Think your small space limits your secondhand shopping? Think again! Our latest article reveals 8 must-have secondhand treasures that prove big style comes in small packages. From charming candlesticks to versatile trays and even unique mini lamps, you'll learn how to fill your home with character and function without sacrificing precious square footage. Get ready to transform your cozy dwelling with these smart and stylish finds!
(above Photo by Lauren Zillinger for Laura Metzger Photo)
Unlock Big Style: 8 Secondhand Treasures for Small Spaces
If you think that just because you live in a small space you can’t enjoy secondhand shopping to its fullest, think again! For anyone living in a cozy dwelling, discovering secondhand items for small homes is a game-changer. Thrift stores and estate sales are chock full of useful items that those with limited square footage will still enjoy displaying throughout their homes.
This guide will show you exactly how to approach thrift store shopping for small apartments, proving that small space decorating on a budget is not only possible but incredibly stylish. Whether you're looking for the best secondhand items for tiny houses or simply wondering how to furnish a small apartment cheaply, we're highlighting eight categories of petite, pretty, and functional items you won’t want to miss.
Thrifted Candlesticks: Petite Glow for Any Small Room
There’s no need to save candlesticks for formal occasions when you can display them on your dining table, coffee table, or mantel every day! I’ve thrifted so many gorgeous sets of candlesticks over the years and truly cannot stop collecting them.
Even if you don’t source a matching pair, you can pick up individual candlesticks and display them in groupings of threes for a chic, collected look. While you’re in the candlestick aisle, keep your eyes peeled for pretty taper candles, too—it never hurts to build out your collection of basics!
Smart Storage: Secondhand Trays for Every Nook
Trays come in handy in every room of the home, from the kitchen to bathroom and beyond. I like to scoop up pretty trays while thrifting, even if I don’t know how I’ll use them in the moment, because I almost always find a spot for them once I’m home. You can use trays to corral pens and pencils on your desk, house lip balms and sleep sprays in your nightstand drawer, keep everyday makeup organized on the bathroom vanity…the list goes on and on.
Elegant secondhand tray styled with perfumes and a candle, with books and a bust statue are ideal for decorative home organization in a small apartment. Photo by Kimberly Graydon.
Stylish Jewelry Dishes: Small Space Solutions for Your Bling
]Rather than setting your everyday jewelry on top of your bedside table and hoping it doesn’t roll away in the night, place it in a stylish jewelry dish. I’ve come across many beautiful vessels while thrifting. While they may not actually be meant to serve as jewelry dishes, they can play the part nicely. For example, ashtrays can double as chic ring holders! Again, these can come in handy in the bathroom or by the kitchen sink, too—never worry about misplacing your rings as you wash the dishes!
Monochromatic black and white decor with a jewelry dish on a bedside table makes a stylish thrifted solution for small apartment organization. Photo by Photo by Allie Provost.
Woven Wonders: Thrifted Baskets for Small Apartment Organization
Like trays, baskets truly have endless uses, so it never hurts to grab ones you like when you spot them while thrifting. I know people who collect nice baskets to keep on hand for gift giving, which I think is a great idea if you have the storage space. A classic woven basket will take any housewarming or hostess gift to the next level and may not cost any more than a traditional gift bag if you pick one up secondhand.
Mini Lamps: Brighten Small Corners with Secondhand Charm
I’ve noticed many people displaying mini lamps on their kitchen countertops and have happily embraced this trend. I took a mini crystal lamp that I purchased from a thrift sale, upgraded it with a new striped shade, and love the glow that it offers as I prepare my morning coffee. It’s perfect for instances where I’m spending time in the kitchen but don’t feel like turning on the bright overhead light (and let’s face it, who does?).
Thrifted mini lamp with a white shade on a bedside table, styled with books and a mirror, perfect for small space decorating. Photo by Lauren Zillinger for Laura Metzger Photo.
Picture Lights: High-End Art Display for Small Apartments (on a Budget!)
This may be a bit of a niche category, but I came across a box of brass picture lights while at a tag sale a month or so ago and scooped up several of them. Picture lights can retail for hundreds of dollars brand new, and these were only $10 each. I like to hang them throughout my apartment to bring that high-end, museum-inspired feel to my space while highlighting some of my favorite works of art.
Beyond Beverages: Thrifted Teacups as Small Decor Accents
It’s time to toss the mismatched mugs and pick up some that you’ll actually be excited to use and offer to your guests. I always spot great china pieces while thrifting and love the idea of buying some fun tea cups to take your nightly ritual to the next level. Not a tea drinker? Use tea cups and/or saucers as trinket dishes for jewelry, loose change, and more.
Kitchen & Pantry Revamp: Secondhand Canisters for Small Spaces
If your kitchen could use a bit of a revamp, this one is for you. Organize your counter tops and pantry with thrifted canisters that are excellent for holding pasta, coffee grounds, and other dried goods. I see canisters of all kinds at the thrift store every time I go, and with a thorough rinse in the sink, they’ll be good as new.
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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