Secondhand Gold: Thrift Store Finds Too Good To Leave Behind

Once upon a time, thrifting might have been about trying to save a pretty penny. If you needed some bed sheets, Goodwill or an off-brand thrift store was your best bet for finding something that wouldn't break the bank. Same with clothes, furniture, and even gifts — it wasn't so much for hunting for one-of-a-kind items but for saving money.

Today, it's more about the former. People are growing increasingly frustrated with consumerism, planned obsolescence, and poor-quality goods in general. Milennials and Gen Z are the first generations of consumers to take the impact the stuff they buy has on the planet. Knowing that in the UK alone, people throw away 22 million damaged furniture items each year, many consumers are looking for alternative ways to shop for their homes. Sometimes, that road leads them straight to the thrift store.

The thrift store can be a goldmine for those seeking good-quality, reliable furniture. As Estelle Bilson, a vintage dealer, TV presenter, and author of 70s House: A Bold Homage to the Most Daring Decade in Design, told The Guardian, "These items have been around for decades, and with a bit of love and polish, they can go on for another 100 years."

Back then, Bilson singled out vintage IKEA furniture, which has become quite sought-after and pricier than one would expect. Their Kromvik bed from 1981 originally cost 59 euros, but today, collectors don't mind spending 6,600 for the same thing. The experts at Mid Century Friends investigated the Kromvik phenomenon and concluded that, while the piece's quality is undeniable, there is a degree of market inflation driven by perceived nostalgia.

Today, we might associate IKEA with cheap and functional furniture. But back in the second half of the 20th century, many respected designers worked for IKEA, including Niels Gammelgaard, Gillis Lundgren, and Knut Hagberg (the designer of the Kromvik bed, by the way).

"These designers brought Bauhaus principles, pop art aesthetics, and Scandinavian minimalism into affordable furniture," the experts at Mid Century Friends write. 

It's one thing to ask for 6,600 euros for a 59-euro vintage IKEA bed that has been restored, 2,400 euros for a sofa that has been reupholstered, and other pieces that have been otherwise renewed. The problem lies in selling these kinds of pieces for a fortune when they're in their original, beaten-up shape. 

This is the advice from Mid Century Friends: "Check the condition, question the prices, invest rather in professionally restored pieces than in supposed 'bargains' in original condition."

Finding an IKEA vintage in the thrift store is quite unlikely; if you're not into collecting rare design Pokemons, you're much more likely to come across less hyped but still decent-quality items. But how can you tell if they're worth your money and will stand the test of time? Well, some types of furniture might be more worth it than others.

Experts often cite sideboards, curiously shaped chairs and armchairs, and sofas as the furniture pieces most worthy of thrifters' attention. The former tend to be really sturdy if they're vintage, and the latter tend to be smaller than modern armchairs and sofas and extra comfortable because of their angle of the back.

Have you been thrifting lately, Pandas? Did you come across any good finds on your trip to your local thrift store? Share your recent fascinating finds with us in the comments! And while you're here, check out some ridiculous things people listed for sale online and get inspired to hit the thrift store after seeing these horrible clothing items from fast-fashion brands!

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