It is week 3 of the #oneroomchallenge and I must admit I did not get as much done in the bedroom as I hoped. I did however do lots and lots of sourcing! So it was a successful week still. In this post I wanted to talk about buying second hand. I want to break down some of my favorite tips and tricks as well as some of my favorite vendors, locally and online. This will be a fun one!

As any good #grandmillennial I love buying things second hand. Most people call the overall activity “thrifting” meaning looking for treasures at a bargain. I will also say “antiquing” when I am going specifically to an antique shop. By definition an antique must be over 100 year old, vintage only needs to be 10. So true antiques can sometimes be tough to spot; however, I think if you buy something because you love it then it doesn’t matter. There are so many reasons why I love thrifting and antiquing. First there is the thrill of the hunt. You never know what you may find and that is exciting. It could be something that you’ve been looking for or it could be something super valuable that you buy at a steal. I also love that it is something unique and not selling at every Target. I love new products and supporting small and family owned businesses and boutiques but I love mixing the old and new even more. And to me, that is the true definition of grand millennial, mixing old and new and having an appreciation for the past. Another reason I love it is the prices are generally much, much more affordable then buying brand new. And if you have pets or kids or love to entertain, you don’t have to worry about something breaking. A home should be loved and lived in, not a museum. I also love that I can buy something of high quality that is no longer sold. There are so many furniture pieces that are built so much better than furniture today. Did I sway you to give it a try? I hope so!

If you are brand new to thrifting here are a few basic tips to get you started:

1. Facebook marketplace is a great way to begin. Start searching and looking to see what you like and don’t like. If you like something, save it. FB will then start showing you other similar items.
2. Staples I look for and love: a beautiful mirror, brass/silver/copper bowls or vases, ginger jars, pretty dishware, glassware and silverware, trays, table linens, baskets, holiday decor, art and frames. Those are some of the classic pieces you can look for that will help you start a great collection.
3. Don’t buy something only because of price, make sure you have an intended use for it. I have learned the hard way that if I don’t know where something is going when I buy it, most likely it will sit and not be used. There are of course exceptions to unicorn finds but for the most part try to think logically and not buy just to buy.
4. If you are unsure of what something is worth try this. Take a photo, and upload to a private folder on your Pinterest. No caption or details. Then click on the photo and see what other “like items” appear below. You may see something identical that has a price or at least give you an idea of its value.
5. To find an antique or thrift store near you, open the maps app on your phone and simply type in “antique stores”.
6. Etsy is also an amazing source to browse for antiques and home decor. Simply type in to the search bar what you are looking for. I will pin drop surrounding stores.

Online vendors I love:

1. Second City Treasures
2. Affordably Chic Art
3. Regency Revival
4. The Pink Clutch
5. Pender & Peony
6. Lillian Greys Vintage Home
7. Willow Road Interiors
8. Treasure Trove Market
9. Manhattan Hour

Pittsburgh Area Shops I love:

1. Hartwood Corners
2. Kensington Court
3. Richland Antiques
4. Wagon Wheel
5. Garden Style Living
6. Wexford General Store
7. Salvaged in Mars
8. Cranberry Consignment
9. Repurposed
10. Red, White and Blue Thrift
11. Atlantic Crossing Antiques
12. E N Miller Antique Mall

For the bedroom I have bought a 4 poster bed, a round end table (that I plan on making a #skirtedtable #DIY ) and 2 frames. I still need to find another night stand or desk for the other side of the bed. I will also be working with Krystle from Second City Treasures to source plates for a plate wall, and a few other styling accessories. I am so excited about these pieces as they will bring so much character and charm to this guest room makeover. I have and will continue to post these items on my Instagram stories, so be sure to follow along: click here to go to instagram.

As always, thanks for reading and following along. Let me know if you have any questions!

Laura