The goal when I go out thrifting isn’t to fill my home, but to give it a point of view. And it helps if the POV is a little weird, ya know?
And if you want a home that feels like a professional interior designer decorated it, you really should learn how to thrift the weird stuff.
By weird, I don’t mean kitsch or ironic or novelty for novelty’s sake. I mean sculptural, offbeat, even slightly disorienting — the kind of thing that makes you pause or maybe even go, “hmmm, what was this person thinking when they made this?”
Which is the same kind of question I ask myself in museums when I look at works of art! I want my home to feel kind of like a museum experience — with different points of view represented throughout.
If you’re new here (and many of you are, welcome!) this is how I think about secondhand design — not as a hunt for deals, but as a hunt for objects with presence.
So here’s how I do it.
A Lot of People Thrift for Harmony. I Say: Thrift for Tension.
Harmony is easy. It’s found in symmetrical pairs and things that look like they could have been purchased yesterday (and all from the same store). Staged homes (think the ones in Zillow listings) are harmonious but often pretty soulless. They look like nobody lives there because usually nobody does!
Tension is more difficult to nail down but I think the end result feels so much considered.
The best way to achieve tension in a room, in my view, is in sculptural pieces that introduce line, shadow, and weight to a space. Too much symmetry feels flat to me. I like to introduce some chaos or add a piece that asserts itself!
Sculptural Objects Age Better Than Trends
Truly sculptural pieces don’t date quickly, because they were never trying to fit in in the first place. In that way, they outlast trends.
A curved, heavy marble bowl, for instance, will outlast three cycles of trendy catchall trays. A hand-carved wood object with exaggerated proportions will still feel interesting long after boucle fatigue sets in.
When I say sculptural, I don’t mean abstract in theory. I mean things like:
An oversized painting that introduces size and scale to a room (huge paintings feel “weird” but look so good in a home, even if it’s taking up most of the wall)
A terracotta cast of a hand or foot that feels too anatomical to be cute
A bronze torso sculpture without a head.
A lacquered table in a bright or pastel color (aubergine, high-gloss red, powder blue)
A ceramic vessel that looks vaguely like it came from a dig site (or like a kid made it)
A lamp that is more base than shade
These are the kinds of pieces most people walk past because they don’t immediately “match” anything.
When you’re training your eye, it helps to look at pieces outside the thrift store, too. Museums, auction houses, even contemporary design marketplaces can sharpen your sense of proportion and form.
Here are a few sculptural silhouettes I find myself gravitating to:
The Difference Between Weird and Wrong
Not all strange things are good.
Here’s the filter I use when I’m looking at individual objects in a thrift store/antique mall/boutique:
Is the material strong? (think stone, solid wood, ceramic with weight)
Is the silhouette intentional? It doesn’t have to be perfect, but should feel purposeful.
Would this object still feel interesting if it weren’t “vintage”?
Does it look like someone designed it — or that a factory produced it?
Does it feel like it could live in a gallery, not just a thrift store aisle?
Does it feel a little … risky?
If you like this kind of thinking — the deeper framework behind what I buy and how I style it — that’s what I write about here every week. Paid subscribers get access to archives, sourcing breakdowns, and advanced guides.
ODDS & ENDS
I’ve updated my list of faves on ShopMy. Trying to get better about sharing the things I use and love and am eyeing!
I got asked a lot of questions about my Valentine’s Day outfit. The top is Dion Lee (a brand that sadly went out of operation some time ago — but check The RealReal). Here’s the exact top on eBay. The pants are Dark Park and also a few years old (very pricey brand but they make the best weird pants and I have worn mine HUNDREDS of times). The exact pants are on TheRealReal right now.
Something I am obsessed with lately is No Makeup Makeup. The brand gifted me some items a few months ago and I am blown away by both the cream foundation (it literally makes your skin look airbrushed and comes in a compact so it is excellent for travel) and the blush (I never really cared about blush but this formula is all I use now. It’s super buildable so you can use as little or as much as you want). Both of the products really do look like you’re not wearing a lot of makeup yet they cover everything. Very impressed.
stunning images, love all the interiors!
The weird is where I live! 🤘 I love this: “A ceramic vessel that looks vaguely like it came from a dig site (or like a kid made it)”— I’m not usually a ceramics fan but I have a handmade terra cotta pig that I bought in 1988 that I still love and have in my decor. I also have a cheap ceramic vase that was a wedding gift from my aunt to my mom (1965). And I have a jack (as in the game of jacks) that is made from cast iron—we use it as a door stop—that I bought in the late 80s. They’re quirky and me!
Thanks for making me realize I’m already doing this, Virginia, hooray! 💕