Thrifting Guide: How to Find the Best Home Decor at Thrift Stores

If you have ever wondered how to find the best stuff at the thrift stores, this post is for you! Below you will find my Ultimate Thrifting Guide: Tips and Tricks to Help You Find the Best High End Second-Hand Home Decor at the Thrift Stores.

built-in shelves styled with vintage thrift store decor on a budget — *Would you believe me if I told you almost every item on my built-ins came from the thrift stores?*

I have been thrifting home decor with my Mama for more years than I can count, and admittedly I consider myself a little bit of a thrifting connoisseur. Today I am sharing everything I have learned over the years as an avid thrifter so that you too can find the best home decor at your local thrift stores.

Thrifting Home Decor: How to Find the “Good Stuff” at Thrift Stores

thrift store ironstone — *Thrift Store Ironstone*. *Thrifted Ironstone is one of my favorite things to hunt for!*

Any time I share a good thrift store treasure on social media, I can’t even begin to tell you how many people reach out to tell me, “Wow, you must be so lucky! My thrift stores never have anything good,” or “How do you always find such good stuff at the thrift store?!”

Well, my friend, the good news is that I can assure you that most of it has nothing to do with luck or the particular area in which I live. After years of thrifting second-hand high-end home decor I can tell you that there is definitely a strategy when it comes to finding the best treasures at your local thrift stores.

This post lays out everything I have learned about finding high-end, second-hand home decor at your local thrift stores.

Ultimate Thrifting Guide: Tips and Tricks to Help You Find the Best Second-Hand Home Decor at the Thrift Stores

When To thrift

thrift store tureen — *I’m always on the hunt for ironstone tureens at the thrift store! I love using them to style shelves.*

Visit Thrift Stores Regularly and Often

If you only take away one thing from this article, this is arguably the most important! Thrifting can oftentimes be a numbers game. The more you visit the thrift store, the more likely you will be to find a treasure.

I think many people get discouraged after one fruitless thrifting trip. They decide to pop into a thrift store one time, don’t find anything worthwhile, and jump to the conclusion that their thrift stores aren’t any good. Wrong! I can’t even tell you how many times I walk out of the thrift store empty handed. (*Hint: it’s waaaay more times than I walk out with a treasure. But more on that below.)

The key to finding good stuff at the thrift store is to visit them frequently. They don’t have to be long, elaborate shopping trips. I’m talking about popping into the thrift store for a quick glance-over any chance you get.

I know which areas/departments I want to look at in the thrift store so I can zoom down the aisles and be on my way out in about five minutes.

When I was working full time outside of the home I would often make a quick run into the thrift store on my lunch break or on my way home from work. These days, my thrift store runs all happen in between school drop offs and pick ups!

The key takeaway? The more often you visit your local thrift stores, the more likely you are to find something great!

Learn the Prime Shopping Times at Your Local Thrift Stores

*Left: Thrift Store Frames. Right: The same frames on my shelves after a DIY intaglio project*

Learning the best times to shop your local thrift store is one of the most important thrifting tricks.

I will further break this down by the time of the day, the day of the week, and the time of the year.

This may sound a little crazy, but hear me out. Shopping at the wrong time may be one of the main reasons you aren’t finding anything great at the thrift store.

Time of Day

Generally speaking, the best time to shop at the thrift store is in the morning.

Why? Because second-hand sellers (people like antique booth owners and online re-sellers) like to hit up all of their favorite thrift stores first thing in the morning.

Here’s an example: Our local Goodwill opens at 9 AM. I drop my children off at school around 8:45, and frequently make it a point to swing into Goodwill on my way home. When I pull into the parking lot around 8:50, there is almost always a line formed at the front door of about 5-10 people waiting for doors to open. These buyers are looking for valuable objects for resale, and you will frequently see them with their buggies piled high of stuff! If you come in right after them they have likely already snatched up all the good, valuable finds.

*Of course this is only a general rule. Many stores continually restock throughout the day, so don’t think you can only shop in the morning. I never turn down a quick trip into the thrift store, no matter what time of day it is 🙂

Days of the week

Let’s just go ahead and get this non-negotiable rule out there: Don’t go on the weekends! The weekends are too busy and crowded, and the good inventory is always picked over.

Here’s a real life example: the other day I was running errands on a Saturday and decided to pop into one of our local thrift stores. I got so excited walking up to the furniture aisle because I immediately saw a handful of really great pieces of furniture. But once I got up close to them, guess what? They had “SOLD” stickers on each and every one of them!

restock days

Ask your local thrift store employee if they have a restock day. Some thrift stores restock on certain days, whereas larger chain thrift stores like Goodwill tend to restock continually throughout the day, everyday.

If your thrift store only restocks one day a week, that’s when you want to go! But be aware that many people are aware of the restock day and will want to go at that same time. Go early as there will likely be a line forming at the door that day.

Time of the year

thrift store Spode Christmas tureen — A Spode Christmas tureen in the Thrift Store

Pay attention to the times of the year that people are naturally purging, decluttering, and organizing.

This is usually around Christmastime (both before and after), the start of the new year, any changing of seasons, and Spring. Spring cleaning, anyone?!

discount Days

It’s always beneficial to know the discount days at your local thrift store. There are certain days the thrift store may run a discount for particular items/departments, and there are other days of the week they offer special discounts to different populations (i.e. Seniors, Military, and Students). The most popular of these is by far Senior Day.

Discount days can be a good thing or a bad thing. Discount days may give you an even bigger savings on a thrifted treasure, but some discount days (most notably “Senior Day”) tend to be more crowded.

get to know your local thirft stores

thrift store table with marble top — *Thrift store end tables and a framed bunny painting*

thrift store framed oil painting of bunnies — *Thrift store end tables and a framed bunny painting*

Know What Different Thrift Stores Do Best

Certain thrift stores have better sections and departments. You will quickly realize that certain thrift stores are notorious for different things.

I.e. one thrift store always has great furniture, but it never has anything else. One thrift store is known for having good household items, but never gets good furniture.

Develop a “Go-To” Thrift Store Route

Plan to hit several thrift stores in the same area if you can.

One of my favorite local thrift stores happens to be right across the street from a Goodwill. If I am going to go into one, I always make it a point to go into the other one as well.

Myth: Nicer Neighborhoods Have Better/Nicer Items

Not only have I found this to be untrue, I have actually found it to be generally the opposite. Some of this depends on what you are hunting for, but I always seem to find my best antique treasures in smaller towns.

Also of note, just because you drop your donations to a particular Goodwill doesn’t mean your donation will end up in that particular store. Goodwill is a large chain, so stores that receive more donations distribute their donations to other surrounding stores in order to help increase their inventory.

Learn to spot quality, valuable items at the THRIFT STORES

thrift store set of green ironstone — *A full set of green Colonial Homestead Ironstone in the thrift store*

Train Your Eye

There can be a learning curve when it comes to the world of thrifting. There is lots of junk to sift through, both visually and physically.

It can be overwhelming to walk in and see so much “junk” on the shelves. Over time your eye will be able to recognize a valuable treasure in the midst of all the junk.

I can spot a piece of ironstone from a mile away 🙂

Recognizing Value and Quality in a Thrift Store

There are normally tell-tale ways to recognize and distinguish a valuable antique.

Many antiques like ironstone and silver have distinctive markings, engravings, and/or numbers imprinted on the back. Valuable antique furniture usually has a signature label or stamp from the furniture maker, as well as construction indicators such as dovetail drawers and original hardware. They just don’t make ’em like they used to!

Utilize Google

If you are unsure, a quick Google search can tell you a lot about an item and what it is worth.

A quick google search (many people use the reverse image search) can reveal similar items on common re-sell sites such as eBay, Chairish, Etsy, and sometimes even Poshmark. What are people selling that item for online?

Pay Attention to What You See in Antique Stores, at Estate Sales, and on Online Resale Sites

*A collection of antique thrift store finds*

Spoiler alert: most of the high-priced antique stores you love to browse are stocked primarily from thrift stores, yard sales and estate sales. (See above re: sellers lining up at the thrift store door before they open.)

If it’s something you’re seeing in an antique store, it likely has value!

One day I came across the most beautiful French country settee and matching set of chairs for $150. It was so beautiful and I instantly fell in love. I didn’t have anywhere to put it at the time so I did not buy it. (I immediately regretted that decision, by the way).

The next week I saw the same exact settee and chairs that I found in Goodwill for sale in our local antique store.

Only this time the price was marked $1200.

Practice Makes Perfect in the Thrift Stores

Like anything, it takes time to train your eye to recognize high-quality items that have value and worth.

KNOW which thrift store departments to browse

thrift store frame department — *Thrift Store Departments*

thrift store lamp department — *Thrift Store Departments*

When I visit a thrift store, I’m a woman on a mission. More often than not I may have five or ten minutes at most (usually trying to run in between school drop off or pick up!) so I want to get in and get out.

Knowing which departments to browse will save you time and increase the likelihood you find a hidden treasure.

For example, when I run into my local Goodwill, I head straight to the back of the store where the furniture and household goods are located.

I skim the furniture, picture frames, household and kitchen, holiday, baskets, lamps, plates and book aisles in about 5 minutes and then be on my way.

Remember how we just talked about training the eye? This will allow you to breeze down all of the aisles quickly and efficiently!

when in doubt, put it in the buggy

thrift store buggy full of furniture and a frame — *A buggy full in the thrift store! Don’t worry, I didn’t buy it all 😉*

thrift store buggy full of ironstone tureens — *A buggy full in the thrift store! Don’t worry, I didn’t buy it all 😉*

If You’re Unsure on Something at a Thrift Store

Scenario: You’re at a thrift store and you find something that is a “maybe.”

Put it in your buggy.

Even if you’re unsure, put it in your buggy! Just do it.

You can always change your mind.

Continue shopping and you can decide if you truly want to buy it or not before you leave.

There is a well-known thrifting phenomenon prevalent in the thrift stores: An item in someone else’s buggy is exponentially more appealing than when it’s sitting on the shelf.

Just take my word for it. I’ve seen woman get in arguments. Customers have followed me around the store to see if I take that one item out of my buggy before I leave (and I have seen it done to other people too!). I had a man get mad at me for taking a framed oil painting he was eyeing. You get the point!

The takeaway? Grab the tag, put it in your buggy. Thrifting vultures will steal from you!

what to bring to the THRIFT STORES

*I love looking for vintage children’s books at the thrift store!*

Hand Sanitizer

Thrifting home decor is a hands on adventure and there is a lot of junk to sift through – both visually and physically.

Your hands will open furniture drawers, sort through picture frames, unstacking piles of plates, move items to get to something at the back of the shelf, open books to look at their spines, etc.

A List

Keep a running list on your phone: Include specific items you may be looking for, as well as specific dimensions you need to fill a particular space at home.

Your Phone

Keep your phone close by to refer to your list, but also to access Google when you are unsure about the worth of value or an item.

A Tape Measure

That beautiful piece of antique furniture isn’t going to be of much value to you if it doesn’t fit in your space.

I always keep a tape measure in my purse for measuring furniture and home decor in the thrift stores. Measuring items ensures they will fit your space.

donate something every time you go to the thrift stores

*More thrift store finds from left to right: A lampshade, a gold frame, and a pair of brass candle sconces*

One In, One Out!

I’m constantly decluttering and purging. If you’re frequenting the thrift stores anyway, make it a habit to start donating something every time you go.

Embrace the Adventure of thrifting!

Be Okay Leaving Empty Handed

And lastly, thrifting is all about the adventure!

Embrace the excitement of not knowing what you may find, and don’t get discouraged on the thrifting trips when you leave empty handed.

Those empty-handed trips are worth it when you find that one amazing treasure! I enjoy the thrill of the chase, but I have also found some extremely beautiful, high-end finds that you now see throughout my home.