Written by Sophie Clemson

Buying second hand items for your home is something we can absolutely help you with at The Living House. We think it's now more important than ever to be resourceful with items for your home, and if you didn’t know already, we can work with any existing items you want to keep in your room too! Mixing the old with the new is becoming more popular than ever, and many of our customers are now asking for a transitional look, which is all about mixing vintage and contemporary pieces together thoughtfully. 

I personally love finding second hand treasures whether it's unique antique pieces, vintage finds, or hidden gems on Facebook Marketplace. Lets not deny how good it feels to get a bargain, it can bring so much joy! This recently happened to me. I had been searching for some time for a chest of drawers for my newly decorated bedroom but was struggling to find something that was the right height, style and most importantly within my budget. Finally, a listing on Facebook Marketplace came through. It took some patience, but finding that perfect piece made the wait absolutely worth it.

As an interior designer with a passion for finding affordable homewares, I've discovered some amazing second hand treasures over the years. Now, I’m sharing my top tips on where and how to find the best second hand pieces for your home!

Lets start with Facebook Marketplace, it’s a great place to find local pieces. You may be lucky and find some high end items for an absolute steal! As a Facebook Marketplace fan, I’ve put together a roundup of my top tips for sourcing items there.

Save your search to get notifications on items you’re looking for

If you’re searching for something specific, I recommend setting up notifications to get alerts when a matching item pops up. This feature is called “Save Search,” and can save you time and works for anything from a chest of drawers to H&M Home finds.

Search by the brand name 

If you have a brand that you love, add the name to the search, for example, ‘Soho Home Rug'. When people list items from high-end brands, they will most likely include it within the title. 

Consider your wording 

I would say this is my top Facebook Marketplace tip and has worked well for me. When you’re searching for a specific item, try multiple ways to word what you’re looking for. Just because you’re looking for a sideboard, someone else may call it a cabinet or unit. 

It's worth travelling for the right piece

If you don’t mind travelling for the right item or hiring a service to pick up larger items, consider expanding your mile radius to be within a higher chance of finding exactly what you’re looking for. I did this for my chest of drawers, as I knew they would never fit in my tiny Fiat 500 and that I’d have to hire a van, which was totally worth it!

Don’t wait around or you will be disappointed! 

Take it from me, I've found some fabulous second hand pieces on Facebook Marketplace, only to lose out because I hesitated too long. If you really love something, don’t wait! Items can get snapped up quickly, so when you spot the perfect find, it’s best to act fast.

Where to shop online for second hand home pieces

Vinterior

Vinterior is definitely one of our top picks for online second hand shopping here at The Living House. If you love vintage pieces, then Vinterior is the place to be! There are lots of beautiful listed items there, from mid-century sideboards to vintage chests of drawers and unique ornaments. The list is endless! 

If you know your vintage brands well, such as G Plan, McIntosh, and Ecrol, to name a few, then you’ll love browsing through Vinterior. Plus, if you’re looking for some pre-loved swaps, you can sell your items there too! 

Etsy 

You may think of Etsy as an online craft marketplace to purchase some unique gifts from independents and small businesses, but you can also shop secondhand for your home there too. There are lots of vintage pieces, such as furniture, lighting, artwork, and much more. Etsy is a great place to find vintage books sold in bundles - perfect for shelf styling! 

eBay 

We’ve all heard of eBay, it’s been around for years now and is another place we’ve searched for items for our customers' projects. I’ve found it especially helpful if you're looking to add character to your period home, particularly when searching for features like cast iron fireplaces.

One key thing to remember when shopping second-hand for your home is to keep an open mind and envision the potential of a piece beyond its current state. It’s amazing what a tin of paint can do! Upcycling is a fantastic way to transform a piece of furniture and truly make it your own. There’s something incredibly rewarding about completely revamping an item yourself - after all, as the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!

If you’re wanting to make changes to your home, whether that's keeping some of your existing furniture or using secondhand pieces, take a look at our affordable online interior design packages to give you all the help you need. Whether you’re considering a full redesign or a refresh, we can take the stress away and give you the confidence to move forward. Our online interior design packages are a flat fee, and we can work to any budget large or small, saving you money along the way and ensuring you get the results you want and expect!

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