I love the depth and interest that secondhand items bring to my home. I also enjoy the process of finding those items but I know that for some people the prospect of rummaging through secondhand stores, garage sales and market stalls can be pretty overwhelming. Those places are crammed full of stuff. Where do you start? Here are 3 tips to help get you started.
1. Have an idea of what you are looking for
Keep a running list of items that you want to find (Pinterest works really well for me). This gives you a starting point so you don’t end up wandering aimlessly up and down the aisles. I find browsing can be really frustrating if I can‘t see the point of why I‘m sifting through everything. But if I’m on the hunt for, say, hand-thrown pottery style mugs then I save myself the frustration and go straight to the crockery department.
With a shopping list you’re able to apply the ‘don’t-buy-anything-that’s-not-on-the-list’ rule. This can help you stick to your plan so you don’t end up carting stuff home only to have it take up residence as junk in the spare room.
That said, if you find something that’s not on your list but you absolutely love it, at least give it some consideration. Ask yourself ‘Is it just a passing fancy or will I regret it if I don’t buy it?’ Be honest and act accordingly.
2. Develop a criteria checklist for different types of items
Understand what your criteria is for each type of item. Are you looking for a particular style/colour/size? Must the item fulfill a particular function? Is the condition acceptable? Your criteria can be whatever you like, just make sure you refer to it before you buy anything.
If the item I’m considering is a close enough match to what’s on my Pinterest board I go ahead and buy it, if not then I walk away. Being able to access Pinterest on my phone when I’m in the store makes the process easy.
3. Take your time
Allow plenty of time for shopping. Oh, and don’t try to visit too many places in one day because it can be pretty exhausting. I usually visit a few secondhand stores in one day and leave the garage sales and markets for a different day.
Also, understand that it takes time to build up a collection. You probably won’t get everything you want in one visit. In fact there will be periods when each visit sees you leaving the store empty-handed. Don’t be discouraged. Collections have a habit of sneaking up on you. Focus on careful curation rather than speed and before long you’ll discover that you’ve built a collection that feels right for you.
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I love these tips! Now I don’t need to feel overwhelmed at the bric a brac stalls 😀
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Hopefully having a few strategies like these up your sleeve will help to keep the stress out of secondhand shopping.
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I really enjoy second hand shopping. Great tips. And I agree, sometimes if you really “love” a find that’s not exactly what you’re looking for you should get it. You’ll find a place for it. I have a few odd little pieces that didn’t seem like they’d fit, but I love them every time I look at them, and they find a perfect place.
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So true. On the occasions when I have passed on items that I really liked, I have always regretted it. If it makes your heart sing, you should get it.
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