3 Home Decor Items I Love Shopping Secondhand

My go-to picks when thrifting, antiquing, and shopping gently-loved pieces.

Most of my favorite home decor items are thrifted finds or cherished hand-me-downs from family. Granted, when I moved into my first real NYC apartment on the Lower East Side, my penchant for secondhand home decor was more out of frugal necessity than it was a desired bohème aesthetic (I couldn’t believe how much wall art, mirrors, and any rug that wasn’t an unappealingly-hued bath mat could set you back.).

To decorate my blank white walls, I distinctly remember squirreling away my older sister’s art castoffs (panels of typographic wallpaper, graphic posters, and other prints) and sticking them in a gallery of white IKEA frames. Though not exactly antiques, I still liked knowing these pre-loved pieces had stories to tell (thrilling tales unfolding in someone else’s first apartment, perhaps?).

Disco ball (top right) inherited from big sister Carly. Spooky skull candle (at left) is a Halloween decoration. I’m wearing: Madewell sweater; Free People skirt; Gucci loafers (purchased secondhand on The Real Real).

While some of Carly’s pre-owned art still hangs on my walls to this day, I’ve diversified my collection of secondhand decor to include the castoffs of total strangers, too. (I’m a democratic collector, after all! You have to be, if you’ve been decorating and re-decorating NYC apartments for nearly ten years). The current one, pictured above, is in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

So, you want to know how to refresh your space with secondhand home decor? Planning a weekend antiquing trip, and don’t want to be overwhelmed by too many great choices? Just moved into a small space of your own, and keeping yourself on a tight budget? Please allow me to share three things I look for when scouting secondhand finds that pack a pretty punch.

1. Retro Magazines

While supremely luxe coffee-table books about designers, rock bands, and seaside retreats always have a place in my heart (and dedicated space at my table), I like to mix up my coffee-table canvas with retro magazines.

Not only can the cover art be absolutely exquisite (case-in-point below), but in the odd moments you find yourself actually leafing through one, they provide veritable troves of style inspiration. (They’re also just an amusing item to search for in the shelves of any antique store. The ads are as wild as the fashion editorials.)

Pick a decade that resonates with you (are you a ‘70s disco diva or a ‘90s goth girlie?), and keep that in mind when shopping.

This December 1967 Playboy magazine, found at a Kingston antique store in 2022, is the star of our living room stacks.

(Left, Right): Beneath the famed Playboy, eagle-eyed readers might spot the August 1990 edition of Vogue, a fabulous magazine find from my Aunt Chris. Both sit atop our combined record collection.

2. One-And-Done Serving Ware

Next up on my list of ‘refresh your space’ must-haves is retro serving ware. I’m specifically talking platters, plates, trays, and other one-and-done finds that don’t require you to hunt down 18 obscure pieces from 15 different sellers across the world.

You might use them as eye-catching display pieces on a kitchen shelf or living room bar cart, or this sort of dish might come out the next time you’re hosting a get-together (word to the wise: You can never have enough cute platters for cheese and crackers!).

A recent trip to visit my grandma upstate found my Aunt Chris and me exploring Early Owego Antique Center, where we came across the below mid-century cocktail tray. Six classic cocktails (and cocktail-inspired characters) were brought to life through whimsical illustrations with different garnishes around the edge. I also took home an ~understatedly funky (« free idea for a new decor aesthetic) Anchor Hocking plate dotted with little green blooms.

A mid-century cocktail tray leapt off the shelves and into my hand at the Early Owego Antique Center.

(Left, Right): The tray, sneakily purchased by my Aunt Chris in the middle of this same thrifting trip, now sits happily behind a six-glass cordial set (from Ryan's family) on the bar cart in Brooklyn.

(Left): I texted Ryan this pic of my second Owego antiquring find with no intention to later publish it on the Internet. (Center, Right): The cutie-pie plate now sits on our kitchen table.

3. Vintage Albums

Collecting vintage albums is certainly not a new hobby, particularly for anyone who delights in throwing them on the turntable to actually listen to them from time to time (cough, Ryan). But have you considered the wide expanse of decor options they can bring into your space, visually?

They’re an obvious conversation-starter for anyone with similar (or dissimilar, for that matter) music tastes as you, but beyond that, the artwork on albums is worth celebrating and framing and putting on your wall. I actually like to rotate mine out with the seasons. Below, we have an example of a verdant summer escape (Walt Disney’s The Enchanted Tiki Room — more on that find in the photo caption!), but you’ll likely find a vintage Christmas album hanging in its spot the day after Thanksgiving.

It’s a fun and unexpected way to bring even more festivity into your space, and if you love the music, even better.

(Top Left): In December 2023, Ryan fished this 1968 Disney soundtrack out of a St. Pete Bananas Records' bargain bin. (Top Right): The cover art finds new life, bringing a little tropical whimsy to the gallery wall in the summertime. (Bottom Left): I didn't purchase this pink Supremes album, but could easily see it brightening up someone's wall. (Bottom Right): One apartment ago, albums were my wall-art-of-choice. Still are.

More Special Finds From Early Owego Antique Center (That I Didn’t Take Home):

(Left, Right): This vintage sea shells book holds lots of wall decorating potential for a coastal style lover.

(Left): The pink-and-red color combo of the "Glass wax" kept drawing my eye in. (Right): The fire-engine red — and groovy get-ups, obviously — on this soup canteen were hard to miss. Both pieces strike me as fun additions to a space where you want to get creative juices flowing. A home office, perhaps?

(Left): Whenever I'm in a dive bar, my fave conversation starter is, "If you could take home any decor here, what would it be?" This place made it possible to fully outfit your home with neon beer signs, and I think that's beautiful. (Center, Right): Collector's cards are not exactly "affordable decor," but let's take a moment to appreciate the cool graphic designs.

If you’re a regular thrifter or antique hunter, do you have a tried-and-true strategy for shopping in person — perhaps your own list of go-to products to peruse? If so, please share them below! I’m so curious to hear how other people find the items they love having in their homes.

xx Elly