If thrift stores (or estate sales, church flea markets or flea markets) are your thing, you’re in the right place. To kick off the 2023 pre-owned season, we asked second-hand experts about the items that will be super hot this year. You should get your hands on them before they are dug up! Read on for more details on the six frugal finds that will top the list.
Anything Lacquer
Varnishes are all the rage right now, says Virginia Chamlee, author of Big Thrift Energy. “Lacquerware is making a comeback and we’ll see more of it in the form of high-gloss walls, but also on furniture,” she comments. “Bright, postmodern laminate furniture from the 1980s and 90s is great for painting, and there are plenty of them in thrift stores and the Facebook Marketplace.”
Larger Wood Furniture Items
Why not invest in a new piece of furniture this year? Imani Keal of Imani at Home says, “I think big-ticket furniture like rugs, lamps and dressers will be popular in 2023, or at least that’s what I’m looking for.” Sarah Teresinski of Redeux Style shares that dark colors Wood furniture is especially popular. “If you’ve ever been thrifty, you know you can find an abundance of vintage dark wood at most local thrift stores. Dark and dramatic!”
Thrill of the Hunt Jess Ziomek is also excited that brown furniture will be in full swing in 2023. “For recent estate sales in my area, the most coveted items were wood cabinets, sideboards and dining tables,” she said. “I’m glad that wooden furniture is no longer seen as outdated and a parental legacy.”
If you spot wooden chairs on the road, be sure to pick them up, Chamlee says. “I think wooden seating is going to be huge in 2023. Sure, it’s hot, but they’re going to be snapped up as soon as they hit Goodwill in the next few months,” she commented. “Especially the rush chair or any kind of handcrafted wooden seating that’s made of beautiful dark wood with interesting shapes.”
Mirrors of All Kinds
Teresinksi pointed out that the mirrors will be huge this year, especially when they are displayed together in a gallery wall-like format. “Mirrors have always been a must-have home accessory, so I would like to see this trend become more popular,” she says. “I have a gallery wall of mirrors at home that I love that I made out of all the vintage gold mirrors I reworked!”
China
Lily Barfield of Lily’s Vintage Finds says 2023 will be the year of the dinner party. So it’s time to start building your china collection. “I think by 2023 we’ll see more people buying beautiful suits at estate sales and thrift stores, especially given the low number of registered marriages in China in the past,” she said. “People who give up porcelain , will drool over a stunning set! Plus, you’ll see people saving money on related service items like trays, chips and dip, and even punch bowls.”
Vintage Lighting
“For a while, I felt like I was looking at the same lighting options that were commonly used in home design,” says Barfield. “This year, people want their decor to stand out and feel different.” That means swapping out mediocre lighting for flashy decor. “They’ll be looking for unique lighting options that aren’t readily available to the general public,” explains Barfield. And maybe a little DIY. “I think you’ll also see more people buying or purchasing old and vintage glasses, jars and other items and retooling them into lamps to provide really unique lighting,” she added.
Items in Rich Hues
Once you get this piece of wood furniture, you’ll want to decorate it with some colorful accessories. Chamlee noted, “I think we’re (finally) starting to move away from the 50 shades of beige that’s been ubiquitous for the past few years and toward places full of bold shades: chocolate brown, burgundy, ocher Thrift stores are great places to find accessories in these shades – such as illustrated books, small ceramics and vintage textiles.”
