5 Bedroom Essentials Designers Regularly Pick Up at Thrift Stores, Even for Their High-End Clients

If you’re aiming to thrift more for your home decor, this guide will help you uncover hidden gems you may have missed in the past while secondhand shopping. Thrifting not only allows you to find unique, one-of-a-kind pieces, but it also saves you a significant amount of money.

We spoke with three interior designers to get their expert advice on what to specifically look for in thrift stores when it comes to furniture and decor for the bedroom.

Decorative Trays
Decorative trays are versatile and useful throughout the home, especially in the bedroom. Danielle Davis, founder of 56th Street Design Studio, uses them to organize small items like jewelry and perfumes.

“They’re often a simple yet impactful way to elevate your space,” she says.

Pick up a few and place one on your nightstand, another on your dresser, and a third on your desk or vanity.

Vintage Lamps

Every bedroom needs a few lamps, but why settle for mass-produced options when you can find stylish vintage pieces at the thrift store?

“Light fixtures are often called the jewelry of a room, and bedside lamps are no exception,” says Davis. “Vintage lamps are always a fun addition to the bedroom.”

If you come across a pair of lamps, be sure to grab them, as they can be harder to find. Even if you love the lamp base but not the lampshade, you can swap it out to better fit the aesthetic of your room. Keep this tip in mind on your next thrift store visit, and you may be surprised at what you find.

Nightstands
Instead of buying a new nightstand from a chain store, you can easily find stylish secondhand options.

“You can have great luck finding sets of nightstands and end tables at thrift stores that will add just the right amount of charm next to a new bed frame and rug,” says Becca Meyer, founder of BB Meyer Design.

Look for well-made pieces that are often decades old.

“I love how thrift store furniture is often 100% wood, which is hard to find these days with veneered and engineered wood,” Meyer says.

Get creative: a small sewing table can work as a cute nightstand in a contemporary bedroom. Thrifting is all about creatively repurposing what you come across.

Picture Frames

No bedroom is complete without personal touches, and thrift stores are an excellent resource for affordable picture frames. Cortney McClure, founder of Cortney McClure Design, suggests thrifted frames, with or without glass, to start building your collection for a gallery wall or tabletop display.

Mirrors

No matter your bedroom’s style, mirrors are always a great addition. You can place one above your dresser, lean one against your desk for a dual-purpose vanity, or hang one above your mantel if you have a fireplace.

Vintage mirrors, in particular, offer a lot of character and are worth looking for at thrift stores.

“True antiques can be difficult to find online, especially at a reasonable price,” McClure says.