Whether you call it “pre-owned”, “gently used”, or “second hand”, they all mean the same thing: someone else has already owned it. It is used. And that is perfectly OK! In the world of used items, some are beat up and cheaply priced while others are in great or even excellent condition and are priced accordingly. Just consider high-end auction houses like Sotheby’s and Christie’s. They deal in fine arts and rare items which cost a fortune. And most of what they sell, if not all if it, is pre-owned!

So in this post, we will examine places that can really be the source of those special pieces which will “bring things home” for you as you put the finishing touches on your tropical retreat. Or, if you are already a seasoned second-hand shopper, then you already know what we mean! You can create an entirely new tropical space with items that are all second hand if you know where to look and have lots of patience. Decorating in this way with the goal of really having an authentic and one-of-a-kind retreat requires being on the hunt and visiting your favorite second-handed places frequently. Let’s get into the details to see why.

Photo Credit: Cerulean Bay

When focusing on in-person shopping for pre-owned items, there are 3 types of places that will offer the most opportunities for finding those perfect pieces: thrift stores, consignment shops, and estate sales. Each of these 3 shopping environments are very different from each other when it comes to the variety of available items, the quality of each piece, and the cost.

Types of Tropical Home Decor to Look For

When you are out shopping, be on the lookout for the following because each will have its own very random selection of items:

• Woven baskets, trays and mats: When you need some natural texture, woven items are perfect. These can be displayed on walls, on tabletops, and on floors. As floor art, baskets can be grouped with trays that are set on edge up against a chair or side table. Mats bring in warmth and can be used in place of rugs.
• Wicker furniture: Wicker pieces are made from many different materials including rattan, cane, bamboo, and manmade synthetic materials. All of these will add some authentic tropical touches to your space. Furnishings such as chairs, ottomans, small tables and other accent pieces are all frequently available but do tend to sell quickly.
• Pottery, glasswork, metalwork, ceramics, and wood pieces: Look for tabletop and floor pieces including pots, jugs, vases, chests, boxes, planters, and other decorative accents. If you find any with particular tropical motifs on them such as seashells, palm trees, flamingos, etc, just be sure that they fit into the overall look you are going after and that they don’t detract from it by becoming an unexpected focal point or even “touristy” looking. Your eye will be drawn to these things and that can either be wonderful or not at all what you want.
• Tropical prints, artwork, and wall art: When it comes to your walls, be very specific with what you choose because their color or wallpaper pattern combined with what you hang on them will have a huge impact on your tropical space. There are a lot of great pieces out there and you want to be sure that these truly enhance your space with tropical beauty. We recommend avoiding anything that looks generic, trendy, or touristy.

When shopping in thrift stores, be prepared for a bit of DIY work at home. Many times things like framed art are piled on top of each other or are stacked up against each other. As people rummage through them, frames get damaged. If you find some really cool pieces but the frames are damaged, you might be able to repair them or touch them up. If necessary, just replace the whole frame. Don’t reject any great artwork or prints just because it has a damaged frame. If the art itself is fine and the price works for you, get it!

Photo Credit: Yelp / Thrift Hut

• Tropical fabrics: Pillows, cushions, throws, curtains, and other fabric accents bring softness and warmth to personal spaces. But be very careful if you buy any of these at thrift stores because these typically cannot be simply thrown into a washing machine to clean them. For this reason, many thrift stores and consignment shops do not accept them as donations. You really have no idea whose house these were in before and you don’t know how clean the environment was. Were there pets with fleas perhaps? Was the previous owner a smoker? They could be unsanitary because things such as spills or other accidents could have occurred which came into contact with these items. When shopping at estate sales, you are usually in someone’s home. There is no way of knowing what items were exposed to questionable substances. This can be an issue because unless the company conducting the sale has removed these items completely, they will be priced for sale.

So when it comes to things made from fabric, it is either worth it to buy new ones or, if you are handy with a sewing machine, you can make your own. Sometimes thrift stores have bolts of donated fabric available and if they have the right leafy or floral prints, you can make your own pillows, curtains, and other fabric accents.

1.    Thrift Stores: The Most Affordable Option

Thrift stores are usually run by nonprofits and charities. Goodwill and The Salvation Army are great examples. Nonprofits and charities fund their causes with the money made from these sales. There are also privately-owned thrift stores, maybe you have one or more where you live. Whether they are privately-owned or not, they are all stores which receive donated goods which are then sold to the public. Most thrift stores carry a wide variety of things ranging from clothing and accessories to kitchenware, small appliances, books, home décor and home furnishings.

Since thrift store inventories are based entirely on donations, the available stock is always changing and is never predictable. You just never know what these stores are going to carry and when. So if you want to focus on thrift stores as being your primary source of tropical décor, you will need to keep a regular schedule of visiting your favorites ones with the hope of not missing anything awesome that might be donated and then quickly sold. You can also ask a staff member what days they typically receive donations or if they think there are certain days of the week when the great stuff comes in over other days.

As you visit different thrift stores, you will find that some are simply better than others. Some are more disorganized with things piled on top of each other and others are more neatly organized. Some accept nearly everything and are packed with everyday items which for the most part are uninteresting. Others are more selective with the donations they accept which can create a better selection of items. Just be very thorough in both scenarios! You don’t need to spend hours searching, many times you can keep visits to these stores very short. As you bypass certain sections to look for home décor pieces and furnishing items, take a few extra minutes to look between things that are crowded together. Scour lower shelves which many people overlook. That one single piece you have been searching for just might be there on its own, waiting for you!

Photo Credit: Yelp / Thrift Hut

Tips for Shopping at Thrift Stores

• Be very patient: When a lot of inventory has been made available, shopping will require patience as you dig through things. But your reward will be finding awesome pieces at unbelievably low prices.
• Go often: Inventory changes quickly. On some days, these store will have a lot out on the floor and on other days they will seem to have already been picked through without having much to look at. But no worries, that is the nature of these stores. Visiting regularly will increase your chances of finding your tropical treasures.

Photo Credit: Flickr.com

• Inspect all items very closely: Check for damage or wear and tear on each piece you are considering, especially on anything with moving parts and on any furniture. Some imperfections are easy to fix and sometimes actually add character to a piece. Others might not be worth the hassle especially if it affects functionality. If you are considering anything electric like a cool table or floor lamp, have a staff member plug it in if possible to make sure it works.

Just remember that the only donations that are not accepted are those which could pose a potential health issue (think mattresses and many upholstered items). Other items are not accepted because they are too damaged or because they don’t work properly. But those are pretty much the only reasons why items are not accepted. This means that most everything else is accepted which means a lot will  be available for sale. So it is up to you to make sure your bargain purchase is in great condition, that it works, that it is safe, and that it is really worth it!

2.    Consignment Shops: Curated Selections at Great Prices

What Are Consignment Shops?

Consignment shops are different from thrift stores because the items are not donated. Instead, people bring in goods that they want the store to sell for them on their behalf. Many consignment shops are nonprofits and support a particular charity. Others can be privately owned. The store takes a percentage of the sale price, usually either 30% or 40% while the owner of the item gets either 60% or 70% for each item sold.

Photo Credit: Cerulean Bay

Types of Tropical Home Decor Found in Consignment Shops

Consignment shops typically carry more upscale selections of pre-owned items. Many of these include higher end brand and designer names, most of which you would not find at thrift stores:

• High-quality wood, rattan and wicker furniture: These will have minimal wear and tear or perhaps none at all.
• Antiques and other vintage pieces: These are usually authentic and have higher monetary value.
• High-quality mirrors: These can be both framed and unframed and are usually in excellent condition.
• Better artwork: Many times these are signed by the artist and are undamaged.
• Brand name and designer upholstered furniture and higher-end textiles: These include curtains, tablecloths, pillows and throws, all of which have been professionally cleaned.
• Lamps and lighting fixtures: Many times, really cool and stylish tropical-themed lighting can be found which were inspired by palm leaves, bamboo, tribal art, and other cultural designs. Inspect all lampshades for any damage or wear and tear as lamp shades in general are fragile. If you do find a great lamp but the shade is damaged, many times those can be easily replaced.

Photo Credit: Cerulean Bay

Many consignment shops have tiered pricing which means that items are priced at their highest when they are first received and put out on the floor. This will be displayed on the price tag along with a date for that price. Then, another date which can be several weeks away with a lower price will be displayed under the original date and price. If the item has not sold by that next date, the item will be sold for the lower price. Many shops also use a final third date and even lower price for that date. If an item still hasn’t sold and the third date arrives, bargain hunters can pick up high quality items for next to nothing because the store wants the item sold.

This is what makes shopping at consignment store so much fun for some people. They might see an item they really like and if they think it will be worth it to wait for that second date, they can come back at that time to see if the item is still available. If it is, they might buy it then. But there is always the risk that someone else may have already bought it by that time.

What is really cool is when you are out shopping and you come across items that have already reached their third date and they are perfect for your tropical space. You will be able to see what it was originally priced at and the instant savings you will receive if you decide to buy it! The markdown amounts can be quite significant.

If items end up not selling, some stores give the owner the option of taking the items back and others will donate them to local thrift stores. This is why you should ask the store what thrift stores they donate to and then go visit those stores. You can find some of the best quality items at thrift store pricing this way!

Photo Credit: Cerulean Bay

Each consignment shop will have its own policies about what they will accept as they curate their selections, how often items can be brought in, and how often they pay out to owners. Most shops send a monthly check to owners for their percentage of anything that sold in the prior month. Because of these policies, consignment shops tend to offer higher-quality items than thrift stores.

A quick side note about clothing as you might have a look while shopping for tropical decor: These shops only accept clothing on a seasonal basis and they carefully examine each article of clothing before accepting them. If an item is not clean, they won’t accept it. So you know you are getting good quality clothing that at least has been inspected by the store and is in better condition than what many thrift stores offer. Most thrift stores inspect clothing too before putting it on the floor but they only look for damage. Many times cleanliness is overlooked.

Quality and Variety

Regarding home décor items and furniture, consignment shops with good reputations will only accept items that are in very good condition and which only show minimal wear and tear. While it still can be very hit or miss about whether you will find those special tropical pieces or not, when you do, you are more likely to find that they are in much better shape than items found in thrift stores. Since you will most likely be paying somewhat higher prices at these shops, items are in much better condition and any necessary repairs or touch-ups will be very minimal.

Photo Credit: Cerulean Bay

Tips for Shopping at Consignment Shops

• Be open to negotiation: In some cases where tiered pricing is not used, consignment stores might be open to negotiation, especially if an item has been in the store for a while. If tiered pricing is used, we do not recommend trying to negotiate because you are already getting a really great deal, especially once the pricing has hit the second date or even the third date.
• Check for sales: Some consignment stores have sales at certain times of the year, others offer periodic discounts, and some even have special trunk show events. Stay in touch with the shops that you like so you can be informed about any great deals or events that might be coming up.
• Ask about delivery: If you are planning to purchase any large items such as pieces of furniture, ask about delivery assistance. Some shops do offer delivery service for an additional fee. If they don’t offer delivery services, it will be up to you to get your new pieces home.

3.    Estate Sales: Buying Directly From An Excellent Source

What Are Estate Sales?

Estate sales are awesome, plain and simple. These sales can take place on a single day or as is usually the case, over a period of 3 or 4 days. They are usually held in a person’s home by an estate sale company that was hired to come, organize, appraise, and price literally everything for sale that the owners or surviving family members have chosen not to keep. Occasionally a sale is held in the company’s warehouse location if the house is not be available for the sale. Everything is moved to the warehouse and organized for the sale there.

Photo Credit: Cerulean Bay

People have estate sales when most, if not everything in the house needs to go. Usually this happens when someone has chosen to downsize or when the homeowner has passed away. Other people choose to have them when they simply want to completely change the style of their décor or will perhaps being doing some remodeling and want to change things up. They can easily empty their house while making some money. These sales often include a lot of high-end home furnishings and décor, kitchenware and appliances, clothing and linens, toys, collectibles and memorabilia, sporting equipment and hobby items, outdoor and garage items, holiday decorations, and personal belongings. We have even seen things like food pantry items, kitchen spices, and personal bath and shower toiletries that have been used which were all priced for sale. At some of these sales, literally everything goes!

Photo Credit: Cerulean Bay

For people who love tropical home designed and décor, estate sales can truly be gold mines. They can be very hit or miss as they are totally dependent on what decorating styles were used by the homeowner and what the homeowner liked to collect. As you stroll through the house with other shoppers, you will find the common themes of the home and what the owners loved.

You will also find that many estate sales have a ton of items for sale because they are held in homes that are typically well-maintained and where people have lived for many years. You are much more likely to find better quality and higher-end specialty items such as antiques and other vintage pieces that you might find at a consignment shop but definitely would not find at a thrift store.

Photo Credit: Cerulean Bay Shop

Types of Tropical Home Decor Found at Estate Sales

Estate sales offer a huge selection of items, many of which have a common theme which run through them when the owners were into specific things such as classic cars, music, sports memorabilia, doll collecting, etc. So while you will find sales which have very little to offer in terms of what interests you, there are others you can go to which contain a lot of things related to travel including tropical destinations and related décor. Some examples of what you can find include:

• Tropical-themed items: Since you will be looking at a many items that range from clocks and dishware to lamps, linens, and collectibles, which were all owned by the same person, you have the highest chance of finding  the same tropical design or similar themes that work really well together in a larger group of unrelated items which you can purchase.
• Vintage furniture: Estate sales are great places to find older furniture which has stood the test of time and is still in great condition. Many times these pieces are wicker and are made of rattan or even bamboo or cane. Teak furniture is also a great find if you come across it as it is very expensive to purchase new and it is great for outdoor seating areas.
• Original artwork and sculptures: Many people own original art pieces of all kinds and in most cases, these pieces remained in the home for years. Estate sales are excellent sources of original art including paintings, prints, and sculptures. You might even come across things such as vintage travel posters and older authentic cultural pieces.
• Collectibles and antiques: If you’re a fan of collectibles, you might very well come across a home that has a lot of tiki or other tropically inspired pieces which are now vintage or are even antiques. Some homes are truly full of hidden gems.

Quality and Variety

The quality of items at estate sales is usually the best. The biggest reason why is because things in the home were most likely rarely moved from one location to another. Many owners have held on to pieces for decades at the same address. So these cherished items, which only now have become available for purchase, were spared the damaged that often occurs during frequent packing and moving. Even a trip to a consignment shop can mean scratches or dents along the way between the home and the store.

The other cool thing about these sales is that when you see these pieces in their original environment, you might pick up some great design inspirations from the combination of other items in the room and from the room itself that you otherwise might not have thought about on your own.

Photo Credit: Cerulean Bay

One unique aspect of estate sales is that many of them will gradually drop prices as the day or days progress. Items are at their highest prices on the first day of the sale. You can choose to return each day to see if a desired piece is still available and if so, you will see how much it might have been reduced in price. The last day of a sale means everything remaining is further reduced with unsold items being donated to a local thrift shop at the close of the sale.

Tips for Shopping at Estate Sales 

• Preview sales online: Check estate sale listings by subscribing to an event sales newsletter or other schedule such as estatesales.net. Not only will you see how close or how far the sale is located from you, they will often post hundreds of photos of items to be sold which you can preview early on to decide if a particular sale is worth visiting.
• Arrive early: Estate sales are usually first-come, first-served so arriving early gives you the best chance of snagging the best items. If you were able to review well-taken preview photos which show the room in which something cool caught your eye, you can head straight to that room upon entering the home to snag it!
• Negotiate prices: Don’t be afraid to ask for a lower price, especially on larger items or if you’re buying multiple pieces. Sometimes the estate sale company is able to negotiate if your request is reasonable.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to pre-owned tropical home decor, each shopping venue has its pros and cons. No two are really the same as each thrift store, consignment shop, and estate sale will have their own unique things which set them apart from each other. Each has their own advantages which can make them worth being a part of your regular shopping schedule.

• Thrift stores are ideal for budget-conscious shoppers who don’t mind hunting for hidden gems. You’ll find plenty of affordable options but the quality will vary greatly. Since thrift stores receive donations at any time, great pieces can show up at any time. But you can regularly visit your favorite one if you do find great pieces now and then.
• Consignment shops are perfect for those who want high-quality, curated pieces without buying new which is much more expensive. You’ll find piece which are in better or even like new condition but they will cost a bit more. Some of these shops have more to choose from than others as each has its own criteria for what they will and will not accept. Here too you can regularly visit your favorite ones to keep up with what comes and goes while snagging great items as you find them.
• Estate sales offer a unique opportunity to discover wonderful pieces before they are dropped off at a consignment shop or thrift store. These are the best places for finding things that are truly one-of-a-kind, vintage, or antique. The quality is often the best but prices can be higher, especially at the beginning of the sale. That said, great deals are easy to find if the particular location has items you are interested in. As mentioned earlier, it is worth it to preview sales online because while one sale might be close to you, others which are a better fit with what you are looking for might be across town. You have to decide which ones are really worth visiting and if you don’t mind driving longer distances to reach them.

Ultimately, the best place to shop for pre-owned tropical home decor depends on your budget, your level of patience, and your preferred shopping experience. We recommend exploring all three types of places to shop because you really never know where and when you will find an awesome piece. They are out there and it can be a lot of fun searching for them because the end goal is having your own amazing, tropical retreat for a bargain!

Photo Credit: Cerulean Bay Shop

So get out there and have an awesome day treasure hunting!