Key Points
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Avoid bulky Tuscan furniture or full matching sets that overwhelm or date a room.
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Skip shiny brass, bold florals, and overdone trends like macrame for a fresher look.
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Choose timeless, quality pieces with natural materials and mixed finishes for balance.
Thrifting is one of the most sustainable ways to decorate a home, but not every secondhand find is as timeless as it looks on the shelf. From shiny brass fixtures to ornate furniture sets, sometimes the secret “treasure” you couldn’t believe you found can unintentionally make your space feel stuck in another era.
We tapped pros to find out the top thrifted finds that always date a home—and how to shop with intention so you can avoid buying them.
Meet the Expert
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Britney Luedecke is an interior designer and the founder of Signature Styles by Brit LLC.
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Sarah Trop is an interior designer and the owner of Funcycled.
Bulky Furniture That Overwhelms a Space
If you’ve noticed an abundance of heavy brown furniture or Tuscan-style pieces are your local thrift, you’re not alone. Interior designer Britney Luedecke says these early-2000s staples are super easy to come by—but can be some of the trickiest finds to incorporate into today’s homes.
“You know the mass-produced Tuscan decor, or heavy scroll-work mirrors, those pieces are not bad by themselves, but they’re just tricky because they overwhelm most modern spaces unless you balance them with cleaner lines or contrast textures,” she says.
Despite these pieces being harder to incorporate in modern spaces, Luedecke stresses that the goal isn’t to avoid older pieces altogether, but to shop with purpose.
She says the most common mistake people make when thrifting is grabbing pieces impulsively without knowing how they’ll incorporate them. Instead, know your color palette and design style before you shop.
“From there, make sure the item or items have good bones and that it’ll complement your space, not clutter it,” she explains.
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Matching Furniture Sets That Feel “Pre-Owned”
While you might not be able to believe your luck at scoring a full bedroom set at the thrift store, Sarah Trop, owner of Funcycled, says too many matching pieces can instantly date a space.
“Overly ornate or dark wood furniture sets, matching bedroom suites, or heavily carved pieces can dominate a space and read more ‘pre-owned house’ than curated,” she explains.
To combat this, Trop recommends mixing pieces with different finishes to create a collected look that feels intentional. For Trop, the goal is to curate a showroom, not replicate one.
Shiny Brass Fixtures That Miss the Mark
Outdated lighting is another thrift store culprit that can easily throw off an otherwise stylish room and make it look decades behind.
“Shiny brass chandeliers and light fixtures… When overly polished, they can feel more like an electric sunbeam than thoughtful design,” Trop says.
Instead, look for fixtures in brushed or aged finishes that add warmth and character.
“Softer finishes like brushed gold or pieces with natural patina tend to feel more intentional,” she says.
If you find a vintage light that you just can’t bear to part with, consider refinishing it or replacing the shade with something softer to make the piece feel current.
Bold Florals and Overly Patterned Material
Just because a piece is vintage doesn’t mean it’s timeless; the last thing you want is your thrifted couch to remind friends about the patterned, plastic-covered couches of their childhood.
“Tablecloths, cushions, or throws with bold florals or dated prints can quickly date a space,” Trop says.
Instead, focus on quality over pattern. Thrifting textiles made of natural fibers and with minimal prints—especially those that can be re-dyed or repurposed—bring the charm of a vintage find without locking your entire space into one era.
Overused, “Trendy” Thrift Finds
Even once-trendy thrift staples can make a home feel outdated once they’ve been seen everywhere. For Trop, several of these trends have crossed the line.
“Matching wicker chairs, full vintage bedroom suites, and macrame decor have been popular for years but are now everywhere,” she says. “Instead, focus on individual statement pieces. Source these: a single vintage chair with clean lines, a sculptural lamp, or a bold framed mirror.”
Ultimately, Trop believes that success with thrifted decor comes down to being mindful of your choices.
Read the original article on The Spruce
