At those stores, you can find interesting items like tribal artifacts and wood or metal carvings that add a layer of interest to the home, said Laura Quinn, owner of Happyroost: Interiors by Laura Quinn in Dayton.
“Flea markets are a fun way to add those unique touches for not a lot of money,” Quinn said. “It’s like a treasure hunt. You really never know what you might find. Don’t give up if you don’t find anything on your first try. Sometimes it takes awhile to get used to it all and not feel overwhelmed.”
Quinn suggests purchasing items with either clean, classic lines or really unique pieces. Start with flea markets and thrift stores as they are the cheapest, but then move on to consigment stores and estate sales.
Another pleasant surprise for decorators is the price of antiques, said Winnie Cleavenger, owner of Winterios in Dayton.
“Antiques are so affordable now, because there is less demand for them. Ikea seems to be the flavor of the day with disposable furniture,” Cleavenger said.
Know what to look for
Kim Passineau, owner of Home2Home Consignments and More! in Centerville, advises people to be brand knowledgeable.
“For example, know the difference between Thomasville and Ashley furniture. If you don’t know the brand, you won’t know the value,” Passineau said. “Don’t judge just by the tag.”
Passineau recommends shoppers examine the construction of secondhand furniture and to make sure frames are good before buying.
To quickly and affordably add new style to a room, head to the home décor department. Passineau said that accessories like prints, wall art and area rugs provide easy updates to a room.
For a more dramatic change, a multitasking piece of furniture is a great find.
“Long dressers are also a prized item due to their versatility. They can become a credenza in the dining room, a TV console in the living room, or a ‘catch all’ table in the entry,” she said.
“The drawers are great for hiding keys and purses and even better in the winter for your gloves, hats and scarves. Add a pair of lamps and a large framed picture above and it will look great,” Quinn said.
Success stories
Both Cleavenger and Quinn have been able to turn their secondhand finds into design standouts.
“I recently purchased a beautiful Staffordshire porcelain lion made into a lamp and paid all of $25 for it,” Cleavenger said. “It now sits proudly in my living room bookcase and would probably be selling for $400 in a larger marketplace.”
By updating a classic look, Quinn has created new-again pieces inexpensively. Brass is a key piece in the design world right now and Quinn recently made a good purchase.
“I just bought a beautiful pair of solid brass lamps for $9 that I found at a thrift store. I changed the shades and they look as good as new,” Quinn said.
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