Five top op-shop finds

Many Queensland households took advantage of the extra time at home during COVID-19 lockdown to spring clean their homes and donate items to charity.

Now those unwanted items are hitting op-shop shelves, providing bargain-hunters the opportunity to pick up cheap and eco-friendly homewares.

Vault Interiors founder Justine Wilson said property stylists and interior designers often sourced items from op shops and second-hand retailers.

“Any good stylist will tell you they not only source beautiful home decor at top-end shops, but they also enjoy the hunt and thrill of finding home decor bargains at op shops,” Ms Wilson said.

“It’s also a great way to create a more authentic gathered and travelled home feel without the price tag.”

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Ms Wilson said now was the perfect time to pick up home decor bargains.

“There are many amazing finds at these places, especially as many people have been clearing out, decluttering and redoing their interiors over the quarantine period,” she said.

Justine shared her top op-shop finds:

Wooden bowls, platters and serving trays

These were big in the ’60s and ’70s and have made a comeback as we lean more towards natural and organic interiors.

You can find many cool shapes and wooden tones from whitewash and teak, to stained woods.

Wooden bowls make great fruit bowls for your kitchen. It’s even nice to have a cluster of sizes and separate your fruits in an aesthetic manner.

Crystal

All types! This extends to decanters, glassware, bowls and cute little catch-all trays.

Etched crystal is beautiful and can be a great way to display jewellery on your dresser or use crystal vessels with lids in the bathroom filled with cotton buds and cotton balls.

A crystal decanter and glass set will jazz up your bar cart with a nod to old-world glamour.

Design books

This is a trade secret. I source a lot of beautiful coffee table books from op shops.

The trick is to buy the large oversize books and preferably with dust jackets the jacket may be torn so the trick is to throw it away and you have a lovely hardcover book left.

They usually have solid linen covers underneath and look great stacked on your bookshelf, coffee table or console table.

Pottery

Who doesn’t love finding vintage pottery? They make the best bookshelf styling pieces for your floral displays.

Neutral tone pottery is very “in” right now, and very expensive to buy new, but I have found beautiful pottery vases for around $8 at op shops.

There are many options including bowls, vessels, vases and small coasters, which will introduce a more earthy, handmade element into your home.
Ceramics

’80s-shape vases and bowls in geometric or rounded patterns are very “in” – think ribbed lines, or fan shapes in in peach, white, black and terracotta pink tones.

They make great standalone decor items but also wonderful table centrepieces, especially if you pair them with pretty olive tree branches or similar greenery.