My favourite piece of furniture is a small wooden cabinet that I bought at a yard sale 17 years ago. It’s not much to look at. It’s plain, a little rough around the edges, with the veneer cracked in a few spots. But unlike most of my other furniture, it has a story.
I remember buying it for $15. It was a sunny afternoon, and for some reason no one had wanted it. I remember the struggle to get it into my small Cavalier, which was definitely not built to haul furniture. And I remember it being the only piece of furniture I fought for after a break-up.
By contrast, the nicest piece of furniture in my apartment is a wardrobe that I bought at IKEA. It was delivered. It took me about five hours to put together, and if I ever move, I’m not lifting that heavy sucker. It can stay behind.
Not so my little cabinet.
If you’re reading this, on a site called Winnipeg Thrift, you probably have similar stories about furniture, accessories or clothing. A favourite piece that you found at a yard sale, a flea market or a thrift store. It has history. It has meaning.
This is not meant to disregard retail. I have many pieces bought from IKEA, Walmart or Amazon. They’re sleek and modern, but they rarely have a story you’re excited to share with guests. They’re functional, and that’s about it.
But secondhand finds are more than just an interesting backstory. They also have an air of uniqueness, a one-off feel because they stand in stark contrast to the sameness of retail finds. Over time, these unique pieces, collected one by one, create a home, your home, rather than something that looks like a showroom in a department store.
Can you find this uniqueness in department stores? For sure you can. But part of the fun, part of your story, is finding something special when you weren’t expecting it.
I actually have a “thrift wishlist” on my phone that I check every time I visit a thrift store. These are items I already own in a generic retail version, but that I would love to “upgrade” with a unique thrift find. My current list includes a new coffee table, a nightstand, kitchen chairs, and various smaller items.
Because I already own these items, I’m not in any rush to find upgrades. I can wait for the right piece to come around, and when it does, I’m getting it.
Over the years, my little cabinet had many jobs. It housed my bunnies’ food and treats. It was used for general storage. It was a record cabinet with my record player sitting atop it. These days, it functions as a side table that also holds CDs and records.
I don’t see myself ever parting with this piece. It’s part of my story, and in turn I am part of its story. It’s a sturdy little thing, too, and I truly believe it will outlive me; I hope its story will then continue with a new owner.