Thrifting Tips for Successful Shopping

I’ve been sourcing a lot of secondhand this summer — refreshing guest rooms, updating hardware, layering in art and objects with more soul than anything new could offer.

Thrifting isn’t just about saving money. It’s about sourcing with intention.

Over time, I’ve developed patterns — aisles I always check, items I never skip, and boundaries that keep my home from becoming a storage unit for “projects someday.”

If you love the idea of decorating sustainably — but don’t want to fill your cart with things you’ll regret — these thrifting tips will help you shop like a designer.

5 Thrifting Tips That Actually Work

1 | Go With a Plan

Walk in knowing what you’re looking for — even loosely.

When you have a direction (guest room refresh, new art for entry, neutral ceramics), your eye sharpens. Random clutter becomes filtered background noise.

A plan doesn’t limit creativity.
It focuses it.

2 | Set a Budget — and Respect It

Thrifting can trick you into buying things simply because they’re inexpensive.

Before you walk in, decide:

• How much you’re willing to spend
• Whether this item truly supports your home

A great price does not equal a great purchase.

3 | Identify the “Good Stores”

Not all thrift stores are equal.

Some rotate inventory faster.
A few receive better donations.
Others price realistically.

Do reconnaissance. Learn which stores consistently align with your taste.

Strategic thrifting is about pattern recognition.

4 | Get the Timing Right

Best times to shop:

• Time of Day: Mornings or Late Afternoons
• Day of week: Weekdays are less crowded.
  • First Saturdays or whenever stores are having sales arrive early.
• Time of year: Think about when you purge.
  • Late January (New Year purges)
  • Spring garage-sale season
  • Back-to-school resets

And yes — sometimes the random Wednesday pull is real. Follow it.

5 | Think in Materials, Not Objects

This is the most important of all thrifting tips.

Don’t ask:
“Do I like this?”

Ask:
“What is this made of?”
“What could this become?”

Look for:

• Solid wood
• Brass
• Marble
• Stoneware
• Glass
• Linen

Shape and material matter more than current finish.

But — and this is critical —

5.1 Know Your DIY Limits

If you won’t realistically transform it, don’t buy it.

Good intentions do not equal finished projects.

Thrifting Tips Bonus Section: What I Always Browse

Aisles I Never Skip

Books

Books bring instant depth and soul to a room.
I shop by color and subject matter — not just for aesthetics, but for authenticity. Consider an upcycled book project, like my tutorial with paint and transfers.

Pottery & Planters

Neutral ceramics. Unique shapes.
Many can be refreshed with paint or styling alone.

Brass & Silver

Candlesticks. Trays. Animal figurines.

Polish transforms nearly everything.
Patina is optional — not permanent.

Wood

Bowls, vessels, carved trays.

One of my favorite finds?
An Anthropologie wooden bowl priced $118 originally — $2.99 at Goodwill.

Solid wood almost always earns a second look.

Glass

Cut crystal. Sculptural bowls. High-end brands that quietly made their way to Goodwill.

Glass ages beautifully — and often costs pennies secondhand.

Art & Frames

Frames are thrifting gold.

Even tacky art often hides:

• A usable canvas
• A quality frame

And occasionally, you’ll find original art worth reframing entirely. Another option: customize random frames into a collection of vintage gilded frames (perfect for a gallery wall) with my detailed tutorial.

Thrifting well is less about luck — and more about discernment.

When you shop with intention, secondhand becomes not just budget-friendly, but design-forward.

If you love interior design with soul, you’ll love the Modern Heritage aesthetic philosophy.