I always get a thrill from decorating with secondhand finds. To me, there’s nothing better than giving a beautiful pre-loved piece a new lease on life. Not only is doing so sustainable, but it's also allowed me—even when I've been on the tightest of budgets—to outfit my space with furniture and decor that is different (and in my opinion, much better quality than) the same big-box store items you'll find sitting in everyone else's apartments.
I'd estimate that 90 percent of the furniture and decor in my New York City apartment bedroom is secondhand, if you can believe it. That said, I've worked hard to ensure that my space appears collected and current. The last thing I want is for my home to look like an antique store or thrift shop, where all types of different items are cobbled together in a haphazard manner. Below, I'm sharing my top tips for weaving chic pre-loved finds into a bedroom.
Don't Underestimate Good Bones
Even if a piece of furniture doesn't speak to you fabric-wise, don't leave it behind if it has great bones otherwise. While browsing Facebook Marketplace over the summer, I was immediately drawn to the curved arms on the accent chair shown in my space above. I just wasn't wild about its existing yellowish green upholstery. However, thanks to my reupholsterer, I was able to turn a so-so chair into the grandmillennial perch of my dreams with some floral fabric I'd scooped up at the Paris flea market. It was worth the effort, because I’ll cherish it for years to come.
Never Pass up Smalls
While it's tempting to immediately gravitate toward the larger pieces of furniture for sale at a secondhand shop, don't forget overlook smaller accessories as well—think decorative trays, patterned vases, and even books. On the hanging wooden shelf in my bedroom, I've displayed a number of petite pieces that have caught my eye over the years—some of them cost me just a few dollars! While these may not seem like much on their own, they all come together nicely due to their unified color story when displayed as a group.
Move Past Pairs
While pairs of anything look great—lamps, candlesticks, bookends, you name it—it's often difficult to find a set of two when secondhand shopping. I've become comfortable with scooping up a single item if I love it and displaying it on its own, as I've done with both a small lamp and a marbleized candlestick in my bedroom. The truth is that if you like something enough, you'll always be able to find a way to style it in your home.
Stick to a Color Theme
Speaking of the concept of a color story, it's important to maintain some cohesion when decorating with secondhand finds. You don’t want your place to end up looking like a chaotic thrift store aisle. Since my favorite color has always been blue, I largely stuck with that hue when decorating my bedroom, while also bringing in many different gold accents, too. Of course, you should still feel free to vary shapes, textures, and the like—that kind of visual interest is essential in achieving a well-designed space.
Collect Items Over Time
You can't expect to decorate an entire space following a singular flea market or antique store visit. Rather, you should aim to accumulate individual items over time. That's how you achieve a rich, collected look and ensure that the pieces you're bringing into your space are items you truly love. You don’t want to just grab items to fill an empty space. It's taken me years to source all of the pieces shown in my space today, and from a design perspective as well as a budgeting one, that's probably for the best!
Sarah Lyon is a New York City-based freelancer who produces interior design, travel and lifestyle content. Her work is featured in outlets including Apartment Therapy, Architectural Digest, MyDomaine, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Country Living. Plus, her personal spaces have appeared on Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, Houzz and more.
