This Is the Best Day of the Week to Go Thrifting for Home Decor, Pros Say

15.07.2024 - 10:08 / thespruce.com / Megan McCarty

Nearly every single item in Katie Mendelson’s home is vintage. Some pieces were found at auction or thrift stores—like the stepback cupboard that she stripped and painted bright blue—while others were passed down to her in some way.

There are certain common household items, like rugs, that she’s never bought new. 

“I have no desire to have a home that looks like a Pinterest board,” Mendelson, owner of vintage store Labor in Vain, tells The Spruce—and she’s not alone.

We tapped two thrifting experts—Mendelson and Annette Vartanian, the sourcer and stylist behind A Vintage Splendor—for their best insider tips on when to thrift home decor. Now, you too can find pieces that are not only unique, but easier on your budget and the planet. 

There are certain times a year when you may have the best luck turning other people’s trash into your treasures. Post-holidays, during spring break, and long weekends are common times for people to declutter, Marie Kondo-ing their homes and closets.

Erin Williamson Design

Holiday decorations in July, a patio set in the dead of winter—purchasing items when they’re out of season is the best way to get a good deal on them. Other shoppers may not be in the mood or don’t care to store them, and shop owners may be antsy to move the inventory.  

“Nothing keeps me up at night like vintage I didn’t buy,” Vartanian says.

Vartanian prefers to thrift first thing in the morning—that’s when the store is most organized, with shelves full of fresh inventory. After an initial loop through the store, she checks the “go back” areas, checking out items other shoppers picked up but ultimately left behind.

In general, weekdays are quieter than weekends. On weekends, stores are brimming with customers, and