelming. Once you get your bearings, you’ll discover that impulse buys aren’t just a thing at big box stores. Whether it’s a rock-bottom price or a wave of nostalgia, you can fill two carts with old things you really don’t have any use for.

So, your first mission is to visit as many thrift stores in your area as you can. Become familiar with the floor plan, the different sections, and the quality of the stock. 

You’ll also get an idea of what there’s a lot of in your area.

Special note: It goes without saying that not everything in the thrift store is a cool vintage find. There are a lot of new mass-market goods there. Check branding where possible to avoid paying $5 for a $2 tchotchke from a dollar store down the road. 

 

Refining your style and creating a design vision

With a relatively firm grip on what shops in your area offer, you can edit what you currently own. Start by identifying what in your home you love the most. Search these items or features online and get styling inspiration, collecting ideas for what may go best with them.

From here, factor in function and lifestyle. Do you need drop zones? Extra storage? Space for your hobbies or crafts? Would you like areas dedicated to relaxing, entertaining, or both? Resolve to not add anything that would impinge on your needs.

After clearing out what won’t be staying, take photos of your own. This new perspective will make it easier to see where to incorporate new, thrifted finds. 

 

Considering intentional clutter

You don’t like the near-minimalist white and gray craze that took over a few years ago, but also aren’t big on a hyper eclectic, dust-gathering collection of stuff? Combining thrifted and new décor is part of what is being termed intentional clutter. 

Intentional clutter is a curated cluster of objects grouped together to convey personal style and taste. This strategy lets us build multiple “collections” so we aren’t boxed into one look. It also keeps some surfaces clear.

Think about where you want them and what you’d add to your style clusters. Small, framed photos, leather-bound books, bud vases from a particular period, items made of marble, et cetera. 

Create a list of objects you like and take it when you go thrifting. 

Shopping with a color palette

When you were identifying what you like most about your space, color was sure to stand out. You don’t have to fully color-drench the space, but narrowing it down to a handful of hues helps.

At the very least, know what colors most likely wouldn’t work. It’s one thing to add an unexpected pop of aqua to your neutral palette. It’s another to get that bright yellow lamp into your earth-toned room and find it just doesn’t look as cool as it did in the shop. 

In addition to color, materials and textures can reveal a pattern in our lives. Maybe you discover that you love silver or brass, stone or rattan. Keep drawing inspiration from what you already own as you shop.

Concealing what doesn’t add value

Styling your home with intention, a tasteful combination of old and new, will bring disruptions to the surface. There are solutions, both simple and custom, for anything that doesn’t “fit” with the rest of the design. 

Look into cost-effective solutions to hide cords, wires, breaker boxes, electronics, and smart devices. Cabinets for electronics, cord covers, and carefully hung art can go a long way. Simple decorative baskets can catch unintentional clutter.

Custom built-ins and cabinetry that fully integrate into the home are a more upscale, permanent solution.

 

Secondhand starter pack: What to start thrifting for the home

Now that you have a framework, let’s narrow it down to categories we can shop within. These items fit most easily into modern homes’ design schemes. Their true condition is also pretty easy to inspect on sight.

  • Coffee table book, cookbooks, and bound hardback vintage editions 

  • Trays for grouping aesthetic items in the kitchen, living room, or bathroom

  • Frames for prints and photos, especially those that can be upcycled with paint

  • Vintage dishes, ceramics, and stoneware that you can use to style open shelving

  • Solid wood furniture, especially if you’re willing to do some DIY refinishing

  • Unique lighting fixtures and lamps (consider rewiring–it’s the fixture we want)

  • Items that can be used for storage, like baskets and trunks 

  • Place settings, tableware, napkin rings, and goblets for styling dining areas

  • Vases, plant pots, jars, pitchers, and other vessels 

  • Miscellaneous: Candlesticks, lanterns, mirrors, snuff boxes, and coaster sets

Thrift with caution

What about those items that are better bought brand new? Think twice about buying any of these secondhand:

  • Electrical appliances and many other electronics

  • Many fabric items like bedding, pillows, blankets, and some rugs

  • Anything with noticeable damage–you may not be as likely to repair it as you feel on the spot (although we’ll make an exception for kintsugi)

Special note: Also be scrupulous with wooden spoons and cutting boards. These porous items aren’t suitable for eating or food prep when bought secondhand. However, they’re great for displays!

 

Continue curating a singularly spectacular style.

Don’t stop at the thrift shop–The Designery has many more ways to update the old, add character to the new, and turn your home into a personal sanctuary.