Thrift stores hold a treasure trove of one-of-a-kind items for your home, especially when it comes to furniture. Secondhand furniture often boasts quality craftsmanship, luxurious materials, and unique charm, making it a superior choice over mass-produced alternatives in terms of both style and affordability. From eye-catching coffee tables to retro ’70s chairs, these pieces have the power to inject personality into your space or transport it back to a beloved era. What furniture pieces will be in high demand in 2025? We’ve consulted with experts to give you the inside scoop.
Meet the Experts:
– Andrea Jenkins, vintage reseller and founder of All Put Together
– Nicolas Martin, flea market aficionado and creator of Flea Market Insiders
Stone Furniture:
Drawing inspiration from brutalist architecture and the natural world, stone furniture is set to be a hot commodity at thrift stores this year. Andrea Jenkins highlights the rising popularity of stone furniture, such as pedestal tables, marble top dressers, and travertine coffee tables among enthusiasts of old-world European aesthetics. Given their weight, it’s advisable to bring a friend along for assistance if your local thrift store lacks staff to help you transport these pieces.
’70s Sofas:
Nostalgia for the ’70s is driving the demand for curved sofas, velvet upholstery, and boxy sectionals in the secondhand market. Nicolas Martin emphasizes the appeal of unique shapes and bold upholstery as an antidote to the homogeneous offerings of mainstream furniture brands. Warm and inviting interiors are embracing ’70s design staples like low-slung lounge chairs, cane furniture, and burlwood tables, reminiscent of iconic designers such as Milo Baughman and Karl Springer.
Skirted and Ruffle Details:
In a departure from the minimalist trend of the past decade, Andrea Jenkins notes a growing preference for soft, feminine touches in furniture design. Upholstered pieces featuring ruffle and skirted details are perfect for infusing a cozy vibe into your space. Jenkins advises thorough inspection for any damage before purchasing these items, especially as the looser fabric may be more prone to wear and tear.
Midcentury Modern Pieces:
The enduring appeal of midcentury modern furniture remains strong in 2025, blending seamlessly with a variety of interior styles. Nicolas Martin praises the timeless quality of midcentury designs, noting their versatility across modern, traditional, and eclectic spaces. While authentic vintage pieces are becoming scarcer due to their popularity, the thrill of stumbling upon a great find is what makes thrifting so exhilarating.
Spindle-Leg Tables:
Often overlooked in thrift stores, spindle-leg tables offer a touch of elegance and charm to any space. These pieces, characterized by their intricate leg designs, can be a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Keep an eye out for these unique tables during your thrift store visits for a touch of sophistication in your home decor.
However, Jenkins believes that in 2025, there is a shift happening. “Spindle tables perfectly combine two current design styles – modern folk and curvilinear design,” she explains. While traditionally made from oak or other red-toned woods, Jenkins points out that you can easily update the look by refinishing it to match your existing furniture.
Teak and walnut furniture, once overlooked for their size in the past, are now making a comeback this year. “Think of well-crafted midcentury credenzas, dressers, and farmhouse tables,” says Martin. He predicts a preference for chunky, sculptural solid wood pieces like Carl Auböck’s walnut coffee tables, which embody the handcrafted rustic-modern aesthetic. Vintage Danish rosewood furniture from designers like Arne Vodder and Børge Mogensen also fits this trend, often found secondhand with high resale value.
The influence of Cottagecore and Regencycore aesthetics, popularized by shows like Bridgerton and TikTok, has led to a lasting fondness for soft and traditional furnishings reminiscent of the English countryside. Jenkins mentions that items like curio cabinets, scalloped wood tables, and painted hutches are no longer overlooked at thrift stores.
In addition to aesthetics, furniture that offers practicality is gaining popularity, such as versatile, compact, and multi-functional pieces. Martin notes that with urban living spaces getting smaller and remote work impacting home design, modular furniture has become a practical choice, with vintage shelving systems and extendable tables being particularly sought after.
Floral fabrics are experiencing a resurgence, with vintage Laura Ashley pieces in high demand due to their feminine and colorful prints, appealing especially to younger generations for their fresh feel.
While the ’70s design era is receiving attention, ’80s and ’90s designs are not being left behind. Postmodern furniture, characterized by bold and quirky elements like lacquered pieces, sculptural coffee tables, and colorful tubular metal chairs, is becoming increasingly popular, particularly among Gen Z. These pieces are more accessible than midcentury or ’70s designs, with lucite and glass tables being sought after.
With a focus on warm and cozy interiors in 2025, natural materials like cane and wicker furniture are being thrifted more frequently, ranging from armchairs to coffee tables and clothes racks, aligning with the boho and organic modern trends.
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