One place I almost always turn to when I'm looking to give my home some character is the thrift store. They're filled with all sorts of home decor gems that make creating a personal, intentional, and eclectic space an affordable and inspiring reality. While the beauty of thrifted pieces is that they work in practically every room in the home, I've recently been focusing my attention on a space often practicality over takes personality – my home office.
Whether it's an assortment of vintage trinkets lined up on a bookshelf or a simple piece of retro furniture, decorating with vintage can work so well with home office ideas to transform these often quite bland spaces. These second-hand gems make your place of work feel not only inspiring but curated, speaking to you in a way that makes working from home feel enjoyable and comforting.
Interior designer Betsy Burnham says, 'Home offices should be special – we all spend so much time in them, it’s important that they reflect and support our personal style. So I think thrift shopping is a great way to furnish them. Find some great secondhand stores or a killer flea market, and just pull things that speak to you. Maybe you’ll find a piece of art, a guest chair that you can reupholster, a colorful area rug. These things are treasures and they’ll inspire you as you work.'
1. Vintage mirrors
While you may not initially expect to see a mirror in a home office, they're a surprisingly effective way of not only introducing character into the space but creating a sense of depth and dimension. They can also make these usually small home offices look bigger.
The beauty of decorating with mirrors is that they come in all shapes and sizes. Whether it's a floor-length gilded style that you've picked up at your local thrift store or a more ornate inlay piece to hang above your desk, these pieces open up a space (that's often one of the smallest in the house) and add scale. They reflect natural light and allow the room to feel brighter, resulting in a more uplifting space that soothes while you work.
North Carolina-based interior designer Lisa Mende swears by this technique. She says, 'When designing a home office, I often seek out vintage or thrifted pieces to add a rich patina to the space. Incorporating vintage mirrors with unique frames can add an unexpected charm and make the room feel both larger and brighter.'
This bone inlay mirror is unique in composition. It features a striking white and black striped border that's perfect for creating impact and giving a wall some personality.
This gilt mirror is a classic vintage style that will give a home office enduring sophistication. Place it above your desk or at the entrance of your space for a handy and stylish set-up.
This asymmetrical mirror is simple yet impactful and will make all the difference to a home office that's lacking in elegance. Pair it with some vintage wall art for a timeless combination.
2. Decorative trinkets
I don't know about you, but decorative trinkets and ornaments are one of the first things that jump out at me when I enter a thrift store. From uniquely shaped paperweights to glass bud vases, these small but mighty objects are perfect for creating a home office that feels representative of your tastes, welcoming you as soon as you enter.
Interior designer Shani Core proves the versatility of thrift stores as she explains the decoration in her own home office (pictured above). She says, 'From the vintage lucite dining table I use as my desk to the sterling compotes which hold my paper clips and rubber bands, so many items have been bought secondhand.'
While you may have once thought that decorating with vintage ceramics was only for the kitchen, think again, as china vases, lamps, and even plates make welcome additions to the walls and surfaces of a home office.
Shani proves this in her space, 'The sea glass porcelain Chinoiserie vases are a favorite decorative item, and also the special mounted coral on acrylic. And then my rattan etagere holds so many more thrifted items: ginger jars, antique plates, art, and books are just some of the items I keep on hand for styling and photoshoots!'
Shani swears by Chinoiserie vases to give her office some character. This ceramic style is similar to traditional vintage pieces and exudes sophistication and grandeur.
Don't be afraid to introduce unconventional decor into your home office. Shani has decorated her bookshelf with an array of vintage china, much like these classic Spode plates.
A vintage-style bud vase like this vibrant green style will give your desk a pop of color and a dose of whimsical charm. Fill it with your favorite stems for an inspiring and artful arrangement.
3. A reliable desk
A home office isn't complete without one essential piece – a desk. And it's these larger pieces of furniture that you want to last that can often be more affordable (and characterful) if you shop them second-hand. From midcentury mahogany to hand-painted pieces, these artisanal styles are far better value at the thrift store and just as lasting.
Betsy proves the power of one spotlight piece of vintage furniture in a home office. Referring to a recent project (pictured above), she explains, 'We recently did a home office in Beverly Hills for a wonderful client who loves a mix of styles. She wanted a big desk, and we were lucky enough to find her a fabulous vintage one.
'It’s actually a partner’s desk, so it’s extra wide and has storage on both sides. It’s made of white oak and has good lines, but it was pretty worn when we received it. We had it refinished, got all the drawers and doors working, and now it’s honestly smashing. Along with the client's many framed family photos, it’s the highlight of the room.'
Whether you're channeling transitional design tactics and opting for a retro desk that contrasts with your more minimal decor, or you're going for a full-blown maximalist haven with a colorful piece, a thrifted desk will bring character and patina into any style home office. The key to either look is choosing a piece that's high quality and sturdy, as you'll be sitting at it for long periods at a time.
4. A retro chair
Much like a timeless desk, a vintage chair can make all the difference to a home office, giving it a real dose of personality and charm. Thrift store stocks vary from place to place, but it's not hard to find some iconic styles when you look hard enough.
Chairs can be a cheap thing to thrift that will make your home look more expensive. While it's not always possible to find a specific style, going into a thrift store with an open mind will encourage you to feature an array of pieces from various eras.
Mixing decades creates a truly eclectic home office that exudes elegance and your tastes as a collector. Lisa agrees that this style can take a home office from ordinary to extraordinary. 'Additionally, a mid-century chair or a rustic table can elevate the aesthetic. When everything is brand new, a room can sometimes feel a bit flat. Blending new and vintage elements creates a welcoming warmth and imparts a distinctive character that is hard to achieve with solely new items.'
A midcentury style vintage leather desk chair is a classic style to look out for, as you can count on this variety to radiate sophistication and provide the utmost comfort. Don't be put off by swivel chairs either, you can find some iconic vintage styles that stray from the controversial gamer chair.
5. Artwork
If you want to create an uplifting home office that sparks inspiration and creativity, always decorate with art. It's surprisingly easy to find vintage prints, paintings, and sketches at the thrift store that can make your work-from-home space feel characterful and unique, nodding to your tastes and inspiring you as you glance up at them.
Whether you're channeling gallery wall ideas and showing off a collection of various sizes and styles of pictures on one wall behind your desk (think a antique landscape painting next to a little line drawing and a framed poster) or creating an accent wall with one iconic graphic print opposite your desk, art can give your office a real sense of individuality and charm.
Fear not if a thrifted print doesn't speak to you, as the frame just might. Thrift stores are filled with pictures from a variety of decades, meaning the frames are often unique in style, from simple gilded pieces to more ornate inlays. These accessories can give a wall a unique edge that beautifully contrasts with other, more contemporary styles.
This vintage-inspired still life is the perfect office picture that will shine solo or pair beautifully beside some older prints. It exudes sophistication and timelessness and will work in practically any style home office.
A graphic vintage map like this one will give your home office walls character and patina. Pair it alongside some contemporary pictures for an artful gallery wall that represents you.
Vintage style botanical prints like this Plumeria print are bound to inspire and uplift your office. This vibrant design is inspired by antique styles and would look best beside other thrifted pictures.
If your home office is lacking character and charm, consider heading to your local thrift store for some one-of-a-kind treasures that will take your space from bland to eclectic. It's not just the home office that secondhand pieces can elevate; there are thrift store finds that can transform your living room, too.
