I think it goes without saying that I love thrifting! One of my most favourite things to do is to visit thrift stores/charity shops/second-hand stores - whatever you refer to them as. I also like to browse around yard/garage/car boot sales. And when I'm on my laptop you can bet your life I'm checking out eBay or Etsy! What can I say - I'm a 'preloved items' kind of girl! Fellow thrifters who talk about the 'thrill of the hunt' are so right - you never know what fabulous bargains you're going to find. You may enter the store with something specific in mind, but what you leave with - and how much - is anyone's guess!
But I find that whenever I go online or visit a store or sale, I always tend to gravitate towards the same category of items. When I go to my favourite thrift stores, I know exactly which aisles and which sections of the store I need to go to. If you're keen on thrifting and buying preloved goods, you might have your favourite things to purchase. Here's a list of mine!
1. BOOKS
I won’t lie - I’m a complete and utter bookaholic! And when it comes to vintage books, there’s no stopping me. My husband knows he has to steer me away from second-hand books shops, which are one of my happy places, or else I’ll never get out of there!
I get my love of books from my dad and from growing up in a house where we were surrounded by books. Digital books might be the in-thing now but just looking at an actual book makes me happy. And actually reading it is a fantastic form of escapism.
I think it might be easier to say which books I’m not into (sci-fi and fantasy) but my absolute faves are vintage cook books (I now have a collection that rivals my mum’s) craft books; language guides (I am a language teacher after all!) novels by certain authors and if there’s anything that I used to read during my childhood and teen years, it’s absolutely coming home with me (providing I pay for it first of course!)
2. UNUPHOLSTERED FURNITURE
First off, this English teacher isn't even sure if 'unupholstered' is even a word, but as I always tell my students that language is continuously evolving - it is now! There’s very much a theme in our house when it comes to the furniture. It’s mostly wooden and mostly vintage as many of the pieces that we have once took pride of place in my husband’s grandparents’ home so we feel very honoured to have them in our own home now. I’m sure at times like this, my husband is delighted to have a vintage-enthusiast for a wife (just not when we’re going past a thrift store!)
So if we find any pieces while we’re browsing the thrift store which we think would look very at home in our home, then it’s a good chance we’re purchasing it. A couple of the cabinets and the corner desk that my husband uses as part of his at-home work station are among some of our best finds - and an absolute steal!
By the way according to spellcheck, 'unupholstered' really isn't a word. Oh well!
3. POTTERY AND CHINA
I love tea and tea parties so this one’s pretty obvious! I go between pretty, dainty vintage china and more funky, retro designs with a sixties/seventies vibe. And for this Brit girl living in America, nothing makes me happier than to see items that have the ‘Made in England’ stamp on them. And I’m a huge fan of brands such as Hornsea, Johnson Brothers, Royal Albert etc. so when I find them, I go running up to the counter as fast as my little legs with carry me!
4. GLASSWARE
I think my love of glassware comes from the huge collection of wine glasses, glass dishes etc. that my mum used to own, and would always be on show in our living room cabinets. Unfortunately much of this collection has got lost over the years between moves to different houses or that my mum simply got rid off because she didn’t want them anymore which is a pity. But all this crystal and glassware reminds me of the dinner parties and gatherings we used to have when I was a child (which is clearly where I get my love of entertaining from) so aside from it looking pretty, I also collect them for sentimental reasons which is why, given the choice, I would much rather buy vintage glassware for it’s nostalgic charm rather than something more modern. But whereas my mum didn't really collect coloured glass items, I do because they look absolutely stunning!
5. VINTAGE TOYS AND GAMES
I don’t play with kids’ toys any more - I’m on the wrong side of ten for that! But I do like collecting the kind of toys and games that I used to play with as a child and also toys I badly wanted as a kid but never had. What can I say - it’s a nostalgia thing! Children’s toys aren’t necessarily something I actively go looking for but if I do stumble across something that brings out the nostalgiac in me, then I just have to buy it. My husband still has a lot of the Lego he played with as a child (not to mention the vast amounts he’s bought as a non-child!) and he has quite a few of his Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers collectibles at his parents' house.
6. HOUSEHOLD ACCESSORIES/KITCHENWARE/BAKEWARE
I'm always on the lookout for cool accessories, decor and other bits and pieces for our home especially the kitchen. The kitchen is one of my fave rooms in the house. Actually I think it might be my most favourite room in the house! And I work from my kitchen table as well so it’s probably the room I spend the most time in. Oh and it’s also the room everyone congregates in when we have a gathering. So I’m always looking for kitchen accessories, bakeware, cool new tools… anything that I think will complete my kitchen or benefit me as a dedicated home baker/cook. It doesn’t necessarily have to be vintage (although it’s a massive plus if it is!) but I’ve found that thrift shops are great places to find unique kitchenware and household bits and bobs that are still in great condition and in some cases, never been used.
7. TABLECLOTHS
I grew up in my parents’ soft furnishings business and I realized from a young age that things like doilies and chair-backs really weren’t for me - even though many people loved them! But I do like tablecloths for my kitchen or dining tables. I feel it makes the house feel more homely and of course it does a good job of protecting the table from everyday wear and tear. And for special occasions a well-dressed table is a must. You can find some gorgeous vintage tablecloths that are still in good condition at bargain prices.
8. VINTAGE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
Whenever it’s the festive season, my parents decorate their shop probably more than they decorate their house! Each year there's always a huge number of customers who walk in through the door hoping to purchase our Christmas decorations not realizing that it's part of our seasonal décor and not stock! They’re always disappointed and complain about the fact that Christmas decorations - especially of the cheap, non-tacky variety - aren’t so easy to come by. I’ve also noticed that these days, the variety and quality of decorations that are sold in regular stores aren't the same as it once was. But my best finds definitely come from thrift shops during the festive season. But then is it any surprise that this vintage-loving girl is a huge fan of vintage Christmas decorations? They always take me back to my childhood Christmases so I really wouldn’t want anything else.
9. CRAFT SUPPLIES
I’m craft-mad and love trying out new crafts. But there’s no denying that craft supplies can be quite expensive. While I understand why this is the case, buying a whole lot of supplies and then realizing that a certain craft is not for you can be quite costly. Not to mention you end up with a bunch of clutter in your home that you know isn't going to be used any time soon unless you can find someone to whom you can give them away! Buying craft supplies from a thrift store is a less expensive way to test the waters to see if you enjoy your new craft medium or not. And if you decide you do like it, you can always look out for more supplies at the thrift store and save a bundle!
10. ANYTHING MY FRIENDS ARE AFTER!
I don’t just look out for things for myself. There are many people I know - especially friends I've made in the vintage community as well as my mother-in-law - who have an interest in all things vintage so when I’m out and about thrifting and I see something I know they’ll absolutely love, I make sure I grab it for them.
Do you enjoy thrifting? What are your favourite kinds of purchases?
Photos: Wix; Unsplash, and Angel Noire
Blog graphics: Angel Noire
Fun list! You look for many of the same sorts of things Kyle and I do here at Moonbeam Cottage. 😉 Although, we are trying to be VERY selective when it comes to vintage books - lol! I’m hoping to go on a thrift adventure with a friend soon. Shops are somewhat few and far between here, so it usually means an all day affair, driving about the countryside and enjoying a lovely lunch at some interesting place. 😃 Cheers! Andrea