Home Decor You Should Thrift Instead Of Buy New, According To Experts

Don't waste your money buying new when you can find better quality, cheaper used items.

The first time I had to furnish and decorate an apartment as an adult, I looked at an empty room and got straight to the point. Where am I supposed to find all this? My boyfriend and I bought furniture (bed frame and mattress from one friend, futons from another) and bought everything we needed (silverware and mismatched plates) from a local thrift store. We are students recently living in the United States and we don't have the funds or the know-how to buy new furniture. Also the only store we know of is IKEA, they don't deliver and we don't have a US license.

Twelve years later, we're married, have two kids, and learned a lot more about decorating, but we're still saving. We are not alone. Favoring second-hand over virgin has seen a huge surge in popularity in recent years, likely due to a combination of pandemic-era austerity and growing awareness of the impact of consumerism. on the climate crisis. Research conducted by GlobalData and compiled by thredUP, an online resale marketplace, shows that the resale market will grow 58% in 2021 to reach a total value of $35 billion. The same study predicts that the resale market will reach $82 billion by 2026. Among GlobalData's consumer survey respondents, 50% of consumers understand that "fast fashion" (cheap and large clothing public) is bad for the environment, and 63% buy second-hand to save money.

Also see: 7 sustainable fashion brands to buy if you want to avoid fast fashion

And these are just clothes. With prices soaring and a growing awareness of the impact of rampant consumerism on the planet, more and more people are turning to local thrift stores, flea markets and Facebook markets to buy beautiful household items. cheaper and better for the environment. These consumers are not only doing something good for the planet, they are also saving a lot of money. According to a study by Follow Coupons, people who choose savings save an average of $1,760 per year.

The only challenge was scouring the racks and shelves of potential finds for valuable pieces. One person's trash can become another person's treasure, but some items are just too bad to take home and can end up adding unnecessary clutter to your home. So what should you save? What should you avoid? Here are some tips for finding the best home appliances.

Related: What Design Experts Say You Should Buy At Your Favorite Store

For the first guardian: books, pottery and sturdy furniture

"Books and pottery are easy to obtain, don't require careful planning or measuring, and are versatile," says Bex Massey of UK antiques store Bramble and Fox. "A bookshelf, table or chair always cuts a fine figure against stacks of books and stone flower pots." Other interior designers agree with this sentiment, adding that it's best to check a few stores first for inspiration.

Massey also advises beginners to make a list of items they need or want to make sure they're "saving with the problem". For more shopping information, check price ranges on eBay or Etsy and carefully inspect any item you wish to purchase for any signs of damage. “All antiques show signs of wear, which in many cases adds to their history and character,” Massey says. "At the end of the day, you have to decide if you're happy with the wear and tear on the item, if it's worth it to you, and if you want to repair it, and if the repair is within your budget."

Tor Rydder, a professional home organizer from Norway and creator of the Organizing TV YouTube channel, also recommends starting small when saving. "Always look for small, stable pieces of furniture first such as sturdy furniture, bookshelves, or bedside tables," she says. "As long as you can see that the wood isn't too worn or broken, you can't go wrong with sturdy, durable furniture."

Rydder encourages everyone to buy second-hand items, especially when it comes to furniture, and describes prices for new furniture as "excessively high". In his opinion, most things are durable, can look good with minimal effort, and are more attractive. "Thrift stores offer unique finds, and these items really add depth and character to your home," says Rydder.

Related: 10 Small Design Tweaks to Add Character to a New Home

Another great thing about this place for first timers is the food. Chicago-based vintage designer and fine retailer Ashley Poskin says Pyrex tableware and glassware are among her favorites. Besides antique crockery and cutlery, picture frames and mirrors are other items that require minimal planning and are certainly cheaper, sometimes better made, and more attractive than many options you'll find in a department store.

For antique buyers: upholstered furniture and lamps

So you've saved a lot and you're ready to top it up. It's fantastic! It's time to tackle the tasks that require more time and effort. "I think the best thing you can buy [used] is a desk lamp," Poskin said. “You'll spend $30 to $60 on a nice table lamp [in a department store], but it'll be the same as everyone else. Or you can go to a thrift store and find something custom. For example, I have a Super Rad Tiger light that I bought for $4.99. Had to do a bit of DIY - paid $13 for a kit to put it back together. But for less than $20 I have something no one else can have. Poskin also says it feels good to keep her beloved light bulb from ending up in a landfill.

For larger items such as upholstered sofas or chairs, Massey recommends considering what you find attractive in the item you are considering. "Is it the shape, the fabric or how does it feel when you sit in it?" he says. “Because there's a big difference between re-upholstering a chair with new fabric and re-upholstering it. Upholstery is more expensive and includes the structure and support of the seat. So when you bring back a hard chair from the 1960s that looks like an old thrift store friend, it can feel awkward and uncomfortable.

Massey adds that if you accidentally take your new item somewhere to stock up on when you really want to return it with a new part, you might end up spending more than you thought too - so it's important to know the difference between the two. .

Don't just look at appearances. If you love a piece of furniture, be sure to test it out before you decide to bring it home. "You always want to test [chairs and tables] in the store to make sure they're stable and secure," says Poskin.

Every designer recommends considering the total cost of the part, including possible repairs, and inspecting for cracks for unwanted leaks before purchasing. "I actually keep dry brushes in the back of my car, so if I buy one, I can clean it before I take it anywhere," Poskin says. Although none of the experts I spoke to encountered bed bugs or anything unusual, all urged caution – just in case.

What can't be bought is used

Despite the many benefits of market research with your goodwill or local saver, not everything is worth buying a used car. In general, everyone warns against choosing a second-hand mattress. Rydder says, “With frequent use, mattresses accumulate a lot of dead skin, mold and dust mites and you never know who moved the mattress in front of you. Not only does it feel a bit heavy, but [an old mattress] can also affect your body's immune system and can make you very sick."

See also: How to save money on a new mattress

Poski's list of items also includes stuffed animals, pillows, and "anything soft that seems to have been sitting on dust for decades." If he sees an antique pillow that speaks his language, he won't buy it unless he can remove the cover and change the filling. She also recommends only buying clothes, blankets and the like if you can wash them. "I have a huge collection of vintage rugs," she admits, adding that she recently washed them in the Chicago snow.

See also: How to Clean Almost Anything: An A-Z Guide

Great finds and frugal expert advice

Used retailers - whether chain stores, local stores or eBay users - offer shoppers the opportunity to find unique items they can't find anywhere else. “I have a 1930s Singer electric sewing machine that reminds me of my grandmother and I feel very connected using it,” Massey says. The vintage lover also found a much-loved Victorian piano at the pub. "It has battle scars and piano tuners that we're not a fan of, but I love that it holds so much history, mystery and memories in a 120-year-old setting," said Massy. "Almost every time my husband or my son comes, they play it."

Linda Morey-Burrows of British design firm Studio Morey likes to focus on "reusing rather than buying and mixing with the modern for a new vintage look". Changing the frame of a vintage piece of art to something with a more modern aesthetic, like a Changing the handle on a vintage wooden dresser, for example, can add more character to a room with minimal investment. The key is to find items with good bones and personality. "Thrift shopping is about finding things that make you feel something," says Morey-Burrows.

One of Posky's favorite secondhand tracks is a few remixes. When she found an unopened pair of Schiaparelli stockings in a small boutique in town, she was thrilled because she knew it was her style. She didn't buy her designer socks to wear, but to hang on the wall. "I like to think of things that aren't in the art or interior design department as art," she says. This hunt for unconventional art led Poskin to make vintage swimsuits and paint vintage refrigerators pink. “If you need a large format piece of art and you can't afford an artist for it, you can find really nice things like a bathing suit or a flag and frame it,” suggests- he. .

Whether you're trying to improve your home's aesthetics, save money, or be more sustainable, there are plenty of great reasons to explore the world of presales. If you're more of an active shopper, visit Goodwill or a small local thrift store. Or if you prefer the convenience of the internet, sites like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Freecycle Network have you covered. Whatever you choose is good for your wallet, good for the planet and great fun.

See also: 11 daily changes you can make for a greener home

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