I’ve been thrifting seriously for more than 20 years. I’ve sold pieces to celebrities, furnished entire rooms secondhand, and built a career around knowing what’s worth bringing home.
At this point, I’ve got thrifting down to a science. I don’t wander so much as I scan, looking for specific categories that consistently add weight, character, and long-term value to a room. And you’ll notice that I am drawn largely to shape, material and function because everything on this list has a job to do — even if it’s just making your walls more pretty.
Below are the seven things I almost always buy when I see them, regardless of trend cycles.
This post is free for everyone, but I share much more detailed sourcing strategies, trend breakdowns, and real-world examples for paid subscribers — including deep dives on how I train my Facebook Marketplace algorithm, how to thrift the look of big-name designers, and exact search terms I use when sourcing online.
Pedestals
Why I like them:
Pedestals create hierarchy. Put almost anything on one — a bowl, a plant, a weird sculpture — and suddenly, it looks intentional!
What to look for:
Plaster, stone, concrete, or painted wood. Chips and cracks are fine, just try to avoid anything overly ornate or flimsy.
What I pay:
$20–$100 depending on size and material. Stone skews higher; painted wood is often a steal.
Weird Figural Objects
Hands. Faces. Fruit. Feet. The stranger, the better, I say!
Why I like them:
They add point of view. Most people are scared of them, which keeps prices low.
What to look for:
Weight. Good proportions. Neutral finishes (white, plaster, bronze, stone). Avoid novelty gift-shop energy.
What I pay:
$5–$40. I rarely spend more unless it’s truly special.
Sculptural Mirrors
Not builder-grade rectangles, but mirrors with shape and interesting details!
Why I like them:
They allow you to document your OOTDs. They add light to a space. And a sculptural frame around a mirror can function like art.
What to look for:
Interesting silhouettes, wood, brass, carved frames. Check the back to make sure it’s secure.
What I pay:
$25–$150 depending on scale. Large ones are often underpriced because they’re annoying to move.
Vintage Hotel or Restaurant Ashtrays or Plates
The heavier the better.
Why I like them:
They’re graphic. They’re nostalgic. And they’re incredibly versatile — stash them on entry tables, bars, bedside tables as a way to house hair ties, remote controls, keys, etc.
What to look for:
True hotel branding (not reproduction although the one in the middle above is a reproduction and it’s pretty good). Ceramic with weight. Clean typography. Avoid touristy souvenir styles (anything in a language other than English is typically a good bet!)
What I pay:
$3–$25.
Oversized Abstract Paintings
Why I like them:
Scale changes everything. A large abstract painting adds visual weight instantly and feels far more expensive than it usually is.
What to look for:
Visible brushstrokes. Real canvas. Wood stretcher bars. I don’t care if it’s signed — I care if it has presence.
What I pay:
$30–$200 depending on size. I’ve paid less than $10 for pieces that look gallery-worthy.
Well-Done Portraits
Moody oil portraits, not mass-produced prints. As I joke in my book, “Not my grandpa? Not my problem.” Just tell people it’s a long-lost relative. No one will know.
Why I like them:
They add tension to a room. A single face on a wall makes everything around it feel layered and considered.
What to look for:
Expressive eyes. Depth. Real paint texture. Avoid flat, overly sweet reproductions.
What I pay:
$15–$75.
Stone or Alabaster Objects
Ashtrays, bowls, small sculptures, bookends.
Why I like them:
They’re heavy, which almost always signals value. And nothing makes a space feel more expensive than real stone.
What to look for:
Cold to the touch. Visible veining. Solid weight. Avoid resin made to look like marble.
What I pay:
$5–$60 depending on scale.
If I walk into a thrift store and see even one of these categories represented well, I know I won’t leave empty-handed!
And if you start training your eye to scan for these instead of random décor, your house will start to look less “thrifted” and more curated.
I was thrilled when Olaplex sent me this three-minute hair repair treatment because it literally takes three minutes and your hair is so shiny and smooth after. I use it pre-shampoo on wet hair (just apply it to my hair and wash my body while it sets in). I’ve been using it for over a month and my hair is far less prone to breakage as a result. It’s also just $34!*
Add this 1950s Hermes suitcase to my “Things I Hope to Find Hiding in an Attic at an Estate Sale” list. Oh my.
I also can’t stop thinking about this vintage iguana-shaped bottle opener that looks so similar to the Gucci articulated fish I got last year.
This under-$30 candle holder is absolutely genius, as it makes even drugstore candles look chic. It also looks vintage, if you’re into that kinda thing ;) And would make such a good gift.
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When are we going to Mexico City? :)
Ugh i can’t wait to get my own space to use these tips