Bring These Fall Decor Trends to Life with Secondhand Items

Fall is officially here, and if you’re looking to embrace some of the season’s biggest home trends in your home without 1) breaking the bank and 2) purchasing the same pieces everyone else owns, secondhand pros are here to help! We tapped thrifting experts and asked them to share the biggest decor trends of 2023 and how you can bring these looks to life with preloved pieces. 

Trend 1: Moody Candles

Fall is all about cozying up on the sofa with a favorite seasonal TV series (Gilmore Girls, anyone?) or hosting a horror movie marathon. Add a touch of moodiness to your family room with some taper candles that you can light as you binge watch. In particular, keep an eye out for ivories, deep oranges, rich purples, or greens when shopping secondhand for candles, says Vanessa Chaverri-Gratz of The Gratz Life. “You can typically find a Ziploc bag of these at thrift stores or estate sales in the holiday sections,” she explains. 

Trend 2: Fall Wreaths and Garlands

You don’t have to wait until the winter months to start displaying wreaths and garlands when there are so many autumnal options to enjoy. When browsing for these items at thrift stores and estate sales, keep in mind the many ways they can be used. “A garland can easily be utilized on a tablescape or featured on a bookshelf, whereas I like to hang a wreath on interior walls or doors as well as above a mantel or even displayed on a TV when hosting,” Chaverri-Gratz shares. 

Trend 3: Classic Wood Furniture

Sarah Gibson of Room for Tuesday is keeping her eyes peeled for classic wooden furniture this fall season. “I love anything with a turned or sculptural shape, such as barley twist,” she says. 

Antique Writing Desk, Sold by Rehome Estate Sales via AuctionNinja

Trend 4: Cozy Blankets

Fall means that it’s time to bust out the cozy blankets. But why shell out for pricey pieces when you can source top brands at the thrift store? “I'm always on the hunt for wool and cashmere blankets and throws from classic brands like Pendleton or Faribault,” Gibson says. 

Trend 5: Vintage Servingware

It’s never too early to start thinking about your Thanksgiving tablescape, and why not go the vintage route as you shop for servingware? “I love the way vintage items evoke a sense of tradition, adding layers of warmth and coziness to any dining room,” says Ashley Macuga of Collected Interiors. She suggests searching for vintage silverware, platters, and gravy boats in particular. “The more turkeys in the pattern, the better!” 

Dijana Savic-Jambert of Maredi Design agrees. “With the coziness of fall, who doesn’t want to use decadent cocktail glasses from another era for those late night dinner parties, or dress your Thanksgiving table with vintage silverware?” 

Trend 6: Vintage Vases and Baskets

Thrift stores are always filled to the brim with baskets and vessels of all kinds. Jenny Williamson of West Rose Design says that she is particularly drawn to “vintage vases and baskets in rich browns, dark umbers, and wood tones for sprinkling in fall branches or apples and pumpkins.” These will look beautiful styled on an entryway console, on a fireplace hearth, or throughout the kitchen. If you’re more of a color lover, Katharine Rhudy of Reed & Acanthus suggests looking for vases and lamps in rust, honey, and olive green. 

Written by:

Sarah Lyon

September 25, 2023     Updated 11:10 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.

Ready to locate an estate sale company or explore online estate auctions? Visit AuctionNinja.com. If you're new to online estate auctions, try it risk-free by sigining up here.