Watching celebrity house tours on YouTube has led me through many endless Pinterest scrolls in hopes of curating my dream living space. But while I thought I was hundreds of internships and job applications away from a salary that could pay for items like actor David Harbour’s vintage commodes, I was wrong. You’ll be glad to know that New York City is a treasure trove for scoring great deals on secondhand furniture and decor.

Whether you’re looking to add vintage flair to your apartment, score unique statement pieces or just hunt for budget-friendly finds, these stores have pieces that will take you one step closer to having Architectural Digest knocking at your door.

2. Cure Thrift

91 Third Ave.

Located just a block away from NYU’s Third Avenue North residence hall, Cure Thrift is a nonprofit whose proceeds go toward juvenile diabetes research and advocacy. It’s the right store for those who find thrifting a little overwhelming — it offers a rather seamless shopping experience, with one area purely dedicated to delicate floral china sets, eccentric vases and stained glass dishware. While some items are on the pricier side, the store offers a unique selection of furniture, including drawers, side tables and chairs, each one with a different aesthetic from another. As a bonus, Cure Thrift offers a fascinating selection of art, including a whole wall devoted to painted portraits of dogs. 

3. Furnish Green

132 1/2 W. 24th St.

Furnish Green has something for everyone’s taste within everyone’s price range. Whether you’re into retro ephemera, minimalist pieces, bold bohemian or vintage rustic ornaments, the store boasts a diverse selection of furniture and decor, including unexpected gems that often go overlooked. One standout feature is the wheel of deals — a treasure trove of $1 collectibles brimming with unique finds like toy figurines, vintage matchbooks, sitar strings, cassette tapes, CDs, billiard balls and more. From playbills to Playboy magazines, I am certain a quick trip to Furnish Green would secure you a unique staple piece that would give your apartment a touch of flair, whether you score a porcelain foot vase or a nautical table lamp. 

4. The Salvation Army

208 Eighth Ave.

While the Salvation Army mainly stocks clothing, the Eighth Avenue location in Chelsea offers an eclectic medley of unexpected decor you wouldn’t typically find in carefully curated boutiques. Its unfiltered selection makes for a treasure hunt of quirky and distinctive finds — think mosaic clocks, vintage dolls, hand-painted floral crockpots and charming throw pillows. This also extends to the selection of art, and while the variety is smaller than curated thrifts, it is definitely the most cost-friendly, with some of my favorite pieces being thrifted from these very shelves. While the decor mostly consists of dishware –– again, some of my favorite plates I have ever thrifted –– there are select pieces of furniture that you can score for under $200.

5. Facebook Marketplace

Online

Facebook itself might not be the go-to social media platform of Generation Z, but don’t write it off just yet — on Facebook Marketplace, you’re almost guaranteed to score a great deal on exactly what you’re looking for. No matter how niche your aesthetic or design vision, there’s someone on the site offering the perfect piece to bring your apartment’s style to life. While it’s easy to use and there are no fees, there are limited protections on the products sold, so before you make a purchase, remember to check the seller’s profile, verify their location and review their payment method!

Contact Aryana Arora at [email protected].