There was a time when I had zero money for decorating, so thrift stores were basically my design center. I hunted for anything I could repaint, repurpose, or convince myself had “good bones.”
Eventually I drifted away and focused mostly on clearance racks and sales at regular retail stores. But a few years ago I started popping back into thrift stores for decorative pieces—and I’m officially a believer again.
The downside of thrifting is that it’s completely hit or miss. Unlike retail shopping, you can’t just ask for the same item in another color or size. But if you enjoy the thrill of the hunt, I highly recommend taking a quick peek into your local Goodwill or thrift shop.
Over the course of one week, I visited three different stores and found some surprisingly great pieces.
Walker Edison Nightstand
This item was brand new in the box. You had to do a little detective work to figure out what was inside the plain brown packaging, but after a quick Google search I realized it was a Wayfair nightstand that retailed for $124.
Goodwill had it tagged for $10.
Of course I grabbed it.
I didn’t even have a cart, so I carried the heavy box all the way to the front because I was convinced someone might “peep” my find and grab it first. Thrifting has a way of bringing out your competitive side.
I love fluted drawers, so I was excited to see if it would work in our space. Unfortunately, my husband didn’t love it quite as much as I did. So we made a deal: I’d list it on Facebook Marketplace, and if no one bought it, we’d keep it.
It sold the same day for $60.
While I liked the nightstand, it made more sense to sell it—and now I have $50 profit to put toward my next treasure.
West Elm Vase
This tall white vase caught my eye as I walked past the end cap at Goodwill. I kept walking, but something inside me said, “Go back… go back.”
So I did.
When I picked it up, I noticed it was heavy—always a good sign. I flipped it over and saw the West Elm stamp on the bottom. That inner voice? That was my inner West Elm child speaking.
I love their style and shop their outlet whenever I can, so this felt like a little victory. I swapped it with another vase in my living room and absolutely love the result.
Ashley Furniture Leather Ottoman
I had been searching for something to place at the end of our queen-sized bed in the master bedroom. There were plenty of nice options, but I had one rule: I only wanted to spend $50 or less.
That narrowed the field quite a bit.
On the same trip where I found the vase, I spotted this leather ottoman for $19.99. It wasn’t exactly what I imagined, but it was the right color and I had already been considering leather.
If it didn’t work, I figured I could at least resell it for what I paid.
As I carried it out to the car, I discovered the lid lifts off—hidden storage. I do love a hidden storage moment.
That said, I’m still undecided. It might be a little wide for the space. A bench would have been narrower.
For now, the leather ottoman and I are going to court to see where this relationship goes.
Thrifting isn’t always predictable, and that’s part of the fun. Sometimes you find exactly what you need, and sometimes you walk away empty-handed. But every now and then, you discover something that feels like a small victory—whether it’s a beautiful piece for your home or $50 toward the next one.
For me, refined living isn’t about buying everything new. It’s about learning to see potential, enjoying the hunt, and slowly collecting pieces that make a home feel thoughtful and personal