5 thrift store buys that will transform your entryway – adding character and charm while sticking to a budget

There's nothing I love more than heading to my local thrift stores and spending the day scouring the endless aisles of goodies, seeking out some one-of-a-kind vintage pieces to add to my collection. While sourcing a specific piece isn't always possible, I'm never left disappointed by what's on offer and usually leave with something special.

There are second-hand pieces all over my home, but one room I would like to inject some more character into is my entryway. The entryway is the room you first see when you walk through the door and acts as an initial snippet of what's to come, so it's important to make this space welcoming, representative, and authentic to you. Thrift stores are filled with all sorts of meaningful decor and antique furniture that can transform a sometimes neglected, transitional room into an inviting space full of depty and interest.

So I asked interior designers and vintage experts exactly what second-hand pieces to buy at a thrift store to elevate my entryway, these are the five key pieces they reccomended.

1. Meaningful trinkets

I am of the opinion that entryways must always incorporate something personal. Whether that's a trinket box filled with sentimental knick-knacks or a framed picture that speaks to you, it's always a good idea to seek out a small but mighty piece of decor that represents your style.

Kate Walker, Founder & Director of KWD, explains the importance of incorporating a meaningful secondhand gem in the entryway. 'I’ve always believed that a truly beautiful home should feel curated, not just decorated. The most compelling spaces are those that evolve over time and reflect the personal history of those who live there. Antiques, heirlooms, or even a special find from a garage sale can bring soul and story into a space, particularly an entryway, which sets the tone for the entire home.'

Designing a home that feels like you is all about seeking out personal pieces. Kate delves into the entryway she designed above, explaining, 'The entryway, like much of the home, was layered with pieces sourced from unexpected places – vintage artworks picked up at local markets, sculptural lamps found at thrift stores, and even everyday treasures like shells collected by the children at the beach. These elements brought a lived-in authenticity and emotional connection that can’t be replicated by store-bought items alone.'

2. Upcycled seating

Seating is crucial in an entryway. Often, guests will be taking their shoes off (or putting them back on) or will simply need a place to sit while you say your goodbyes. A characterful chair is a welcome addition in this space and can be purchased for a reasonable price at most thrift stores.

Kate says, 'Thrifted pieces also offer the opportunity to reimagine something with potential, like reupholstering a vintage chair in a contemporary fabric, or restoring an old light fitting to suit a new setting. It’s not about cost; it’s about character. An entryway should feel like an invitation into your world, and layered, collected pieces help create that welcome.'

Embrace vintage furniture trends and opt for an ornate style in the entryway, such as a rococo-inspired dining chair or a dark wood Art Nouveau variety to give your space some decadence. Don't be put off by the condition of thrifted furniture either, as you can give your pieces a refresh by channeling painted furniture ideas or taking a vintage frame and reupholstering it with a vibrant fabric.

3. Chest of drawers

While furniture may not initially come to mind when you think of thrift stores, you'd be surprised at the amount of preloved pieces hidden in some of the bigger branches. An entryway is the perfect place to decorate with antiques of all kinds, but an old set of chest of drawers will always transform the area, acting as the ideal focal point and adding some much needed entryway storage.

Michael Angus, founder of Angus & Company, proposes this idea, saying, 'Foyers and or entries, I think, should inform like as it is in good stories, a foreshadowing of events to come. A prelude as to what is about to unfold. Most entries are not usually very large, so I feel should have an impact. The good news is that it is easier to achieve in smaller spaces. An interesting chest of drawers provides useful storage, character, and is a place for a lamp (which is a must in an entryway).'

The beauty of a chest is that you can store essentials in its drawers, for example, your keys or wallet that you'll need before you leave. And you can also use the surface to create vignettes and, as Michael mentions, add some soft lighting. If you can't make it to the thrift or your local branch doesn't stock any pieces that catch your eye, there are plenty of places to buy vintage furniture online for competitive prices.

4. Vintage pottery or china

Decorating with vintage ceramics will always make an entryway feel inviting and unique. You can find all sorts of old vases, bowls, and plates at the thrift store that will make this space feel homely and filled with charm and patina.

Take the entryway above, designed by Betsy Burnham. She has started an antique collection of blue and white pottery that transforms the area into a focal point, demanding the attention of guests when they enter.

'The entry of your home makes a statement about what and who is inside, so it’s fun to play with vintage pieces here,' explains Betsy. 'Multiples, like the blue and white pottery we collected for this home on Coronado Island (some old, some new), art, an antique bench or table – these are items that immediately speak to the homeowner's sensibility and personality. And how better to showcase pieces that have been previously loved, that have a patina as well as a history?'

Whether you're using a vintage china bowl for your keys and day-to-day essentials or you've sourced an ornate vase to hold a bouquet of fresh stems, thrifted pottery and china give an empty surface an extra layer of grandeur.

5. Artwork

Decorating with art will give any room some individuality, but the beauty of this technique is the character it brings to an entryway, representing your style as soon as you walk in. Thrift stores are filled with prints, illustrations, and paintings for affordable sums that can make the perfect centerpiece hung solo on a wall or with an array of other vintage pictures.

Decorating with vintage art is surprisingly easy, especially if you're channeling an eclectic look. You can make an accent wall out of pictures you've thrifted, and create cohesion by purchasing matching frames, or you can source one large painting to hang right at the center of your space above a chest of drawers.

Thrift stores are filled with treasures and can transform a pass-through area like an entryway into a personalized, meaningful room that's representative of its owner. There are plenty of second-hand pieces that make all the difference to other spaces, too, such as thrift store finds that will transform a living room.