6 min readAs baby boomers—the wealthiest generation in modern history—begin downsizing, decades’ worth of belongings are finding their way into estate sales, donation centers, and secondhand shops. And unlike today’s era of rapid-fire consumption, many of those items were built to last, explains thrifting expert Virginia Chamlee, an antiques dealer and author of Big Thrift Energy.
“Not only do Baby Boomers have nicer stuff that was made when they first bought their homes, but they also inherited a lot of really good stuff from their parents—like midcentury modern furniture and more expensive, collectible items,” says Chamlee. “They’re offloading that stuff, too.”
The result? We’re entering the golden age of thrifting, Chamlee says.
baby boomers and older generations may account for less than one-fifth of the U.S. population, but they hold an outsized share of real estate wealth. According to Realtor.com, they control 34.1 percent of the nation’s housing stock value, and as more longtime homeowners begin to trade sprawling family homes for smaller spaces and easier lifestyles, the ripple effects are beginning to show up well beyond the housing market.
“What I'm seeing is a real wave of Baby Boomer downsizing—clients who've been in the same house for 20, 30, even 40 years moving into smaller homes, luxury condos, or properties with less to manage,” says Cindy Raney, a global luxury property specialist and founder of the Connecticut real estate firm Cindy Raney & Team. “The downstream effect is enormous. Decades of furniture, antiques, china, and art are hitting the secondary market all at once.”
The hard part for sellers is that younger buyers don't furnish their homes the way previous generations did. Formal dining sets, heavy wood pieces, and heirloom china often don't command the resale value people expect, even when the craftsmanship and quality are exceptional, Raney says. Much of it is ending up at estate sales, consignment shops, and donation centers rather than getting passed down.
The irony is that while the rise of fast fashion and budget retailers stocked with inexpensive home goods has reshaped what lands on thrift store shelves, it may also be distracting shoppers from a bigger opportunity. Tucked between discarded trends and forgotten impulse purchases are pieces from an era when furniture and decor were made with longevity in mind.
In general, when shopping for vintage finds, Chamlee says, be on the lookout for solid wood furniture with dovetail joints rather than today’s particle board, along with oversized artwork and substantial pieces made from marble and travertine. These are all pieces that are difficult to move but can command great value, she explains.
Here are some more specifics on what to look for during this golden age of thrifting, according to design experts.
TV Stands and Entertainment Centers
Oversized TV cabinets and entertainment centers may not top many thrifters’ wish lists these days, but Chamlee says they’re exactly the kind of overlooked finds shoppers should pay attention to. As flat-screen TVs migrated to walls, many of the bulky cabinets designed for older televisions fell out of favor, sending them to estate sales and secondhand shops in droves.
The trick, Chamlee says, is looking beyond an item’s original purpose. Old TV cabinets can easily become armoires, storage pieces, or closet alternatives with a little creativity. Remove the pull-out television hardware and add shelves, baskets, or cubbies for sweaters and linens. In smaller apartments where storage is at a premium, they can even function as a closet with a hanging rod installed inside.
“A big part of thrifting is thinking outside the box,” Chamlee says.
Sterling Silver
Silver is another category Chamlee says thrifters should keep an eye on, especially because many shoppers pass over it without realizing its value. Flatware sets, serving trays, and decorative pieces regularly end up in thrift stores.
The challenge is knowing what you're looking at. To determine whether a piece is genuine sterling silver, Chamlee recommends checking the underside or inner rim for a "925" stamp, which indicates the item contains 92.5 percent silver. Markings such as "silver plated" or "EPNS" (electroplated nickel silver) signal that the piece has only a thin silver coating rather than solid sterling.
Brand names can also offer clues, she says. Makers such as Tiffany & Co., Gorham, and Georg Jensen can carry additional value beyond the silver itself because of their reputation and collectibility.
Dining Room Furniture
Dining tables and chairs are incredible thrift pieces, says Nashville-based designer Brittany Blanton.
“A good antique woodshop can breathe new life into these pieces while still maintaining their character,” she says. “A solid wood plank refectory table with 50 to 75 years of wear will be much more durable than a newly built table.”
Blanton recommends looking for solid wood Windsor, Regency, or Arts and Crafts–style dining chairs, particularly those with carved wood backs. These pieces are often sold as sets of six or eight for close to the price of a single high-quality new chair, she says.
An updated upholstered seat or fresh chair cushion can also help personalize vintage seating and make it feel at home in a modern space.
Upholstered Pieces With Good Frames
Vintage upholstered furniture may require a little imagination, but it can offer significant value, says Atlanta-based interior designer Sarah Bowman.
Colors and fabrics from previous decades—think brown or orange crushed velvet—can make older pieces feel dated at first glance. But beneath the upholstery, many chairs and sofas were built with high-quality construction that's harder to find today.
Club chairs, Chesterfield sofas, tufted ottomans, and slipper chairs from the 1960s through the 1980s are all worth a second look, Bowman says. Reupholstering them can often cost less than purchasing a new piece.
When evaluating upholstered furniture, she recommends looking for kiln-dried hardwood frames, eight-way hand-tied springs, and pieces with good proportions and scale.
Original Artwork
Original artwork may be one of the most overlooked opportunities for secondhand shoppers, according to Sophia deDomenico, founder of Los Angeles-based Et Sal Interiors.
Previous generations often viewed artwork as an investment and frequently spent money not only on the art itself but also on quality framing. Paintings, charcoal sketches, lithographs, watercolors, and signed prints can all surface in thrift stores and estate sales.
She recommends that secondhand shoppers first focus on pieces they genuinely love, whether landscapes, abstracts, or prints. Then, look more closely for clues that may indicate additional value, including artist signatures or gallery labels. In some cases, the frame itself can also be valuable.
"The framing alone on these pieces is often worth hundreds of dollars," she says.
Vintage Textiles
Vintage textiles are another category worth paying attention to as more household goods re-enter the secondhand market, particularly pieces made from natural fibers, says Jessica Davis, founder of Atelier Davis.
Davis recommends keeping an eye out for embroidered cotton tea towels, which were especially popular from the 1940s through the 1970s. Their hand-stitched details can add character and warmth to kitchens or powder rooms, and they also make thoughtful hostess gifts.
Vintage cotton overshot throws and coverlets are another worthwhile find. Common in American homes from the 1930s through the 1960s, these woven textiles can bring texture and depth to a bedroom while remaining durable enough for everyday use. When shopping, Davis says to prioritize 100 percent cotton pieces because they’re naturally breathable, comfortable year-round, and designed to hold up over time.
Cotton flatweave rugs are also making a comeback, she says. Frequently found in homes from the 1950s through the 1980s, the rugs work well layered into spaces to add warmth and texture.
Determining value can be subjective, Davis says. More intricate embroidery and better condition can increase value, but ultimately, vintage finds often come down to personal connection and how a piece will fit into your home.
