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Homes & Gardens
Homes & Gardens
Eleanor Richardson

The 3 Things Designers Say You Should Never Buy New If You Want a Characterful Home – 'They Carry a Sense of History and Individuality That’s Difficult to Replicate'

Vintage bedroom with printed drapes, wooden side table, vintage lamps and wood frame bed with canopy.

Nothing adds character to a home like second-hand finds: the quirky jug that adds character to the kitchen table, a vintage silver tray that's the perfect catchall on the coffee table, a rattan sideboard that adds the perfect amount of texture. But when it comes to choosing between new and old, what pieces should you always look for second hand?

Whether you exclusively decorate with vintage or prefer to scatter your older finds among more contemporary additions, every scheme needs a little history. While most preloved pieces have character in their own right, there's a specific handful that designers almost always buy old for every project.

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