While no one wants to take on expensive or time-consuming upgrades after bringing home a piece of secondhand furniture or decor, there are some vintage items that are worth scooping up in less-than-perfect condition. Often, they can be easily (and dramatically) revamped with a bit of DIY or the help of a pro. And in many instances, these treasures can actually look better with a bit of visible wear and tear. Ahead, experts highlight four different categories of vintage items you should consider scooping up, even if they’re not perfectly pristine.
Upholstered Furniture
Multiple vintage experts agree that well-made upholstered furniture is worth purchasing even if it’s begging for a bit of TLC. “The frame is the hard part to find, and if the bones are good, reupholstering can completely transform a piece,” says Florida-based Virginia Chamlee, author of Big Thrift Energy and the Substack What’s Left. “People tend to pass on these because of dated fabric or wear, which is exactly why you can often get them for a fraction of their value.”
A hot tip: If a piece of secondhand furniture has a designer tag on it that you’ll need to remove during the reupholstery process, don’t toss it into the trash can, urges Anna Weaver, the founder of Anna Weaver Interiors and a vintage dealer in Washington, D.C. “Make sure you ask your upholsterer to reattach the tag so you can pass along that value,” she encourages.
RELATED: The Secret to Scoring Designer-Only Fabrics Without Hiring a Pro
Lighting
Be sure to give lighting a look even if you know you’ll need to do a bit of repair. Virginia is all for giving “anything made from high-quality materials like marble, brass, or ceramic” a closer inspection. “I’ll always buy a lamp with a bad shade or even one that needs rewiring—both are relatively simple fixes, and the base is where the real value is,” she says. “A great lamp base in a beautiful material will always feel expensive, even if it needs a little work up front.”
Wood Furniture
Don’t fret if a piece of wood furniture shows signs of wear and tear. In Laurie Jones’s view, “Wood furniture is always better old in my opinion.” The founder of House 15 in Chicago recently purchased a wooden desk with “the most perfect patina leather top” and doesn’t mind its distressed look at all. Maegan Durand, the founder of Maetiques in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, agrees with this take, noting that a bit of surface wear on a piece is fine as long as its structure is solid.
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Gilt Mirrors or Frames
Maegan is also partial to buying gilt mirrors or frames even if they show a bit of fading or age. After all, she says, “Light wear, small repairs, or age-related markings are often exactly what give a piece its depth and authenticity.”
