I may or may not have a flea market problem. If it’s a weekend morning and the weather is nice, odds are I’ll be out hunting for treasures. People are always asking me how exactly I find diamonds in the rough at my favorite haunts, and I thought I would share the love by telling you what not to do at the flea market. Avoiding these five common mistakes will help you score big the next time you go secondhand shopping — I promise!
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You’re deliberating too long
Let’s face it: Flea markets are best for impulse shoppers. If you’re the kind of person who likes to put items on hold at the store and come back to them later, you’re going to need to change your mindset to succeed in a secondhand shopping environment. In the case of vintage and often rare items, regret is all too real if you don’t act quickly, and you miss the boat on something. I try to shop with the attitude that I can always resell an item down the line if I redecorate or tire of it. I’d just rather act too quickly than spend night after night wondering why I didn’t just fork over $30 for that fabulous painting. Trust me: There’s nothing like regretting something you didn’t purchase and then being unable to locate it or the seller the following week at at an IRL flea — I’m speaking from personal experience here! If you see something you love (or even just really like), it’s best to purchase it ASAP; it could be long gone by the time you take your second lap around the market.
You’re sticking to a strict shopping list
Arriving to a flea market with a specific set of items in mind may sound like an ideal strategy — lists ensure focus and efficiency, right? Well, when it comes to secondhand shopping, following a list can be a little too limiting. For one, you’ll be extra bummed if you don’t end up scoring any of the items you came searching for. Additionally, if you stick too closely to a list, you may miss all of the awesome miscellaneous items around you. I generally don’t head to the flea market with any goals in mind other than to find cool things, and I’d say that strategy has worked. For example, would I really have stumbled upon an amazing vintage Dior suitcase if I had been focused on solely scoping out dinnerware? Most of my favorite finds are items I never could’ve imagined coming across in the first place, like a stunning vanity mirror, a vintage music stand, and yes, that suitcase! Keeping your eyes — and mind — open can work wonders.
You’re not coming prepared to shop
Whether you’ve traveled to a new part of the country to explore a legendary flea market there (I’m looking at you, Brimfield and Round Top) or are just strolling through a venue in your own neighborhood, you’ll want to leave your house prepared. This means packing the essentials: Your wallet (obvi!), some cash, and things like sunglasses, a sweater, or whatever else you need to stay comfortable as you shop. While credit cards and other forms of electronic payment are widely accepted today (but not always), it’s smart to bring some good old fashioned cash with you. (Even if you don’t arrive with a stack of bills in hand, plan to identify a nearby ATM in case you need run off and make a quick withdrawal). Additionally, note that sometimes, cash can also help you score a better deal, as sellers are often eager to avoid credit card processing fees. Spending five minutes packing your tote with the essentials will set you up for success. Don’t forget a measuring tape, too; if you scope a bigger piece of furniture out, you’ll want to make sure it will fit into your home and in your home.
You’re not showing up often enough
If you’re fortunate enough to live in a city with a weekly flea market, by all means, go to it as often as you can. I’ve found that going to the New York City flea markets regularly pays off. I now have a sense of what to expect at my regular spots and am well versed in pricing, openness to negotiation, and the like. Plus, inventory really does change week after week, so why not follow a little Saturday or Sunday ritual every weekend you’re in town? Waking up early and heading down to the flea market on a Saturday morning with a cup of coffee in hand has truly become one of my favorite things; I love that I never know what exactly I might find on a given day.
You’re staying home when the weather changes
Don’t let chillier temperatures keep you away from the flea. If your favorite spots stay open all year, that means treasure are still available — even if it means layering up and grabbing a pair of mittens before heading out the door. Keep in mind that flea markets can be great for sourcing seasonal decor, too. I’ve seen many filled with vintage ornaments and other holiday trinkets. You may even more buying power in the winter because so many shoppers stay home.
As an avid secondhand shopper, I’m always excited to see what my friends and favorite Instagram follows have snagged for a song at the flea market or thrift store. Sometimes the coolest finds of all time though are actually ones that cost $0 — that’s right, whether they’re from an anonymous curb donor, handed down from a family member, or found for zero cost on the internet (aside from maybe having to travel to pick something up and bring it back home). I polled 16 home decor enthusiasts on their favorite totally free finds, and let me just say, I’d happily incorporate any one of these pieces into my own apartment. You won’t believe the amazing scores below, and I hope they inspire you to keep your eyes peeled when you’re driving or walking through your town or city, scrolling on Facebook Marketplace, and beyond. Your next zero-cost find could be right around the corner!
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1. A wooden side table turned entertaining station
“My mom found this in someone’s trash and brought it home to me. She thought it would be fun to make it into a plant stand, which is a great idea, but I decided to create a mini chiller and wine glass storage for her house [instead], since she has a smaller space. I used two different colors of paint for a little contrast. I glued on a mini metal trashcan for wine, and I attached wine glass holders underneath with a couple of screws. Now, it’s a pretty little trash rescue piece for entertaining!” — Instagrammer Sarah Teresinski of Redeux Style
Credit: Natalie Wong
2. A vintage Chinoiserie armoire
“I did come across a really excellent curbside find in my grandparents’ suburban neighborhood: a beautiful vintage Chinoiserie style small armoire! I was out on a walk and spotted it down the street sitting on someone’s front lawn by the curb. Nobody was outside, and the home looked empty. I got home and somehow convinced my mom’s best friend to meet me back at the armoire 20 minutes later. We were somehow able to cram it in the back of her car and get it back to my parents’ house, where it now sits in their storage shed living rent-free until I can figure out what to do with it!” — InstagrammerNatalie Wong of La Girl310
4. A bed frame that got a green upgrade
I found this beauty hitching a ride on the side of the road once. [It} turned into such a cool statement piece for our daughter’s room after a little bit of paint. — Instagrammer Heather Thibodeau of Heathered Nest
5. Chairs that became a bench
“These two old chairs were headed for the dump, but someone listed them on Facebook Marketplace for free instead. I repurposed them by using extra pallet wood (also free!) on the seat to create a colorful upcycled chair bench for my backyard!” — Instagrammer Chelsea Johnson of Making Manzanita
6. A “work from bed” station
“I found this portable desk in the trash outside of my building. Something about the wicker and wood felt luxurious to me, so I took it home, gave it a good cleaning, and repaired some broken wood pieces with hot glue, threw a ribbon on it, and it was good as new! I even hot glued a wicker cup holder to the top, so I could drink water in bed. It became my wedding planning desk; I loved being able to slide my books and journals into the nooks on the side.” — Instagrammer and TikTokerClare Sullivan
7. A stylish secondhand sofa
“If you are fortunate enough to find someone downsizing, then you have reached the end of the secondhand rainbow! This is what happened to me last year: A neighbor knew of my obsession with rescuing secondhand furniture and passed along my name to another neighbor. I eventually became the adoptive mother to a number of her beautiful lamps, art, pillows, and other smaller pieces. When she took me to the garage, my husband got the call he dreads: Clear your calendar, we’re moving a sofa! I could tell from the perfectly upholstered feet that this would be a stunning addition to our family room. The room isn’t finished, but with the addition of a free sofa, I have some extra fun money to complete all the details.” — InstagrammerAnna Weaver of Anna Weaver Interiors
8. A special lotus drawing
“I scored one of my most treasured pieces of art for free in a dingy antique mall in Foley, Alabama. I fell in love with this drawing of a lotus flower, which was signed ‘K. Säwert’ and dated 1902, but it was a little out of my price range. Instead, I decided I would get this beautiful painting of fishermen. I kept going back to the seller’s booth to ask way too many questions about the lotus drawing. Eventually, the seller told me that he snuck over the Berlin wall into East Berlin when he was younger and bought the lotus drawing in a thrift store. He ended up showing me a huge collection of finds he snuck out of East Berlin during the Cold War. At the end of our conversation, I bought the painting of the fisherman, and he threw in the lotus drawing for free! They both hang in my gallery wall now, and I always think of how far they travelled to end up in my kitchen.” — InstagrammerLily Barfield of Lily’s Vintage Finds
9. A stunning vintage lamp
“I snagged this vintage flower petal lamp from the curb a little over a year ago, and I love it just as much now as I did when I first saw it waiting for trash collection day. I have to say, it was utterly gross when I first spotted it (think cobwebs and years’ worth of caked-on dust). I cleaned it up A TON, and now I feel like it brings the perfect Hollywood Regency/Art Deco-ish style to my living room. Plus, I’ve done a little research, and people usually sell vintage tulip lamps like these for over $1K. The resale value would be unmatched if I ever thought about selling.” — Instagrammer Lowe Saddler of Hot Sunday Home
11. A university classroom chair
“I walked past this chair for about a week on the sidewalk. It rained. It poured. And this thing just sat and sat. The cushion was completely destroyed and, for whatever reason, no one — including me — had seen the vision it could become. Finally, one sunny day while I was carrying an estate sale mirror, I passed the chair once more and had an idea. Of course, at the most inconvenient, arms full moment, I decided I needed it. So I hauled both items back over two sweaty blocks, and, as soon as I got home, I opened up Etsy and tracked down two yards of Rifle Paper fabric that perfectly matched the wallpaper I’d used in a room at our cottage. A few days and a staple gun later, the chair had a new life. Plus, it has a quirky story. I turned the chair over, and it’s a classroom chair from the University of Alabama with a “Do Not Remove From Classroom” sticker on the bottom, printed in an iconic mid-century font. I’m not sure who removed it, but I’m happy I could give it a new home 12 hours away.” — Instagrammer Heather Bien
12. An IKEA piece that got a makeover
“I found this console table on the side of the road one morning in my neighborhood. It’s an IKEA piece and was originally bright red. I had some leftover wallpaper and used it to cover the table. I absolutely love it. This sits at our front door and is used as the drop-off point for glasses, keys, and backpacks. I love not being particularly worried if something happens to the piece in this high traffic area of my home since it was free!” — Instagrammer Stacy Harvie of Capitol Vintage Charm
14. A beautiful bamboo dresser
“While living in Chicago, I stumbled upon a free vintage faux bamboo Stanley style dresser in great condition on Facebook Marketplace. As a frequent buyer and seller, it’s rare to see a listing like this. I was skeptical at first, but it was perfect in every way! It came painted in a high gloss black and fit in perfectly with our coastal style bedroom. ” —Instagrammer Lindsay Lewis of Grandmillennial Mama
15. A hooded wicker chair
“Years ago, my neighbor put a hooded rattan chair out for trash pick-up. I just happened to be leaving to go grocery shopping, saw it, and promptly put it in my truck. It’s now my check-out stand chair at my store. People asked to buy it all the time but it’s not for sale!” — Designer and Instagrammer Ariane Bethea of Dress My Room
16. A bar cabinet with good bones
“A favorite find of mine is a wood cabinet that came from Facebook Marketplace. This cabinet to the bare eye really was nothing special — it had a terrible yellow finish, and the back was falling off — but I had a vision and felt like it had the right bones to bring my antique bar cabinet dreams to life. When stooping or browsing Facebook Marketplace, to find the best stuff sometimes you have to look past the piece’s current condition. For example, is it a paint color you hate? That can be easily changed. Is it a quality piece? Does the curvature and shape of the wood draw you in or remind you of a piece you are inspired by? Now that’s how you know you’ve found a winner.” — Instagrammer Madeline Scalzi of Tulips for the Table
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Name:Kathleen Boonen, partner Jan Dönhardt, daughter, Lila, and son, Tom Location: Barcelona, Spain Size: 1615 square feet Years lived in: 10 years, owned
Walking by this neighborhood in Barcelona one day, Kathleen Boonen’s partner, Jan, saw this apartment for sale. After looking at the apartment — located in a building built in the 1950s and located on a lovely street with lots of pedestrian activity — Jan went home and Kathleen that he’d found the home of their dreams!
The couple loved the silence, the light, and the views of the apartment — despite being in the center of the city the home is surrounded by trees. The whole place feels more like being in a nest than an apartment. But it didn’t look like it does now when they first moved in 10 years ago. Kathleen says they’ve completely changed the home’s room layout; for instance, where the living room is now was once an old kitchen.
Kathleen is the co-founder of Lila & Tom, a fashion advertising agency, and also works as a creative director there. She is also the co-founder of Las Insólitas, a creative event agency that produces sustainable events.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: I would say “flea market” style.
Inspiration: Our intuition
Favorite Element: The light and the view are the favorite things about our home.
Biggest Challenge: The biggest challenge was to live in the place for a few years before being able to afford the transformation.
Right from the beginning we saw the potential of the place but we didn’t really had the money at that time to do the renovation. At the end, it was a good thing to get to know the place and to transform it knowing exactly when and where the light enters and according to our family habits.
Proudest DIY: A lamp for my son’s bedroom made from an old camera that I found at a French garage sale. The socket is from a hardware store in San Francisco (when I travel abroad I love to go to that kind of stores!).
Is there something unique about your home or the way you use it? When we came to live here the apartment was completely different! On the second floor the kitchen was were the living room is now. We have changed the room distribution. Now we have a big space with no walls and it really seems that we are in a different place than in the middle of a busy city like Barcelona!
Please describe any helpful, inspiring, brilliant, or just plain useful small space maximizing and/or organizing tips you have: As our kitchen is in an open space, we didn’t want it to look too much like a conventional kitchen, so we installed a horizontal fridge that is hidden in the drawers beneath the kitchen’s countertop. Also we didn’t want to have high cupboards so we managed to find an old candy display in order to store rice, pasta, cereals that we put on top of an old baby changing furniture piece that we transformed into a cabinet.
Does your home reflect your home country/city in any way? Our home reflects Mediterranean vibes. With its terrace, it feels like a summer holiday house.
What are your favorite places to shop for home décor that can only be found in your country? My favorite places to shop are flea markets and Wallapop, a Spanish site to buy and sell secondhand stuff.
Finally, what’s your absolute best home secret or decorating advice? My decorating advice would be to follow your instinct, your taste, and to listen to the place. At the end your home is a reflection of yourself.
This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
Hi! My name is Lula Poggi.
I was born in Argentina but destiny got in the way and brought me to Barcelona, where I live with my small family.
I’m an interior designer, stylist and photographer.
I have been working mostly as an interior, food and kid’s fashion photographer.
