I am beyond excited to be collaborating with Best of Roanoke today to bring you my favorite thrifting spots around the greater Roanoke area! If you’re from Roanoke (or want to plan a visit), go follow this awesome account! Genya and Stan are a couple who newly relocated to the area and do an amazing job of highlighting all the best places, events, and things to do in the greater Roanoke area!
Now let’s talk about the best places to thrift here in Roanoke, Virginia!
Did you know there are more than forty secondhand stores in the greater Roanoke area? The list includes dozens of thrift stores, antique stores and consignment shops, plus used books stores, architectural salvage yards and used game stores.
Today I’ll be sharing the best thrifting spots around town, including all of my go-to spots for furniture, homegoods, artwork and more. I’ve been finding some amazing treasures lately!
Located at 3425 Orange Ave NE in Roanoke. Open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This store is PACKED with decor items and homegoods—especially china and anything kitchen related. Prices are decent here and you will find some really pretty options if you’re looking to shop secondhand for holiday table settings or trying to create a gallery wall of vintage artwork. Plan to spend a good amount of time in this store and be prepared to dig—they’ve got bins and boxes full of treasures and it’s really fun to work your way through them. If you need a kitchen item like baking pans, casserole dishes, measuring cups, etc—check here first. They’ve seriously got it ALL. This thrift store also has an automatic markdown policy—the longer and item has been there, the more discounted it is,. Check the color of the price sticker and you might find an excellent deal!
Located at 543 Salem Ave SW in Roanoke and open Tuesdays to Fridays, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
This is a great little secret of a thrift store! They’ve got lots of vintage goods, a great book selection and tons of home goods and seasonal decor. The prices are excellent and it’s well organized and very clean.
Located at 2381 Roanoke Boulevard in Salem. Open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This is a pretty large thrift store and it’s packed! They’ve got a bit of everything here, but I especially love checking out their linens, homegoods and clothing. They do get good quality furniture donations and this store is clean and pretty well organized. The prices here are excellent—I’ve found some really great deals!
Located at 5511 Williamson Rd, Roanoke, VA 24012 and open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Salvation Army has always been a favorite thrift store of mine no matter where I live. Their prices are always very fair and sometimes you can even score a bargain on vintage home goods. This location is a great place for craft supplies, linens, glassware and small home decor items. Furniture, artwork and holiday decor are some other things you might find, and aside from Goodwill this is probably the best place for secondhand clothing.
Located at 3435 Melrose Avenue NW in Roanoke. Current hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
I’ve lived and traveled all over the country, and everywhere I go I’ve always had a local Habitat Restore. The Roanoke location is one of the largest, cleanest and most well organized Restores that I’ve ever been to. They have a good rotation of vintage furniture, art and home decor. They’re also a really awesome place to visit if you’re doing any type of home improvement project. Salvaged wood, bolts of upholstery fabric, new flooring, reclaimed cabinets, vintage drawer pulls—they’ve got it all. It’s always my first stop when I’m work on a creative project. Books and records are two more things they have in spades—they’re tucked away in the back of the store so don’t miss this section!
Head over to Instagram later today for some exciting giveaway news—you won’t want to miss it!
Well my friends, a thrift list is just a shopping list.
It’s a shopping list made specifically for items that you hope to find secondhand. It includes things you can’t buy new, like antiques, or that you don’t want to buy new for whatever reason (budget, environmental impact, etc). The concept of a thrift list probably seems pretty obvious to many people, so I’m not claiming to enlighten you with any great wisdom here. The way I manage my thrift list is what I really want to talk to you about.
My thrift list includes both short and long-term ‘thrifting’ goals, and although it’s called a thrift list, I’m not just casually thrifting for the items on my list (not all of them anyways).
I’ll walk you through my process.
It took four years of searching to find the perfect bed for my master bedroom. I found it on Facebook Marketplace last month for $75.00 and painted it green.
My Current Thrift List
Vintage green rolling pins
Antique/primitive/farm style dining table, no drop leaves
Tall/narrow wood china curio cabinet for the bathroom—(max: 24″w x 26″d x 6’h)
Bolt of sheer fabric for bed curtains (about 20 yards)
Vintage jar/tin/container for dish washing brushes
This is the same exact list I currently have on my phone. I always include measurements and reminders about shape, color, type, etc. if I’m looking for something specific.
These antique wooden chairs were on my thrift list when I lived in Oregon. I found the first three within a month, and the fourth took another five months. Mismatched, but similar in size and shape, I painted all the chairs green to unify them as a set.
Managing the list
I manage this list in two ways. The first is simple—I read it over before I head to a thrift or antique store just to give myself a reminder of things to look out for while browsing.
But I also manage the list actively, on a daily basis, by searching for items on FB Marketplace, Etsy, Ebay, local auction sites (and sometimes the big national ones) and Craigslist.
The lamp on the left was a find from earlier this year while I was antiquing in Texas. It’s the perfect bedside lamp and I was in need of a matching lamp for my husband’s bedside table. After a few months of searching, I purchased the lamp on the right from a seller on Etsy. Both vintage green pottery lamps with similar details and colors, they are mismatched but similar enough to coordinate. I love the asymmetry and interest they bring to the space.
The umbrella stand is a great example of an item I search for at least weekly. I am looking for a very specific McCoy umbrella stand. So every week I do a quick search on Ebay, Etsy, and auction sites to see if one has been listed. It’s an item that tends to sell quickly, so searching often is really important. Of course, I still hope I’ll run into the perfect one at a garage sale for $50 one day, but in the meantime, it doesn’t hurt to pop online for a quick search.
The antique ribbon display is an item I added to my list only this week—I’ve recently become obsessed with them after seeing one posted on Instagram. From my research so far, I’ve learned these pieces sell for several hundred dollars at the low end of the spectrum to several thousand at the high end. So this is likely a piece I won’t be acquiring for a while—it might take me ten years to save for one, ha! But, I may get lucky and scoop one up locally if I am diligent and keep my eye out. You never know!
I’ve been searching for my vintage aluminum Christmas tree this way for years. I haven’t found one yet, but I know I will eventually.
This is the point of the thrift list. It doesn’t always result in instant satisfaction, but it serves as a daily reminder to actively lookfor those items—both easy and seemingly impossible to find—that you’re most excited to bring home.
Some of the items on my list are always on my list. The McCoy pottery will probably never come off. I look for it automatically when I am antiquing.
This wooden tray was a quick find. It adds much needed warmth to the kitchen while covering up my ugly stovetop. It’s crowed with kitchen utensils in vintage McCoy pots, a collection I am always adding to.
That bolt of fabric is something I probably won’t be able to find (not secondhand, anyways). I’ll likely end up buying it new because it’s for a project I’m planning to work on in the next few weeks. Having it on my list just serves as a reminder to keep my eye out. It also reminds me to search on FB Marketplace often—people list bolts of fabric all the time!
The key to finding items secondhand is just patience and perseverance. You have to be OK with waiting a long time to find some items. It took me over four years to find a bed for my master bedroom!
Now go write down your thrift list, and get hunting! Happy thrift(listing) everyone!
That stack of beautiful vintage linens up there all have something interesting in common—I purchased them all secondhand. I’m a huge fan of ‘thrifting’ for home linens like bedding, pillows, table runners, curtains and more.
If you’re new to thrifting, you may be a little skeptical—understandably. But if you believe that purchasing linens secondhand is a nasty and germ-filled affair—I’m here to reassure you that it’s not. And to try to coax you over to my side of the fence. It’s very cozy over here.
I’ve been shopping secondhand for items like blankets, towels and throw pillows for many years now. At this point I would guess that about sixty percent of the soft goods in my home have come from secondhand sources. Most from thrift stores specifically.
How I started thrifting for linens
For me, thrifting for linens started as a way of finding the vintage and antique styles that I loved, but weren’t available new in stores. Reproductions have become common over the last five years or so. But back in 2010, no companies were remaking vintage styles (especially not in my price range). I loved 1950’s chenille bedspreads and a good tattered vintage floral quilt. So shopping secondhand wasn’t about saving money or creating sustainable habits. It was simply the only way to accomplish the style I wanted in my home. This is why thrifting for linens never seemed like an odd or gross thing to do. When you’re looking for vintage bedding, you kind of expect it to be used, ya know?
Over the years, I found a lot more than just vintage chenille throws in the Goodwill bedding section. From down duvets to entire bedding sets, vintage towels to throw pillows, there have been some real treasures.
Some of my best thrifted finds
Some of my favorite bedding has come from thrift stores, like this beautiful floral quilt and sham set. I purchased it at a Goodwill for $20. It’s 100% cotton and was in perfect condition when I found it. I’m pretty sure it was never used. How gorgeous and comfy does my summer bed look?!
In fact, most of the soft goods I buy from thrift stores are in perfect condition—they’re basically brand new. This beautiful Toile de Jouy duvet and sham set was $40, also from Goodwill. And, it came with a Ralph Lauren down duvet insert inside of it. That’s a heck of a deal if you know anything about the cost of authentic down.
I’m not saying that I find these linens on a daily or even weekly basis. But if you ask me, it’s well worth a wander over to the linens section the next time you’re out thrifting. It does take patience to find the treasures, though. When you’re hoping to find a complete set of bedding in a specific size, you sometimes have to wait.
I don’t aim to meet all of my linen needs via secondhand sources, as that’s obviously a bit unrealistic. Sometimes, you just need a new set of sheets. But, by keeping an eye out on a regular basis, I’ve been able to grow my linen collection and have found some really beautiful pieces in the process.
But seriously, aren’t thrifted linens gross?
Nope. No, they are not.
If you’re still caught up on the idea of thrifted linens being gross, think about it this way. When you stay at a hotel, you’re sleeping with linens (and a mattress!) that hundreds, maybe even thousands, of other people have slept in. In contrast, thrifted linens likely come from only one previous owner an are lightly used. And YOU control how much they’re washed before you sleep in them.
There may be a limit to the types of linens you want to find secondhand, and that’s ok too. For me, vintage decorative throw pillows are ok, but I won’t buy any other type of pillow secondhand. Likewise, I have a lovely collection of vintage towels from the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s, but they’re just for display and the towels we actually use are all purchased new. This is really just a matter of personal preference as we love oversize fluffy white towels for everyday use and the pretty vintage ones tend to be small.
Items to start thrifting for NOW
Thrifting for table runners, cloth napkins, tablecloths and curtains is an easy place to start if you’re a bit apprehensive. These items are all abundantly available at your local thrift store and are fun to change out seasonally. I found this cute, vintage-inspired runner at Goodwill for $5.99 last year.
Pro tip: Target actually donates overstock, clearance and returned goods to Goodwill on a regular basis. This table runner was a new-from-Target item that I found at Goodwill off-season. I’ve also found brand new organic sheet sets, quilts, entire bedding sets, rugs, throw pillows, etc. Target donates a LOT of brand new linens to Goodwill, so be on the lookout. (I’ve seen this in OR, WA, FL, and VA, but I am not sure if they do this in every area, so ask your local Goodwill.)
Where to thrift for vintage linens
So, I’ve obviously convinced you by now, and you’re ready to hunt for some new-to-you linens. If you want vintage specifically, where should you look?
Aside from thrift stores, antique stores are also a great resource—for throw pillows and quilts especially. I have a growing collection of vintage linens like needlepoint pillows and cotton tablecloths. Most of these items have come from antique stores. I do occasionally find them for a really great deal at a thrift store, though. My best deal ever was a cute mid-century needlepoint pillow for 10¢ at a rummage sale eight years ago—score!
When you’re looking for something very specific, online marketplaces like are a great place to search, too. Think Etsy, Mercari, and Facebook Marketplace. Last year I scored the Pottery Barn buffalo plaid duvet set that I’ve been eyeing for years. I got it for less than half price from a seller on Mercari. It was brand new and still in the original packaging! Total steal compared to buying new at Pottery Barn. These marketplaces are a great place to test the waters if you’re still iffy about ‘thrifting’.
Are you ready for the bins?
On the other end of the spectrum, if you’re a seasoned thrifter and want a real challenge, I urge you to give the Goodwill Outlets a try. Yes, the BINS!
Linens are the item I most commonly find there. I’ve found a few antique quilts in perfect condition (along with lots of tattered ones, which I also bring home to love). The bins is also a great place to find antique rugs.
If you’re a total newbie to Goodwill outlets, please watch a Youtube video of someone hunting at the bins so that you know what to expect, because it’s not a normal thrift store and honestly, your first time will be a bit of a shock if you’re not prepared.
Do bring your own gloves, hand sanitizer, and a bottle of water that fits in your purse. Speaking of your purse—bring an older the shoulder option so you have both hands free for rummaging. You’ll want to go earlier in the day and plan to stay for at least an hour or two to make the trip worth it (items are priced by weight, so you usually want a full cart—it’s cheaper than a half-full one).
Tips for caring for vintage, antique and secondhand linens
So, you found some pretty soft goods secondhand and excitedly brought them home. Now it’s time to wash them. And I have some tips to share with you about washing secondhand linens—especially vintage ones.
For most items purchased secondhand, a quick wash cycle with oxyclean will have it feeling fresh in no time. For delicate or vintage items, special care may be needed, so read on.
Removing stains from linens (or any fabric items)
I have a few tips for getting stains out of vintage (or any) fabric. My number one tip is always baking soda and an old toothbrush. Lightly dampen the item, pour a liberal amount of baking soda on the stain, and scrub away.
Recently I bought a large brimmed white hat from the San Diego Hat company for $2.00 from Goodwill. It had a huge tomato sauce stain on the brim (let’s hope it was tomato sauce). Two minutes of scrubbing with the toothbrush and baking soda and poof! The stain disappeared.
This trick is magic. It’s removes tough stains from everything including vintage tablecloths, clothing, shoes, carpets and more. Plus it’s all natural, ridiculously cheap and easy to rinse off after treatment. There’s also no harm if it doesn’t work—it’s not like the stain will get any worse by trying this method.
Borax is my other stain removing secret weapon. For light colored fabrics, washing on the warm setting with some Borax usually removes any minor stains. For darks and brights, you’ll obviously have to wash on cold but the Borax can still make a big difference.
Always air dry vintage linens
My last tip is to always air dry vintage linens—especially items like printed tablecloths, napkins or runners with lace details or anything made of cotton or linen. The heat of modern dryers is really harsh on these items and air drying with lengthen it’s lifespan.
What tips do you have for finding vintage linens secondhand? What’s your favorite thrifty linen find? I’d love to see them, please share!
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