7 Items Designers Love to Buy at Thrift Stores for Their Clients

Many interior designers are all about shopping secondhand when it comes to sourcing furniture and decor for their client projects.

“We will basically thrift anything for our client projects, as so many thrifted pieces provide a space with a sense of history, character, and soul,” Diane Rath, the founder of The Rath Project, says.

Here, Rath and four other designers share their top favorite types of pieces to search for when thrifting with a project in mind. You’ll certainly want to be on the lookout for these types of items the next time you head out shopping!

Chairs

No worries if you cannot find a matching set of chairs while thrifting. Rath explains how chairs are often thrifted as one-offs since they’ll add a cute touch to a space if they have a unique shape.

Keep in mind that it’s easy to upgrade a mediocre chair with great bones. Rath recommends looking past the upholstery since it can be brought to a professional for a minimal cost if it’s not clean or just reupholstered. However, Rath advises to look out for any wobbles since they can be difficult to fix.

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Casegoods

When thrifting for pieces including sideboards, hutches, consoles, and desks, Rath will first make sure to determine whether the item meets a few key criteria.

“We look for those that have dovetail joinery, smooth drawer and door openings, and wood that has clearly been cared for,” she says. “Yet, a water ring isn’t something that turns us off since those can almost always be fully lifted with a technique of laying a towel down and using the heat of an iron.”  

Dining Tables

Natalie Papier, the founder of Home EC., always enjoys looking for secondhand dining tables.

“I think there is something special about sitting around a table with family and friends that already has so many stories to tell behind it,” she says. “Plus, having a dining table that is a little worn in takes the formality out of a space.”

She sourced this burlwood and brass table for a client which adds so much interest to the space.

Hardcover Books

Purchasing brand new books will add up quickly, and if you have plenty of shelves to fill in a space, you’re going to need quite the collection. Kristin Keyes, the founder of Kristin Keyes Interiors, therefore goes to the thrift store in search of affordable reads.

Keyes explains how even her clients who are prolific readers often don’t have large enough collections to fill shelves. Thrift stores and secondhand shops often have various inexpensive hardcover books to choose from, Keyes says.

Generally, Keyes says that she gravitates toward hardcover books with muted colors and a bit of patina.

Original Art

Jess Harrell, the founder of The Styled Domicile, is always keeping her eyes peeled for original art when thrift shopping because it’s much more exciting and personal than a mass-produced item.

Keep in mind that sometimes a thrifted art piece may require a bit of a makeover, however, don’t shy away from a small DIY project. For example, Harrell will often take the art out of its existing frame to give it a refresh.

Rath agrees and suggests changing the matting to a colorful one to completely transform the piece. Harrell likes to purchase art as she sees it so that she always has a stockpile for future spaces.

“Compared to big pieces like furniture, art is easy to hoard, so if I don’t have a specific project in mind, I can hold onto it until the right client comes along,” Harrell says.

If you’re looking to give a thrifted piece of art a whole new look, take a page out of Keyes’ book. Keyes often paints over framed canvas prints to make saturated, large-scale pieces.

“I recently painted a green and black square piece and paired it with a vintage floral in a client’s dining room, and it was such a mood,” Keyes says.

Brass Accessories

Jocelyn Polce, the founder of August Oliver Interiors, is always partial to brass accent pieces when she’s out thrifting and rarely leaves any vintage brass item behind during her treasure hunts, she says.

“I think every space needs a bit of brass: Candlesticks always have a place in a room along with unique catchalls and little boxes,” Polce says.

Of course, you can clean up these pieces if you wish, but Polce prefers her finds to have a bit of patina.

Lamp Bases

Do not hesitate to pick up a lamp base at the thrift store even if the shade isn’t in great condition, Keyes shares.

“I love to visit my local lamp shop and add a new shade, and sometimes a new harp and finial,” Keyes says. “The result is a one-of-a-kind lamp that’s cost-comparable or more affordable than a retail piece.”