6 Secondhand Items That Make for Great Gifts

If you don’t think you can shop for holiday gifts secondhand, think again! There are many vintage and antique pieces that are bound to dazzle your friends and loved ones this season. Below, we’re sharing six types of items that you will want to look for while shopping at an estate sale, thrift store, or flea market in the coming weeks. 

Vases

No one can own too many beautiful vases. If you stumble upon one that reminds you of someone special in your life, purchase it, then drop it off at their home filled with a beautiful seasonal bouquet. They’ll think of you every time they reach for this vessel for years to come! 

3 Beautiful Royal Vienna Vases 

Trays

If you’re shopping for someone who loves to entertain, they’ll likely appreciate a chic, vintage tray, whether it’s a silver piece or a carved wooden item. If the tray is food safe and you like to bake, you can whip up some seasonal treats and place them on the tray for a gift that’s extra sweet. 

Absolutely Stunning Vintage Mirrored Tray With Pressed Flowers & Butterfly

Candle holders

Candle holders are great to have on hand all year long, but come winter, they’re particularly appreciated, as everyone is looking for simple ways to brighten up their space on dreary days. Pair a duo of luxe looking brass candlesticks with a pack of your favorite taper candles. There are many fun squiggly options on the market if you’re looking for something a little unconventional. 

Vintage Judaica Baruch Shoham Psalterium Gold Plated Sculptural Candle Holder

Jewelry boxes and dishes

There’s something extra special about vintage and antique jewelry boxes; they’re just full of magic and are unlike any brand new pieces sold in stores today. If you happen to stumble upon one of these gems, scoop it up and present it to the glam girl in your life. Bonus points if you place a small bauble (new or vintage) inside that your recipient can wear right away. 

Vintage Beautiful Asian Chinese Wood And Jadeite Jewelry Box

Framed art

Art that has a sentimental touch is always a winning gift idea. For example, perhaps your partner spent a year living in Europe—keep your eyes peeled for a framed photograph or art print from the city in which they resided. Maybe someone close to you is wild about horses, in which case, you’ll want to add equestrian art to the top of your list. Think about your loved ones’ interests and life stories while shopping and you’re sure to notice works that may have not caught your eye otherwise

Impressive Over-Mantle Painting of Gloucester Harbor

Small trinkets

Be mindful as to whether any small trinkets you pick up will actually appeal to your recipient—most people are simply not in the market for more “stuff.” That said, perhaps your sister’s last name is Fox and you come across a darling fox figurine—a piece like this one makes for a thoughtful gift. Trinkets that serve a functional purpose are always nice, too—keep an eye out for chic bookends, ring dishes, candle snuffers, and more, as your recipient will be able to put these to use at home immediately. 

Playful Cat Bookends

Written by:

Sarah Lyon

December 15, 2023     Updated 09:12 AM

Sarah Lyon is a Washington, DC, native living in New York City. As a freelancer, she frequently covers pieces pertaining to interior design, travel, and other lifestyle topics. Her pieces have appeared in outlets including Apartment Therapy, Architectural Digest, MyDomaine, the Washington Post, the New York Times, and more. When she isn't writing, Sarah works with designers to help them style spaces for photo shoots (and can't stop rearranging and redecorating her own apartment, either!). She has a penchant for shopping secondhand and loves giving preloved pieces new life. Sarah’s own spaces have appeared on Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, Houzz, and Washingtonian.com. Her Dupont Circle apartment was featured in both the spring 2019 print edition of Small Space Decorating and the January 2019 print edition of Washingtonian Magazine.

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