Author: Steve Clark

Thrift shopping is something that you either like or you don’t. For some people, the idea of wearing clothes that have already been worn disgusts them; to which I agree, if someone has been sweating in a t-shirt without washing it, for you to then wear that would feel quite invasive. The clothing consumerism industry has done nothing but grow over the last decade. With the introduction of social media, online shopping and constant exposure to what everyone else is wearing, it can be difficult to not feel obligated to want and desire the persistent stream of clothing being released every day. Alongside these new pieces, comes expensive prices, sweatshop labour and having the girl next door own an identical item. High-street stores such as Topshop, H&M, Zara all sell hundreds of the same dress, skirt, jeans.

There is an argument that we should not be buying such an incredible amount of low-quality clothing. Spending more money on a piece of clothing that will last you longer is better for the environment and prevents you from having to replace the item as it wears out. One person simply doesn’t need 5 of the same t-shirt in a range of colors. They all serve the same purpose but look different to the eye. Stores such as Forever 21 rarely produce clothing of a high, sustainable quality. After several wears, their clothing becomes worn and sometimes even broken, what a waste of material, right?

How much clothing is wasted? 

American’s send an average of 10.5 million tons of clothing to landfills every year. Let’s make some calculations based on this statistic. If the population of the United States is 325,643,513 then 10,500,000 tons of clothing divided into 325,643,513 people of America means that on average each person wastes 0.03 tons (27kg) of clothing every year. That is the weight of an average 8 or 9-year-old child. If this amount is persistent throughout the consumer’s life, the average life expectancy for American men and women is 78.8 years, multiply that by 0.03 tons (27kg) and throughout their life, they will have wasted 2.364 tons (2144.6kg) of clothing. This problem total will only remain an issue if the consumers continue to waste and get rid of the unwanted clothing they buy. The consumers must think about what they buy: is it good quality? Will I wear this more than 20 times? Can it be susceptible to fashion for the next 5 years? Will you still want to wear this clothing item in 5 years time? It is these questions that upon consuming, will bring these buyers back to reality. Money should be spent wisely, there is no point in buying an item that you will “use up” like you would with a box of chocolates.

Consume Wisely.

You may be thinking, buying clothing from thrift stores, second-hand shops, it is still consuming. There is consumption of timeless to be well-used items, then simply buying clothing for the sake of it. You can buy things from thrift shops sensibly, buy clothing of a high quality so it lasts a long time. Thrift shopping can help us reduce this incredible waste number dramatically. When clothing is donated to thrift stores, as they sort through the items, anything that is not sell-able is sent to material recycling. Instead of your unwanted clothing stocking up in a landfill, they are utilized elsewhere.

Think about where the clothing you buy was made.

The poor, cheap conditions of sweatshops in Bangladesh are a hub for large brands such as H&M, Zara, and Topshop to employ factory workers at a cost, only a fraction of the price one item of clothing is sold for. Factory workers can be earning a limited amount of 3,000 takas a month (approximately £25). Many are forced to work 14-16 hours a day, seven days a week. The employment in other industries is so limited that often the garment industry is their only option in order to provide a stable income for themselves. The chemicals used to make fake leather have a heavy impact on the local villages surrounding the factories. The waste chemicals are flushed into the rivers and into their drinking water, causing many children to have mental and physical problems that will limit their life. Try thinking about that when you go to purchase that cheap fake leather handbag.

This mass production doesn’t only affect the people.

Chemicals used on crops to prevent insects from attacking plants has encouraged the plants to struggle. Plants are genetically modified so that they can produce more seeds, more harvest, to create more clothing that the Western world essentially doesn’t need. The farmers who grow the crops for this mass production system are forced to use pesticides, to keep up with other farmers and ensure they gain enough profit from their business. Living and working around so many chemicals can affect their body dramatically. Exposure to these harmful chemicals has been linked to the increased presence of Parkinson’s disease, asthma, childhood leukemia and much more. The production of organic material is decreasing, a high demand for material means than organic cannot always be an option. Mass production and organic material cannot work together.

How can I buy clothing ethically and in a sustainable way?

Think about the company you buy from before you purchase clothing, think about if you really must spend the money on the item. It may feel like only a small help in such a large problem, but if consumers start to question the ethical morals of these high-street companies, the brands are forced to open their eyes to such an important issue. Supporting these brands only encourages them to produce more and more clothing in sweatshops. Extend your clothing opportunity and try looking in thrift shops, the money goes to a good cause and you have hundreds of items to search through, that’s more chances of finding a hidden gem! There are also many ethical clothing brands entering the market, which allow you to support the fair wages of garment workers when you purchase clothing (here is an article about some of these ethical brands.) The extra effort you put in to ensure the money you spend is used to its full potential (for protecting foreign workers and our environment), will make you feel better about the clothes you buy and intertwine charity donations into your monthly spending habits. It’s a win-win situation, so join the thrifting, ethical shopping movement!

Want to educate yourself on fast fashion and this global issue? There are hundreds of documentaries about these problems, fast fashion must be exposed to more consumers. The True Cost is a great documentary about the secrets behind the system, it exposed me to understanding these issues, so I am sure it can help you too! Do you want to explore unique crafts and home goods? Visit thrift store in Panama City Beach, FL to get the desired goods at one place.

In the face of growing evidence of global warming, many people are wondering what they can do to help save the planet and stop the harm being done to the environment. In fact, people across the world are taking action by recycling, composting, using metal or paper straws and enacting other eco-friendly habits to try and do their part.

One thing that not many people think of when they try to reduce their carbon footprint is their clothing. We often wear clothes for years on end, and they seem less immediate to us than the plastic in our straws or our food packaging. Treating clothes in an eco-friendly way, however, can be hugely beneficial for the Earth and can reduce individuals’ carbon footprints significantly. Here are some reasons to recycle your clothes and help the planet:

Keep Clothes out of the Trash

If you throw your clothes away, there’s only one place they’ll end up: a landfill. It’s likely your clothes won’t degrade for hundreds, if not thousands of years, meaning they’ll be taking up space and polluting the ground for that long. Additionally, landfills are expensive and maintaining them takes important tax dollars away from other projects and services that can help people more.

Recycling your clothes is a great way to keep them from becoming burdensome garbage. Maybe your shirt will find a new life being worn by someone else. Maybe someone will use your denim jeans as part of a craft project. Recycling your clothes makes them useful again and prevents them from becoming a burden in a landfill full of trash.

Reduce Emissions

If your clothes do end up breaking down in a landfill, the lack of oxygen in these locations will cause your decaying clothes to release dangerous greenhouse gasses. Keeping your clothes out of a landfill helps prevent the release of greenhouse gasses, slowing the effects of global warming and serving the missions of organizations like the Climate Leadership Council and others.

Help the Less Fortunate

Recycled clothes are often sold at resale and second-hand shops for much less than they were worth originally. This gives people who need clothing an opportunity to wear exciting, interesting or stylish things for low prices. Donating your clothes to one of these shops will help people in need and provide them with the clothes they need to work jobs or live their lives for relatively little money.

Other organizations donate used clothing to people in need in developing countries. Your clothes could help someone struggling to make a living and give a better life to a person with a poor economic outlook. Your old clothes can be worn or resold by people in developing countries, improving lives and stimulating economies around the world.

Conserve Energy

It takes a lot of energy to create a piece of clothing. From the manufacture and treatment of various fabrics and materials to the sometimes-lengthy assembly process, each piece of clothing you wear took a lot of time and energy to create. Throwing away clothes after you’re finished with them means more will have to be created, requiring greater energy expenditures.

Recycling clothing gives it a longer lifespan, which justifies the energy spent to make it. The longer a piece of clothing is useful and functional, the less overall energy is wasted. Donating your clothes reduces the need for making more, limiting the amount of energy used in clothing manufacturing every year.

Clothes aren’t considered as often when people are attempting to “go green” and reduce their carbon footprints. Because of their longevity, few people think about recycling clothes, but doing something other than throwing them away is good for the world and good for other people. Being smart about what happens to your clothes after you’re done with them can reduce your carbon footprint and improve both society and the planet, making a substantial environmental impact. Even if you’re just one person, you have the power to make a change for the better and help heal the planet. If you’re someone with an eye for good deals, you can purchase high-quality items at Haven House thrift stores and get the better deals.

Your home furniture is one of the reasons that you love your home.  Furniture is the accessory that makes your rooms come together and helps you enjoy the amenities of a comfortable lifestyle.  Since it is a large makeup of our home, we often can’t replace furniture as often as we would like.  Instead of having to save up for furniture, why not buy it second hand or reuse furniture in a different capacity? What a great environmental gesture and you can mimic this trend in furniture finding. Check out these 20 tips to help you buy second hand furniture or find new uses for old furniture.

1.) Try out furniture before you buy: Whether you purchase second hand furniture on Craigslist, or a garage/estate sale, ‘sample’ the furniture before money exchanges hands.  Open up drawers in cabinets, sit in chairs and lean on tables.  If an item has been damaged you need to confirm that it is still in satisfactory shape for to you to start using at your home. Even if it is damaged, make sure you are confident you or someone else can fix it and pay appropriately for the condition of the piece.

3.) Trust your senses when buying second hand furniture: Furniture that has been in someone else’s home may have the odors of past owners. When buying furniture consider this in your decision. Some odors may air out, while others like pet and smoking odors may not.  Don’t get so enamored in the great deal that you forget this is getting ready to be part of your home and family for years to come.

3.) Second hand mattresses can harbor germs: Although tempting, second hand mattresses are not recommended to use more again.  Mattresses can harbor germs, bacteria, and bugs that you can’t see.  If you need a mattress and can’t afford to buy a brand new one, consider buying a futon mattress or air mattress until you can afford a traditional one.

4.) Reupholstering can you save you money: Second hand and old furniture may have been constructed with quality structural components and may just need a ‘face lift’.  Similar to renovating a older home, furniture was made with better workmanship and quality products years ago.  Instead of passing over an old looking Queen Ann chair at a antique store, think of the potential and money savings to buying a brand new replica furniture piece.

5.) Pay attention to the support system of couches: Couches are not created equal in their inner construction.  Be wary of mesh support or Styrofoam peanuts for the sofa cushions.  They will not last a long time.  Instead, opt for eight-way hand tied support construction and cushions that are filled with down feathers or wrapped foam.

6.) Laminate and veneer furniture can be beautiful: Don’t pass up veneer and laminate furniture just because it isn’t solid wood.  Check for veneer adhering to the particle board or substrate material it is affixed to.  Depending on where you will use the piece of furniture, laminate furniture can take more abuse and daily wear and tear than wood.  Often times laminate can be glued back if it is coming apart, but be weary of pieces that have large sections not adhering.

7.) Hardwood furniture will last longer when taken care of: Hardwoods such as oak and maple make durable and strong furniture.  When buying second hand wood furniture, especially sofas, stay away from soft woods like pine lumber.  Pine is better for pieces that don’t have to withstand weight and pressure over a long period of time.  Look at the types of wood when you consider buying a second hand piece for durability.

8.) Metal furniture makes good seconds: Wrought iron or aluminum furniture is beautiful when it’s been refurbished.  When you find second hand metal furniture think of the potential as opposed to how it looks.  Remove rust and repaint with a durable powder coat of outdoor paint especially made for covering metal furniture.  You will be surprised how a new coat of paint will breathe life into your new find.

9.) Children’s furniture may have been recalled: Be careful when buying children’s furniture second hand.   Often times the furniture has been recalled and the owner wanted to get rid of it.  Another important idea to remember is that it could have been damaged and fixed, but not properly.

10.) Don’t overlook getting dumpster and trash day finds: This doesn’t mean rummaging through dumpsters and coming out with garbage all over you! College dormitories, apartments and the night-before trash pickup in many neighborhoods is a good place to find second hand furniture that may still be in good condition.  Often times tenants move out or worse yet, are evicted and everything goes on the curb!

11.) ‘Assembly required’ furniture may not be sturdy: Self assembled furniture is a good and economical alternative to buying expensive brand name furniture.  Although, when looking for furniture at second hand locations be mindful of furniture that was self assembled.  Often times the furniture doesn’t still have all of its original pieces or may not have the original structural intent as when it was first assembled.

12.) Make sure to refinish old furniture for its new purpose: Want to take an old dresser and use it as a bathroom vanity? This idea is one of the latest trends and works beautifully especially for antique and older furniture.  Make sure to refinish the wood or other dresser material in a waterproof finish.  Re-purposing furniture is a great idea but you don’t want to ruin your ‘new’ found relic.

13.) Drive a vehicle large enough to haul away your furniture: One of the biggest mistakes to make is to not be prepared to take home your furniture. Many stores will hold your merchandise for a few days, while others will demand you take your furniture that day.  If you know you are going to buy a couch, map out a few stores, & yard sales to go to and have a truck ready to haul off your furniture. You would hate to find something that is ‘perfect’ but then can’t get it to your home immediately.

14.) Check furniture retailers who rent furniture first: Before searching all over town for a good place to find second hand furniture, try furniture retailers that rent furniture to corporations. These furniture pieces are usually gently used and often times these retailers hold clearance sales to get rid of their inventory.  Second hand furniture doesn’t have to be worn out from the previous owner.  Corporation clients sometimes rent furniture for a few months and then they’re returned back to the retailer.

15.) Second hand furniture from hotels can be perfect for your home: Although, a little more challenging to find, hotels often renovate and then sell off the old furniture to the public.  Look in the newspaper, online classifieds and word of mouth to see when local hotels near you may be selling furniture after renovating.  When buying hotel furniture stay away from mattresses as mentioned earlier in this article.

16.) Arts and crafts suggestions for masking imperfections: Have you fallen in love with a piece of second hand furniture but is shows wear and tear on the surface?  How about adding wallpaper cutouts as a form of decoupage to make a custom look? Add wallpaper, and then seal the surface with a clear sealer to the surface.  The sealer will prevent the wallpaper from lifting and will deter water rings and surface marks.

17.) Shop with dimensions in hand: When shopping for second hand furniture you need to have an idea of what space you need to fill and how large that space is.  Since you aren’t shopping with a furniture catalog that has upfront dimensions and descriptions, you need to be prepared.  Even if you don’t have specific dimensions, have a good idea of how much space you have to work with as most second furniture sources will not let you return your furniture.

18.) Ask to get on second hand furniture retailers mailing lists: Many well established used furniture retailers get shipments in on a regular basis.  Several of them may get their furniture direct from warehouses or other retail sources.  Ask if they have a mailing list or email list.  This way you can be notified when new shipments are due in and you can be one of the first to get the goods!

19.) Auction sites are a good source for used furniture: Furniture auctions receive furniture from estate sales, furniture stores, unclaimed storage units and many other sources.  Look up furniture auctions in your area to take advantage of quality second hand furniture.  Auctions tend to have more discriminatory taste when selecting their furniture so the quality and price will be more than that of your average online classified ad poster.

20.) Choose green painting supplies when refinishing: Opt for green varnishes and paint when refinishing a second hand piece of furniture.  Paint and varnish comes in varieties that have low or no VOC’s. Low VOC’s will help when preparing the furniture with little to no fumes. An added benefit will be once the piece is in your home it will be free from off gassing.

Finding second hand furniture can be exciting and rewarding once you get it to your home. Whether you refinish it or it is ready as-is, the money you save can be gratifying.  Use these 20 tips when buying second hand furniture and enjoy the search, it will be well worth it when you enjoy it at your home.

If you are looking to restock your home or revamp your closet on a budget, Haven House thrift stores are a great alternative to traditional retail.

Yes, this home I am about to show you was furnished and accessorized with about 95% thrifted home decor! From second hand shops, antiquing, off the side the road, yard sales, tag sales, Facebook pages you name it! I originally met this client, Amy off of a Facebook post I did when we first moved to Connecticut because I was trying to sell a lot of the extra home decor I didn’t need. She came into my house and bought a lot of things, then she said she stalked me on Facebook and found out what I did! She messaged me for a design consultation and I helped pull all of this thrifted decor together with a design plan. Now I consider her a great friend!

Amy is a thrifter and I would call her the BEST thrifter I have personally seen! When I went to her home she had a room in her basement full of amazing accessories she had thrifted and collected over the years. She wanted me to do a design plan for her but she admitted that she would not be purchasing any of the furniture but rather taking my idea and looking for similar THRIFTED items. Which was fine by me, I invoiced her for an hourly rate.

I do enjoy finding unique pieces and buying second hand. But I am not an expert thrifter. So I asked Amy to share her Top 5 Best Tips for Thrifting! Take notes-

Top 5 Best Tips for Thrifting Home Decor-

1. GO OFTEN- Goodwill, Savers, etc. put items out daily and throughout the day so there are always new items.
2.  BE WILLING TO DIG- There are always hidden gems amongst things you would actually never think to buy & think belong in the garbage rather than being sold. 
3. THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX- A vintage, chippy metal container for $1 or $2 might look like garbage but it can be used as a cute planter or crayon holder.
4. TAG SALES- Sometimes the junkiest looking tag sales have the best vintage items & cheap prices. Don’t do a drive by! Get out of the car & check it out. I have found so many amazing farmhouse, vintage items that I repurposed or just simply cleaned up that have become statement pieces in my home.
5. SHOP THRIFT FIRST- Check Craigslist & your local Facebook Tag sale sites FIRST before purchasing big items. I got my big ABC HOME credenza in my living room for $800 from a home in Westport. It was in excellent condition  but just didn’t fit in their new home since relocating from NYC. It was originally $3500, SCORE!

*I do want to say that I really appreciated Amy being honest and telling me upfront her plan to thrift pieces. That way I didn’t waste my time hunting down the perfect piece- rather I just gave her an idea of what to look for and I charged her by the hour. Designers either make money by billing clients by the hour and making a commission off of the furniture. Or if no furniture is purchased the designers expertise and suggestions does need to compensated with an hourly rate. I no longer offer design services, only to existing clients. Just wanted to share if anyone was curious how a designer works!

This is the credenza that Amy was referring to in her tips! Let’s take a look at a lot of the rooms on her main floor. I have helped her with her kitchen, master bedroom, daughters room and outdoor living spaces. But this post is already a lot of photos! So let me know at the end if you are interested in seeing the rest! 

This is the main family room. I will highlight a few of the thrifted pieces. But literally everything is thrifted. All of her sofa’s are IKEA that she bought off of a Facebook Tag Sale page, both for $300. Coffee table was $30 that I had her paint white. All of the books we accessorized with were about $2 each. The fur stool she snagged at Good Will for $6!

Below is a BEFORE photo of this family room. The BEFORE I got my hands on it!

Thrifted Family Room AFTER-

Everything she had originally was sold to pay for her new thrifted pieces. She took her time to sell everything and then to find the right thrifted decor that fit into her budget and matched the design plan I created for her. But I have to say Amy has great taste and recognizes value and style when she sees it, she just needs the help on pulling the look together. She follows my blog and other designers and tries to look for pieces that she is drawn to or that she see’s being used well!

Thrifted lanterns for $15 and glass jugs for $6! Amy is more of a maximalist so with that design style it is important to stick a few colors to avoid looking too busy. Notice in the bookcase I used all of her white, blue and gray accessories and clustered them in sections in the bookcase. 

Another large pieces of furniture she bought on a Tag Sale website and had it painted white. Target lamps that she found at Good Will. She went looking for a specific size that I told her and found the perfect set! Also the art was a $1o Tag Sale find!

Thrifted Front Room- 

Now onto the Thrifted Front Room. The only new item is THIS rug. Everything else is a thrifted find.

That bookcase was a $35 tag sale find that she had sitting in her garage. I told her to paint white and bring into this room rather than the dark heavy armoire that she had. It did have doors that she took off and sold for $50! Now it can showcase all her favorite collection of thrifted goodies! 

She lives about 5 minutes from my house- still very close to the beach. We used some fun little beach items in her decor too that are FREE!

BEFORE photo of Front Room-

AFTER of Thrifted Front Room-

Painting the walls in a bright white really made a difference too. See the fireplace screen? Amy found that FREE on the side of the road!

All of these vintage bottles were thrifted for $1 each! I decided to make a statement with them grouped on the mantle rather than spread out all over the home.

Thrifted Dining Room- 

This dining set was thrifted from Good Will for….you ready for this…. $35! Amy did pay $100 to have someone paint it after I suggested going with white.

Notice that paddle board chalkboard? Amy thrifted that from me! I had a friend sketch a chair with a chalk marker! I am super happy that it went to someone who didn’t erase it and appreciated it as much as I do. 

Thrifted Home Office and Playroom-

This office space doubles as a playroom for her darling three girls. Before I did the gallery wall around the tv I placed the art on the floor and pretended the tv was on the floor too. I play around with the arrangement for a little bit and made sure it is was evenly balanced by size, shape and color.

IKEA storage cabinets were also found on a Tag Sale Site. The desk is the same one I have but Amy bought her’s at Good Will! 

Again found the IKEA table and chairs on a Facebook Tag Sale page! Amy has the sweetest dog and had that canvas picture made of her @linney.lollipop that she shares on her own Instagram page!

I really hope you enjoyed the tour of this charming, character filled home! And it left you feeling inspired to make your home YOU! It does not require a lot of money. Amy was so kind to say that I made her house a home. I wish that for every single one of my readers.

Do you want to explore unique crafts and home goods? Visit Haven House Thrift Stores to get the desired goods at one place.

If you’re looking to restock your home or revamp your closet on a budget, thrift stores are a great alternative to traditional retail. Despite dingy lighting and overwhelming piles of product, thrift stores are treasure troves for those who know how and where to look. Follow these tips to score some exciting finds on your next thrift store trip.

Visit often. Thrift stores don’t put in regular orders or carry standard merchandise. What’s available depends on what has been brought in most recently. Find out the days and times your thrift store restocks its shelves to get first dibs on all the latest items.

Check the back racks. Unlike a traditional retail environment, thrift stores don’t typically carry multiples of an item. Some of the best pieces may be on the racks at the back of the store near the dressing rooms. These items have already been searched out and deemed valuable enough to try on. Just because they weren’t a good fit for the person who originally found them doesn’t mean they won’t work for you.

Dress appropriately. Not all thrift stores have dressing rooms so be sure to wear tight fitting clothing so you can try on pieces over what you’re already wearing.

Check clothes carefully. Check clothes for stains, loose threading, missing buttons and other potential problems. Be sure to turn items inside out, too, for a full assessment. If you’re considering an electronic purchase, plug it in to be sure it works. Even books should be scanned for missing or damaged pages. Any and all damage should be noted before making a purchase. Can you fix it?  Will it be worth the cost?

Ask for a discount. This might be more difficult at some of the larger thrift stores, but remember, all thrift shops need to get rid of items to clear the way for new inventory so it’s in their best interest to sell.  If there is a defect, don’t be afraid to point it out and ask for a lower price. If they can’t change the price of that item, maybe they can throw in another small item for free.  

Cash in on deals and specials. Many thrift stores offer discounts to certain groups, including seniors and students. They might also have special days or hours where items go on sale. Some stores may offer a discount for paying with cash. To stay up to date on the latest thrift store deals and promos, follow your favorite locations on social media. 

Shop seasonally. Just like in traditional retail, the best prices typically come at the end of a season. If you want to pick up some cheap Christmas décor or patio furniture, go thrifting right after peak time when everyone clears out their closets. This is also true of clothing, which means you should shop for boots and jackets in April and beachy sundresses in September. 

If you are looking to restock your home or revamp your closet on a budget, Haven House thrift stores are a great alternative to traditional retail.