A No-Stress Guide to Thrifting Home Decor

Each week, interior designer, artist, and self-proclaimed color obsessive Lu Loveless shares a peek into her design process—whether it’s a smart trick she swears by or a favorite resource from her personal folder. This week, she’s breaking down the art of thrifting home decor.

If you’ve ever stepped into a thrift store and immediately felt a tinge of panic set in, you’re not alone. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by rows of random furniture, dusty lampshades, and towers of corporate coffee mugs. In theory, thrifting for your home should be exciting and adventurous, but oftentimes it just leaves you feeling unsure and disappointed. Ever since I moved into my first apartment (some 20-odd years ago) I’ve relied on thrift stores, flea markets, and garage sales to make my house feel like a home. Along the way, I’ve developed a system for making the process easier. With the right mindset and a few tricks, it becomes way less overwhelming and way more fun.

Here’s my quick guide to thrifting for your home.

Go In Without Expectations

The best thrift trips happen when you keep an open mind. If you walk in hunting for the perfect lamp or a specific piece of furniture, you’ll probably leave frustrated. Shift your mindset to discovery instead of expectation and you’ll notice things you might have otherwise overlooked. If you happen to find the perfect walnut buffet for your dining room—bonus!

Keep a Running List

I always keep a “house list” in my Notes app (you could use a small notebook if that feels more you). I have a list of things I actually need, and for furniture, I include exact dimensions so I don’t end up with something too big or too small. Get yourself a small, pocket-sized measuring tape and bring it with you when you thrift (or keep one in your car in case you forget to grab it before you head out). I’ll also add any design ideas or gaps I’m trying to fill to my list. Having that list gives me laser focus when the store feels chaotic.

Create A Mood Board

I like to create a mood board just for my home where I save ideas for all sorts of things like kitchenware, furniture, textiles, artwork, etc. When I’m out thrifting, I’ll pull it up as a quick guide and do a gut check for anything I’m considering: does this piece fit the vibe I’m building, or am I just getting distracted by a “good deal” that doesn’t really work? The mood board is my north star and you can use it like a compass when purchasing items for your home.

Look for Quality Materials & Good Bones

Ignore the dingy finish or ugly upholstery for a moment and focus on the bones. Solid wood, metal, glass, or ceramic? Worth considering. A sofa with a killer silhouette but bad fabric? That’s a reupholstery project waiting to happen. Surface treatments are the easiest thing to change—paint, fabric, and hardware can all be swapped. What you can’t change is the structure and integrity of a piece. I usually stay away from anything made with particle board or plastic. I’ll always consider something that appears to be handmade or hand-carved. And be sure to look for some kind of maker's mark on an item to get more insight into the story behind a piece.

Ask “What Else Could This Be?”

This is where the magic happens. Could a funky picture frame become a tray where you display your beloved owl collection? Could that woven basket become a lamp shade? A simple ceramic cup can hold your toothbrush and toothpaste. You get the idea. When you start imagining alternative uses for things, the thrift store turns into an idea factory. If you can’t find the exact piece you’re looking for, consider alternatives that could pull off the same function (and maybe even with more character).

Trust Your Instincts

Some of my favorite pieces were ones I grabbed without a fully formed plan, just because they sparked something. If it excites you and fits your home’s vibe, it’s worth a shot.

The Bottom Line

Thrifting doesn’t have to be overwhelming if you go in with a plan. With a running list, a mood board, and an open mind, the chaos turns into opportunity. 

With love,

Lu