“Every home should have soul, and there is no more effective way to give your home a heartbeat than sourcing vintage,” proclaims Alec Broughton, an antique decor expert and founder of Aulde, a Colorado-based design house that restores vintage furniture. As it turns out, home decorators are all-in on adding that pulse. According to the firm Market US, the global market for secondhand furniture is expected to double over the next decade, from $40.2 billion in 2024 to a projected $87.6 billion in 2034. Like vintage clothing, secondhand furnishings are in high demand—and for good reason.
Broughton points out that, in addition to infusing your surroundings with a certain vitality, shopping secondhand has environmental benefits. “Sourcing vintage objects is inherently sustainable, limiting carbon emissions that are harmful to the environment, and every piece that avoids the landfill helps limit the high levels of furniture waste endemic in our communities,” he says. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, Americans generate over 12 million tons of furnishings waste every year—a 450% increase since 1960—which is due in large part to fast furniture and fleeting trends.
It’s also impossible to overstate the thrill of the hunt—or secondhand’s affordability appeal. “It’s like searching for a treasure, and there’s no better feeling than finding a really great score,” says thrifting and interiors expert Katie Zamprioli of Candy Colored Home. Decorator Nancy Cavaliere, the self-described Secondhand Sorceress of New York City, agrees. Her vintage steals and deals have become a valuable collection. “Basically, my stocks and bonds are in chintz, crystal, Limoges, and Scalamandré upholstered sofas,” she says.
Clearly there’s a why to shop vintage. As for what to buy, here the vintage-obsessed walk us through their favorite pieces to hunt for at flea markets, antique shops, estate sales, and anywhere else you might dig up decorative gold.
1. Seating
“In my experience, there is perhaps no better way to level up your space than including charactered vintage seating,” says Broughton. “Whenever we design an interior, no matter the space, we always include one well-designed piece of seating to act as our focal anchor.” When sourcing for clients, he looks for pieces that have heavy patina, sculptural frames, and expert upholstery. “Besides our beds, we spend the most of our time in our homes on our chairs and our sofas, so we want that piece to have a strong, soulful silhouette and the stylized comfort to match,” he says.
If you want to reupholster while keeping refurb work to a minimum, stick to loose cushions. Those are much easier (i.e. cheaper) to rehab compared to on-frame upholstery, which could easily cost thousands to redo. Or go with solid wood pieces and focus on durable hardwoods, including oak, teak, and maple.
2. Case pieces
Non-upholstered pieces with storage—including dressers, chests, and credenzas—are always the first things Cavaliere hunts for. “Case goods are the backbone of a room, they set the tone,” she says. “And with vintage, the quality is unbeatable: real wood, dovetail joints, weight, and craftsmanship meant to outlive us all.” Once, Cavaliere scored a pair of Dorothy Draper chests at TK. Each was $25, 50-plus years old, and “still flawless,” proof that quality craftsmanship lasts. “And the designs are more fun,” she says. “When was the last time you saw a big-box retailer selling a marquetry table or chest? Exactly. That level of detailing only exists in vintage and especially antique pieces.”
To ensure a quality piece when shopping for vintage solid wood furniture, always check the joinery. If you see either dovetail (as Cavaliere mentions above) or finger joints, you’re likely looking at something with many more great years in it. As these types of joints connect two pieces of wood with interlocking grooves, they’re likely to last and are a sign of high-quality craftsmanship. Additionally, if you’d like help dating a piece, take a look at any screws or hardware. Anything with a flat-head screw means it predates the 1930s; anything with a Phillips screw is almost guaranteed to be mid 20th century or later.
3. Lighting
“Every chandelier and lamp in my home is vintage. It truly is my love language—or obsession, depends on who you ask,” says Cavaliere. “Most of our chandeliers are different styles of vintage Italian Murano: Venini, Mazzega, Tronchi—I don’t discriminate. They are sculptural, timeless pieces that also connect me to my Italian roots and therefore tell my story.”
The advantage of vintage lighting, says Cavaliere, is not just that it’s functional and often made better than modern-day versions, but it can also double as art. “I can’t tell you how many times guests come over and are completely perplexed by my vintage Rougier palm lamps,” she says. “Are they lamps? Are they sculptures? Are they…weapons? They’re so unique and bold, and you definitely can’t buy this at the store…. Unless it’s a vintage store, that is.”
Broughton is also a fan of vintage lighting, especially antique lamps, for the wider selection in styles. “I often look for pieces made from patinated metals like brass, bronze, or iron that, when paired with a nice shade, offer a balanced contrast to any space,” he says.
4. Coffee tables
Zamprioli is picky about her coffee tables because they are such a focal point in the room. “I feel they should be remarkable,” she says. That’s why she prefers to go the secondhand route, as many vintage coffee tables either feature designs you won’t find in modern-day big-box store or they’re made from unique objects. “Recently, I found a vintage coffee table that is made from two antique ox cart parts that are soldered together, and I adore the shape and the antique wood texture,” she says. “I also recently found a brass Sarreid chest at an estate sale shop called Hidden River Consignment in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, and it’s exactly what I was looking for in a coffee table. It’s solid walnut with brass overlay, and it’s a piece that will last for a lifetime.”
5. Coffee-table books
Naturally, a unique coffee table begs for equally interesting coffee-table books, and these spellbinding tomes are readily available on the secondhand market. “Coffee-table books are always a great thing to search for at vintage shops,” says Zamprioli. “You can find amazing deals and style them in multiple ways. Shelves, tables, and even decorative chairs can need height and dimension to create visual interest, so styling them with a cool coffee-table book is the perfect addition to any flat space.” Besides adding a tome or two, Zamprioli likes to add “weird little sculptures, bowls, or even a chess set” to her coffee-table decor. “Balanced groupings using the rule of three is always a solid choice when it comes to coffee-table styling,” she adds.
6. Folk art
“No matter where you live, I can guarantee you there is a culturally rooted local tradition in art and design,” Broughton maintains. “And each piece of folk art tells a story of creative discipline that has been passed down for generations.” Aside from looking beautiful, these items root your decor in your surroundings and help tell the story of where you live. For example, you might find Mexican-influenced wood carvings and pottery in Southern California, quilts depicting local flora in Illinois, or Swedish-narrative tapestries in Minnesota, where there’s a long history of Swedish immigration. “Folk art is a deeply personal reflection of us, so as long as a piece has been handmade in detail using traditional techniques, I will often pick it up,” says Broughton.
As for the folk art that he likes to source, Broughton says that American tramp art boxes are among his favorites. “Each piece is intrinsically and individually unique to the artist that made it, and you feel a sense of their identity through their work. And as they are made from natural materials like wood, they exhibit a texture that does an exceptional job of adding depth to an interior.”
7. Gallery wall items
When it comes to curating an eye-catching gallery wall, Zamprioli loves going vintage, as you’ll find both unique and affordable pieces. “I love to find a mix of sizes and shapes and interesting frames,” she says. “It’s the easiest way to make your home stand out.” In addition to framed artwork, she recommends thinking outside the box and considering 3D pieces—such as small sculptures, serving trays, and even ashtrays—to hang on the wall. While shopping, she advises, “Look at labels, stamps, markings, and signatures, and whenever possible, research them on your phone if you aren’t familiar to see what kind of a deal you’re getting. You can also snap a pic and run it through Google Lens to try to identify the artist.”
Once you’re back home, arrange your design on the floor first to test out the layout, then measure and hang. “Try to stay consistent with your spacing, and stick to two to three colors in the same family to avoid looking too circusy,” she says.
On a similar note, keep an eye out for any artwork depicting faces, which Broughton loves to find. “Familiarity places a vital role in a house feeling like a home, so when sourcing vintage I often find myself gravitating towards figural pieces. Whether it is antique portraits, metal sculptures, or wooden figures, anything that has a distinctly human expression can inject a soulful and oftentimes playful energy into a room,” he says.
8. Ceramics (including pottery and porcelain)
Vintage ceramics often have miles more charm and history than newly purchased stuff—and you may find that it is more affordable and lends character to your meals. “I absolutely love collecting vintage midcentury-modern pottery (so much color and texture),” says Cavaliere, who also loves Limoges china for its pretty patterns. Often, she combines her favored retro tabletop pieces with old table linens. “I just can’t resist a great splatterware piece or a hand-embroidered napkin with a clean stitch. They elevate the everyday and bring me so much joy. And it’s such a simple way to make life feel really special.”
Keep in mind that vintage vessels don’t always have to be used for their intended purpose. Secondhand ceramics—including mugs, cups, gravy boats, creamers, and crocks—can be given new life as things like planters, cotton-ball bathroom storage, business card holders, pencil cups, or just a spot to drop your loose change.
9. Barware
There is no need to invest in brand-new flutes or crystal rocks glasses to imbue a sense of timelessness in your home. From etched glassware to elaborate swizzle sticks (and shakers on shakers on shakers), there’s a variety of vintage barware out there. “Barware had such specific styles during various time periods,” explains Abby Wilkinson, a product designer who has worked with Fish’s Eddy. “1950s barware is vastly different from the styles of the ’60s or ’70s.” And you can just as easily find really classic shapes to add to your collection: Champagne coupes, ice buckets, jiggers, and more.
10. Decorative details
When it comes to small decorative items to arrange on a bookshelf or entryway table, Zamprioli says the weirder the better. “I don’t want the same marble knot from a big-box store that everyone else has. I want a piece that evokes emotion.” One of her favorite finds is a rusty brutalist warthog that she got in the vintage store Bougie Bazaar in Pasadena, California. “A lot of people would probably consider it to be ugly, but I find it so interesting and special. It’s a conversation starter for sure,” she says.
As for shelf styling, Zamprioli recommends varying the height and shape of your decor and using odd numbers for groupings. “Even a maximalist like me knows to leave some empty space to avoid a cluttered feel,” she says. “I like to style books vertically and horizontally and incorporate various textures like metal, ceramics, and wood.” But perhaps her most important piece of advice is to be sure to play. “If I can impart any wisdom when it comes to shopping vintage, it would be to have fun! Don’t worry about trends too much and what’s popular. Buy what you are drawn to, what speaks to you, and inspires you.”
