It’s no secret. We love vintage. There is something about incorporating old items into a space that make it feel cozy, layered and unique. But how do you know what is a good score and what is better suited for the rubbish bin? We have nailed down a few tips on what to look for when you are thrift shopping.
HOW TO SCORE GREAT VINTAGE PIECES
1. DO YOUR RESEARCH. A huge part of scoring great finds is knowing what to look for. If you are eager enough to hunt for treasures make sure you put in some time researching before you head out. Thumb through magazines, instagram, design blogs and pinterest and note what designs and styles you are interested in. Some current trends are rattan, baskets, brass and mid-century style furniture. Head into the shop with specific styles or materials in mind and focus on finding items with those materials first.
2. THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. We are often conditioned to go to specific sections to look for things within that category. Try to push yourself to think outside the box. Some great finds can be found outside the housewares section, or used in ways that were not their original intention. Think of vintage wooden kitchen wares as decor, ladders for storage and display or rattan baskets or boxes for a planter or wall decor.
Gravitate towards things that are in the style and material that you like and then push yourself to think about different ways to use or display them.
3. LOOK FOR LINES. You want the bones of the piece to be great. Look at the overall shape or structure of an item. Does it fit the style or aesthetic you are going for? The structure,size or shape of something are more difficult to change.
Be sure you love the overall style of it— finishes, colors and materials can be changed down the line.
4. LOOK BEYOND WHAT YOU SEE (AND SMELL). Try to look beyond the current condition of the material of something (remember focus first on the lines, quality of the piece and the overall style).
Sometimes vintage means a long hard-lived life.
But if the style and structure of the piece are good the finish can always be changed. If you are considering an upholstered piece try to investigate how it was put together. Items like dining chairs or bar stools are easier to recover DIY-style. If you are looking at an arm-chair or sofa you are likely going to need to bring in a pro to refinish it. Consider that this could cost upwards of $300 bucks + material. Circle back to point 3– if you don’t love the style, or the piece looks to be crumbling– it’s probably not worth the investment.
What do you think? Are you a vintage lover or are you all for NEW NEW NEW? Happy Hunting!
Sincerely,
Allison
MY SHORT BIO.
Founded in 2012 by Allison Harlow, Curio Design Studio focuses on creating distinctive interior environments for new construction, whole house renovations and kitchen + bath remodels for modern families and leading professionals.
