Buying everything brand new is so last year. Why not turn to the thrift store as you outfit your space and see what kinds of secondhand scores you can find? Here, interior designers share four of their favorite types of furniture items to scoop up for less.
Four Poster Beds
If you’re drawn to traditional four poster beds, keep an eye out for them while browsing online marketplaces or thrift shops, notes Jen Bienvenu, the founder of J. Bienvenu Interiors in Louisville, Kentucky, who has come across many of these. Four poster beds “offer an unmatched quality and classic silhouette you will enjoy for years to come,” she adds.
Solid Wood Case Goods
Solid wood furniture has been having a major resurgence in popularity over the past several years, and it’s worth keeping an eye out for well-made wooden case pieces at the thrift store, notes Audra Samnotra.
“Quality work is always a good purchase,” says the founder of Social Swan Decor in Tampa, Florida. “If you love it, you’ll find a place to put it.”
Will Hunt Lewis, the owner of Hunt & Bloom in Houston, Texas, is also a proponent of buying wooden case pieces at the thrift store and provides a few pointers.
“One of the first things I look at when sourcing these pieces is the joinery techniques used,” he says, noting that the dovetail method is superior. “Take a look at the areas where two pieces of wood meet, and if you see ‘dovetail’ like cutouts where the wood has been linked together, you’ve found a piece with dovetail joints, again a likely indicator of a nicely constructed piece of furniture,” Lewis comments.
Wingback Chairs
Cheryl Luckett, the founder of Dwell by Cheryl in Charlotte, North Carolina, cannot resist picking up a good wingback chair when she comes upon one at the thrift store. “There’s a timeless quality about the cozy silhouette that I absolutely love,” she says. Better yet, the quality of these pieces is oftentimes incomparable. “Vintage versions often have sturdy hardwood frames and craftsmanship that surpass today’s mass-produced options,” the designer says, noting that this style of chair is also easy to upholster, if you wish.
Laura Sumrak Photography for Dwell by Cheryl
Small Side Tables
Small side tables are the perfect finishing touch for the living room and certainly don’t need to break the bank. Katie Davis, the founder of Katie Davis Design in Houston, Texas, likes to search for these pieces while thrifting. “Look for anything small and wooden that can integrate easily into a living space and hold a drink,” she says.
