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Vintage

Top 7 Thrift Shopping Tips

September 26, 2017

It wasn’t until recently that I started shopping thrift stores. The smell kinda skeezed me out, and more often than not, they are full of discarded junk that no one wants. Broke vases, mismatched glasses, holiday decor, old pots and pans, 100s of vases you get from the floral shop, fake Coach purses…shelf after shelf after shelf of downright garbage, right? WRONG!

Best Thrift Store Shopping Tips

You’ve read my estate sale post and online estate sale shopping post…so how do you find the diamond in the rough when thrifting? The hidden gems?

Table of Contents

  • My Top 7 Thrift Shopping Tips
    • Thrift Shopping Tip 1 — Shop With An Open Mind
    • Thrift Shopping Tip 2 — Multiple Passes
    • Thrift Shopping Tip 3 — The Restock
    • Thrift Shopping Tip 4 — Make Friends
    • Thrift Shopping Tip 5 — Repurpose / Think Outside The Box
    • Thrift Shopping Tip 6 — Go Often. Go Early
    • Thrift Shopping Tip 7 — Bring The Essentials
    • What To Bring Thrift Shopping
    • Get More Thrifting and Vintage Shopping Tips

My Top 7 Thrift Shopping Tips

Thrift Shopping Tip 1 — Shop With An Open Mind

If you walk into a thrift shop looking for something in particular, you’ll come out empty-handed every single time. Walk-in with a very basic plan. When I’m thrift store shopping, I grab a cart and walk past the clothes, past the purses, past the toys, and head straight for home decor. I’m there for one reason, and one reason only…home decor. If your jam is t-shirts, stay in the clothing aisle. If something catches my eye, I pop it into my cart. You can always reevaluate before checking out.

Thrift Shopping Tip 2 — Multiple Passes

Be sure to walk the aisles multiple times. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve missed something amazing. So now I walk through not once, not twice, but three times a lady. Scan the shelves top to bottom. Look way in the back, and get low. Look all the way to the bottom. If you can’t see, move items in the front out of your way. Don’t be shy, just dig in.

Thrift Shopping Tip 3 — The Restock

Watch for employees restocking. You’ll see them with big rolling bins or carts loaded up with new treasures. Don’t be afraid of walking over and asking if you can take a peek. Most will let you. Be respectful though. You don’t want to act like a raccoon digging through the garbage bin looking for a midnight snack…although that will be exactly what will go through your mind.

Thrift Shopping Tip 4 — Make Friends

The employees know what’s in the back stock room. If you’re peeking through a restocking bin, chat up the employees and tell them what you like. They might give you a hint or two on what to stick around for.

Best Thrift Store Shopping Tips

Thrift Shopping Tip 5 — Repurpose / Think Outside The Box

Now that you are shopping with an open mind, and you’re chasing the stock boy in a non-stalkeresque way, think of what you can repurpose. The will be a heaping pile of bad art. pick through it all but pay close attention to the frames. Bad art can be a gold mine for antique gilded frames. A vintage teacup saucer can make for a whimsical soap dish. Mismatched glasses can be beautiful! I mean look at those pink beauties up there.

Thrift Shopping Tip 6 — Go Often. Go Early

I like to go thrift store shopping a couple of hours after they open. It gives the employees time to restock from the previous day. By the end of the day, the shelves have been pretty much picked over.

Why go often? Every day they receive new donations. That means new merchandise on the shelves. Plus the more often you go, the faster you’ll be walking the aisles. Yes, there will be the same 147 glasses vases on the same shelf day in and day out. Get to know those 147 glasses vases well because when a beautiful piece of Murano is stocked, it’ll jump right out and bite you.

Thrift Shopping Tip 7 — Bring The Essentials

What To Bring Thrift Shopping

  1. Tape Measure — even if you find a piece you know you’re going to sell, bring a tape measure. More often than not, a thrift store purchase is final. You do not want to buy a dresser only to find out it doesn’t fit in your car.
  2. Flashlight — You will be looking in bins and kneeling on the floor. It’s much easier when you have a little extra light on hand.
  3. Hand Sanitizer — I can’t tell you how many times I’ve picked something up at a thrift store and it’s sticky. Even the thought of this gives me the heebie jeebiez. Always, always, always have hand sanitizer on you.
  4. Printer’s Loupe — This is a new one for me. I got burned on a piece of art that I would have sworn up and down was an original charcoal drawing. It wasn’t. When looking at artwork under a loupe, you will clearly see a dot pattern if it is a print. Because the employees at a thrift shop are not experts in art, a loupe can be very helpful if you’re trying to determine if what you’re looking at is a serigraph, lithograph, or an original piece.
  5. Lightbulb — For obvious reasons, you shouldn’t be walking around with a lightbulb in your purse or pocket, but bringing one with you to the thrift store can be helpful if you’re looking at lamps. You don’t want to haul a lamp home only to find out it needs to be rewired…although rewiring isn’t too difficult.
  6. Smart Phone — If you find a piece that is marked or signed, but unsure of the maker or artist, Google it. You’ll immediately know its worth and quality.

Are you already a thrift store shopping expert? I’d love to know your best tip. Any tips you’d like to add? I’d love to know!

Get More Thrifting and Vintage Shopping Tips

How To Start A Collection

Vintage Barware For A Modern Bar Cart

Favorite Vintage Decor

Ultimate Guide To Vintage Shopping In Chicago

Vintage Scores – Hallway Decor

Office Makeover With Vintage Finds

80s Modern Home Decor – A Home Tour

TAGS:estate salesThrift Store
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Kyla Herbes

Kyla Herbes is an interior designer and home decor content creator based in Chicago. She shares daily doses of home decor, corners of her home, interior styling tips, and will inspire you to do it yourself. House Of Hipsters won Best Written Blog from the Amara Interior Blogger Awards and her home has been featured in Architectural Digest, Apartment Therapy, House Beautiful, HGTV, The Huffington Post, Refinery29, Rue Magazine, and Style Me Pretty Living. Kyla has also made appearances on BravoTV and WGN TV and was named a Better Homes and Gardens Style Maker 3 years in a row. Kyla sits on the Design Influencers Board Of Directors and was hired by TikTok to become a Creative Learning Partner. When she isn’t blogging or speaking about social media, you’ll find her scouring flea markets for vintage treasures or pushing furniture around her home.

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  • blank
    Mary
    September 26, 2017

    Great tips, Kyla!

    Reply
  • blank
    Miranda
    September 26, 2017

    I love these tips! I never thought to bring a Loupe! Hand sanitizer, most definitely

    Reply
  • blank
    Sara jane
    September 26, 2017

    Another tip: bend down. Yes, bend down. Most people peruse the shelves at eye level. I’ve found gems that others missed because they were in the back on a bottom shelf. So bend and move things to get to the back. One amazing find is worth all the bending.

    Reply
  • blank
    JJ
    September 26, 2017

    This has happened to me before, but it happened again just a few days ago in a thrift store. I was looking at a jacket (this lesson easily applies to anything you are shopping for-hard goods, decor..) it set off that bit of spark, you know the one, where you’re studying it, you think ‘this has something to it’, ‘I like it’. Well I left it there & thought ‘I can come back to it’. In the meantime, I saw a guy watching me look at that jacket. We made eye contact even. I knew he saw that I saw something in that piece. But I didn’t ‘listen’. After shopping some more, I went back. Guess what? It was gone. Of course it was! Listen to your gut. If you’re on the fence put it in your cart anyway. Carry it around. You can always put it back. Google it. Think on it. Look at in different light in another part of the store. All it takes is for one other person to be in the store!

    Reply
  • blank
    Kelly Mahan
    October 2, 2017

    Thanks for the tips, they’re really useful! #6 is one that I’ll sure be following!

    Reply
  • blank
    mandala tapestry
    November 7, 2017

    Great tips! love it..

    Reply

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I started decorating Zozo’s bedroom but never finished. Since, she’s decided she no longer likes pink. “Mom, can I get a blue bed?” @jcpenney helped me find a comprise that was not only blue but also affordable and very much this little lady’s bohemian’s style. The bedding and pillows are all from the new Distant Lands Collection. She’s obsessed with the tiger print pillow and the tassels. Side note, she is not a top sheet gal which I’ve been hearing more and more people talk about this. Do you sleep with a top sheet or no? Inquiring minds what to know. SPONSORED
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I started decorating Zozo’s bedroom but never finished. Since, she’s decided she no longer likes pink. “Mom, can I get a blue bed?” @jcpenney helped me find a comprise that was not only blue but also affordable and very much this little lady’s bohemian’s style. The bedding and pillows are all from the new Distant Lands Collection. She’s obsessed with the tiger print pillow and the tassels. Side note, she is not a top sheet gal which I’ve been hearing more and more people talk about this. Do you sleep with a top sheet or no? Inquiring minds what to know. SPONSORED
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SWIPE 👆🏻 Finally loving the living room again. Although I’m still missing the built ins. I shopped the @serenaandlily sale for that tray and blanket - there’s a whole round up of favorites over on HouseOfHipsters.com - and I love how the blanket balances out the green chair and the tray softens the black coffee table. What do you think of the new look? #liketkit #LTKhome #LTKsalealert @shop.ltk https://liketk.it/3G7VE
SWIPE 👆🏻 Finally loving the living room again. Although I’m still missing the built ins. I shopped the @serenaandlily sale for that tray and blanket - there’s a whole round up of favorites over on HouseOfHipsters.com - and I love how the blanket balances out the green chair and the tray softens the black coffee table. What do you think of the new look? #liketkit #LTKhome #LTKsalealert @shop.ltk https://liketk.it/3G7VE
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SWIPE 👆🏻 Finally loving the living room again. Although I’m still missing the built ins. I shopped the @serenaandlily sale for that tray and blanket - there’s a whole round up of favorites over on HouseOfHipsters.com - and I love how the blanket balances out the green chair and the tray softens the black coffee table. What do you think of the new look? #liketkit #LTKhome #LTKsalealert @shop.ltk https://liketk.it/3G7VE
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(AD) SWIPE FOR ROOM REFRESH 👉🏻 If you’ve been watching Stories that you know I’ve been working hard on this room and I gotta give a shoutout to @JaipurLiving for the new rug in their #KLwithJaipurLiving collection. This is Davina from their new collection with Kate Lester @klinteriors and it really brightened up the entire space. Although they recently showed this one with Harman layered over the top and it’s absolutely dreamy. If you haven’t seen the full collection, head over to their profile and check it out or tap the link below to shop the collection on @rugs_direct. While your there, give them a follow and tell ‘em I say hi. http://bit.ly/3tZgE8p
(AD) SWIPE FOR ROOM REFRESH 👉🏻 If you’ve been watching Stories that you know I’ve been working hard on this room and I gotta give a shoutout to @JaipurLiving for the new rug in their #KLwithJaipurLiving collection. This is Davina from their new collection with Kate Lester @klinteriors and it really brightened up the entire space. Although they recently showed this one with Harman layered over the top and it’s absolutely dreamy. If you haven’t seen the full collection, head over to their profile and check it out or tap the link below to shop the collection on @rugs_direct. While your there, give them a follow and tell ‘em I say hi. http://bit.ly/3tZgE8p
(AD) SWIPE FOR ROOM REFRESH 👉🏻 If you’ve been watching Stories that you know I’ve been working hard on this room and I gotta give a shoutout to @JaipurLiving for the new rug in their #KLwithJaipurLiving collection. This is Davina from their new collection with Kate Lester @klinteriors and it really brightened up the entire space. Although they recently showed this one with Harman layered over the top and it’s absolutely dreamy. If you haven’t seen the full collection, head over to their profile and check it out or tap the link below to shop the collection on @rugs_direct. While your there, give them a follow and tell ‘em I say hi. http://bit.ly/3tZgE8p
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(AD) SWIPE FOR ROOM REFRESH 👉🏻 If you’ve been watching Stories that you know I’ve been working hard on this room and I gotta give a shoutout to @JaipurLiving for the new rug in their #KLwithJaipurLiving collection. This is Davina from their new collection with Kate Lester @klinteriors and it really brightened up the entire space. Although they recently showed this one with Harman layered over the top and it’s absolutely dreamy. If you haven’t seen the full collection, head over to their profile and check it out or tap the link below to shop the collection on @rugs_direct. While your there, give them a follow and tell ‘em I say hi. http://bit.ly/3tZgE8p
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I started decorating Zozo’s bedroom but never finished. Since, she’s decided she no longer likes pink. “Mom, can I get a blue bed?” @jcpenney helped me find a comprise that was not only blue but also affordable and very much this little lady’s bohemian’s style. The bedding and pillows are all from the new Distant Lands Collection. She’s obsessed with the tiger print pillow and the tassels. Side note, she is not a top sheet gal which I’ve been hearing more and more people talk about this. Do you sleep with a top sheet or no? Inquiring minds what to know. SPONSORED
I started decorating Zozo’s bedroom but never finished. Since, she’s decided she no longer likes pink. “Mom, can I get a blue bed?” @jcpenney helped me find a comprise that was not only blue but also affordable and very much this little lady’s bohemian’s style. The bedding and pillows are all from the new Distant Lands Collection. She’s obsessed with the tiger print pillow and the tassels. Side note, she is not a top sheet gal which I’ve been hearing more and more people talk about this. Do you sleep with a top sheet or no? Inquiring minds what to know. SPONSORED
houseofhipstersblog
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•
Follow
I started decorating Zozo’s bedroom but never finished. Since, she’s decided she no longer likes pink. “Mom, can I get a blue bed?” @jcpenney helped me find a comprise that was not only blue but also affordable and very much this little lady’s bohemian’s style. The bedding and pillows are all from the new Distant Lands Collection. She’s obsessed with the tiger print pillow and the tassels. Side note, she is not a top sheet gal which I’ve been hearing more and more people talk about this. Do you sleep with a top sheet or no? Inquiring minds what to know. SPONSORED
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
1/4
SWIPE 👆🏻 Finally loving the living room again. Although I’m still missing the built ins. I shopped the @serenaandlily sale for that tray and blanket - there’s a whole round up of favorites over on HouseOfHipsters.com - and I love how the blanket balances out the green chair and the tray softens the black coffee table. What do you think of the new look? #liketkit #LTKhome #LTKsalealert @shop.ltk https://liketk.it/3G7VE
SWIPE 👆🏻 Finally loving the living room again. Although I’m still missing the built ins. I shopped the @serenaandlily sale for that tray and blanket - there’s a whole round up of favorites over on HouseOfHipsters.com - and I love how the blanket balances out the green chair and the tray softens the black coffee table. What do you think of the new look? #liketkit #LTKhome #LTKsalealert @shop.ltk https://liketk.it/3G7VE
SWIPE 👆🏻 Finally loving the living room again. Although I’m still missing the built ins. I shopped the @serenaandlily sale for that tray and blanket - there’s a whole round up of favorites over on HouseOfHipsters.com - and I love how the blanket balances out the green chair and the tray softens the black coffee table. What do you think of the new look? #liketkit #LTKhome #LTKsalealert @shop.ltk https://liketk.it/3G7VE
houseofhipstersblog
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Follow
SWIPE 👆🏻 Finally loving the living room again. Although I’m still missing the built ins. I shopped the @serenaandlily sale for that tray and blanket - there’s a whole round up of favorites over on HouseOfHipsters.com - and I love how the blanket balances out the green chair and the tray softens the black coffee table. What do you think of the new look? #liketkit #LTKhome #LTKsalealert @shop.ltk https://liketk.it/3G7VE
4 weeks ago
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Months worth of work with a dash of frustration in 12 seconds. It really is all about trusting the process.
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Months worth of work with a dash of frustration in 12 seconds. It really is all about trusting the process.
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
3/4
(AD) SWIPE FOR ROOM REFRESH 👉🏻 If you’ve been watching Stories that you know I’ve been working hard on this room and I gotta give a shoutout to @JaipurLiving for the new rug in their #KLwithJaipurLiving collection. This is Davina from their new collection with Kate Lester @klinteriors and it really brightened up the entire space. Although they recently showed this one with Harman layered over the top and it’s absolutely dreamy. If you haven’t seen the full collection, head over to their profile and check it out or tap the link below to shop the collection on @rugs_direct. While your there, give them a follow and tell ‘em I say hi. http://bit.ly/3tZgE8p
(AD) SWIPE FOR ROOM REFRESH 👉🏻 If you’ve been watching Stories that you know I’ve been working hard on this room and I gotta give a shoutout to @JaipurLiving for the new rug in their #KLwithJaipurLiving collection. This is Davina from their new collection with Kate Lester @klinteriors and it really brightened up the entire space. Although they recently showed this one with Harman layered over the top and it’s absolutely dreamy. If you haven’t seen the full collection, head over to their profile and check it out or tap the link below to shop the collection on @rugs_direct. While your there, give them a follow and tell ‘em I say hi. http://bit.ly/3tZgE8p
(AD) SWIPE FOR ROOM REFRESH 👉🏻 If you’ve been watching Stories that you know I’ve been working hard on this room and I gotta give a shoutout to @JaipurLiving for the new rug in their #KLwithJaipurLiving collection. This is Davina from their new collection with Kate Lester @klinteriors and it really brightened up the entire space. Although they recently showed this one with Harman layered over the top and it’s absolutely dreamy. If you haven’t seen the full collection, head over to their profile and check it out or tap the link below to shop the collection on @rugs_direct. While your there, give them a follow and tell ‘em I say hi. http://bit.ly/3tZgE8p
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Follow
(AD) SWIPE FOR ROOM REFRESH 👉🏻 If you’ve been watching Stories that you know I’ve been working hard on this room and I gotta give a shoutout to @JaipurLiving for the new rug in their #KLwithJaipurLiving collection. This is Davina from their new collection with Kate Lester @klinteriors and it really brightened up the entire space. Although they recently showed this one with Harman layered over the top and it’s absolutely dreamy. If you haven’t seen the full collection, head over to their profile and check it out or tap the link below to shop the collection on @rugs_direct. While your there, give them a follow and tell ‘em I say hi. http://bit.ly/3tZgE8p
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
4/4
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