Elle Hervin, a writer and vintage interiors expert with over one million Instagram followers at @elle_the_home_bird, shares her advice on securing secondhand bargains and styling them to create a home that feels collected rather than copied. For Hervin, second-hand pieces are essential for crafting a layered, individual aesthetic that showcases personality, leading to a truly authentic and joyful home interior. Here are her top tips for styling second-hand pieces in every room and where to find them.
The Dining Room
Vintage Shopping Checklist
- Wooden chairs (favourites include Bentwood bistro chairs)
- Dressers
- Vintage table linens
- Artwork
- Brass or silverware
- Vintage crockery
Styling Tips
Add a backdrop to your dining table. If space allows, install floor-to-ceiling bookshelves or a second-hand dresser filled with stacked plates, uneven pottery, brass candlesticks, and collected glassware to create depth and interest. In smaller spaces, hang original artwork on the walls; charity shops often hide a treasure trove of old paintings, photographs, and maps. Mix seating to avoid rigidity. Instead of matching sets, try two second-hand carver chairs at the ends of the table, a bench on one side, and mixed vintage chairs in similar tones.
The Kitchen
Vintage Shopping Checklist
- Vintage or retro bar stools
- Pot racks
- Artwork
- Ceramic bowls
- Vintage chopping boards
- Old French enamel tins
- Glass-front cabinets
- Copper pans
- Wooden crates
Styling Tips
Soften modern surfaces with wooden tones. Old wood instantly balances stone, quartz, and painted cabinetry. Use old chopping boards, bistro-style bar stools, and wooden shelving to create harmony. Don’t hide everything away; collected kitchens with second-hand pieces feel alive because they reveal personality. Include open shelving or a glass-fronted cabinet with mismatched crockery, vintage glassware, old pottery, and striped linens. Arrange items of similar tones in groups of three or five.
The Living Room
Vintage Shopping Checklist
- Dressers or cabinets (an old chest of drawers can serve as a TV stand)
- Oil paintings
- Brass candlesticks
- Footstools (can be reupholstered)
- Antique mirrors
- Occasional chairs
- Vintage pottery
Styling Tips
Mix eras deliberately. The difference between a curated space and a jumble sale lies in balancing old and new. Avoid locking the room into one period; instead, experiment with contemporary items alongside antique or second-hand pieces. For example, a contemporary lampshade looks wonderful on an old console table or battered pine chest. Buy for shape, not perfection. Seek pieces that look worn around the edges, such as a side table with peeling paint or an aged patina, an old sofa with an interesting silhouette, or mirrors with foxed glass. These items add authenticity.
The Bedroom
Vintage Shopping Checklist
- Bedside tables
- Chests of drawers
- Antique mirrors
- Lamps
- Artwork
- Bedspreads or throws
Styling Tips
Mix vintage textiles generously. Layer old quilts or bedspreads with patterned cushions for a layered feel. Vintage suzani throws and cushions add colour and interest. Include pieces with warmth and tone. Bedrooms benefit from items softened by age, such as worn wood, faded fabric, and aged mirrors, which lend a comforting, cocooning feel and add charm and authenticity. Pair an old pot cupboard with a vintage lamp for an interesting bedside.
The Bathroom
Vintage Shopping Checklist
- Glass storage jars
- Antique side table
- Vintage mirror
- Old brass hooks
- Second-hand wall cabinet with reeded glass
- Vintage stool
- Artwork
Styling Tips
Embrace aged brass and imperfect finishes. Soften functionality with aged metals and old wood, such as a small antique stool beside the bath or reclaimed brass hooks on the back of the door. Add pieces that feel unexpected. Bathrooms become more atmospheric when they include items you wouldn’t expect, such as vintage artwork or poster prints (safe in well-ventilated bathrooms), vintage ceramics, an old chair, or a shelf with books.
Top Five Shopping Sources for Second-Hand Gems
- Etsy – for vintage fabrics, old pottery, and original artwork.
- eBay, Vinterior & 1st Dibs – for vintage cabinets, chests of drawers, occasional chairs, and larger furniture.
- Local flea markets – for copper pots, vintage French enamel, brass, silverware, and cutlery. For a wider choice, visit antiques fairs like Newark Antiques Fair, Ardingly Antiques Fair, Sunbury Antiques Market, The Northern Antiques Fair, and The Great North Decorative Antique Fair.
- Local reclamation yards – for rare and individual pieces, as well as reclaimed fireplaces and vintage garden furniture.
- Online sellers – including Love Antiques and The Old Cinema London.
This article is based on The Home Bird by Elle Hervin, published by Mitchell Beazley. Photography by Emma Lewis.
