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A Livingetc report describes a shift in interiors: secondhand furniture and vintage finds are increasingly sought for their character and distinctiveness, not only their lower prices. Market forecasts and a 2026 designer survey point to growing resale activity, but the figures cited are projections and reported survey findings, not proof that every market or shopper has changed in the same way.
Secondhand and vintage furniture are moving from niche sourcing to a more visible part of interior design, according to a Livingetc report drawing on resale-market forecasts and a 2026 survey of designers. The shift matters to shoppers and the interiors trade because it recasts older pieces as both distinctive design choices and part of a growing resale economy, rather than purchases made only to save money.
The report describes a change in who turns up at estate sales and thrift stores. Its writer recalls once finding few peers among the older shoppers and dealers at sales, but now seeing more Gen Z shoppers searching for clothing and furnishings. That account is an observation from the writer, not a nationwide count, but it illustrates how secondhand shopping is being presented as a broader cultural and retail practice.
The market figures cited suggest commercial growth, though they are estimates and projections. ThredUp’s 13th Annual Resale Report projects the global secondhand apparel market will reach about $367 billion by 2029, including roughly $74 billion in the United States. The article treats apparel resale as an indicator of wider lifestyle trends; those figures are not direct measurements of furniture sales.
For furniture, the report cites Mordor Intelligence estimates that the global secondhand market will rise from about $47 billion in 2025 to $62.7 billion by 2031. It also cites Technavio’s projection that the market will expand by about $11.24 billion between 2025 and 2030. Separately, UK vintage furniture marketplace Vinterior reports that sales to interior designers are up 53% year on year in 2026; the article does not provide the underlying sales totals or comparison period details.
Vintage Moves Into Design Work
The development changes how older goods are valued. The report says buyers and designers increasingly prize patina, visible construction and provenance—the story of where an object came from—as well as price. Repurposed materials can serve as a design statement, with the article describing a kitchen island made by ROAR Architects from a London plane tree that once stood in Soho Square.
For consumers, a stronger resale market can widen access to distinctive furnishings and give existing objects another use. For designers and sellers, rising attention may create more demand for sourcing, authentication and clear histories. These are implications of the reported trend, not guarantees that secondhand pieces will cost less, retain value or be more sustainable in every case; condition, transport and restoration all affect the outcome.
The shift also reflects a change in the signals associated with taste. The report contrasts the older status attached to pristine new furnishings with interest in items that show age or have a traceable past. That interpretation comes from the feature’s reporting and examples, while the market forecasts offer a separate, quantitative picture of resale activity.
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From Thrift Finds to Trade
The feature’s writer describes a long personal history of shopping secondhand, beginning with trips to auction houses and thrift stores with a grandmother whose budget limited what she could buy new. The writer later relied on resale for furniture, art and clothing. That personal experience provides the article’s starting point, rather than a formal study of consumer behavior.
The report links that history to a more recent change in visibility: estate-sale crowds now include younger shoppers alongside retirees, dealers and interior designers. It also cites 1stDibs’ 2026 Annual Designer Survey, in which 81% of surveyed interior designers said they source furniture and decor from the 1920s through the 1990s. The survey figure indicates reported practice among respondents; the article does not give the sample size or methodology in the supplied material.
“What used to feel niche now feels cultural. Thrifting is no longer part of the subculture. It’s the marketplace.”
— Livingetc feature writer
Limits of the Market Evidence
The figures cited do not establish how much secondhand furniture sales have already grown in every country or whether the projections will be met. They come from different research and commercial sources, with differing periods and measures. The material supplied does not include full methodologies for the forecasts or the designer survey, nor does it provide absolute sales figures behind Vinterior’s reported 53% year-on-year rise.
It is also unclear how much of the shift reflects changing taste, affordability, sustainability concerns or the influence of social media. The report describes those factors as part of the trend, but it does not quantify their separate effects. Its examples support a picture of growing interest, not a claim that new furniture has been displaced or that resale has become the dominant choice for all buyers.
Watch Sales and Sourcing Data
The next useful indicators will be updated market estimates and sales data showing whether projected growth continues, alongside clearer reporting on how resale purchases are divided among clothing, furniture and decor. Future designer surveys could also show whether the reported use of vintage sourcing holds across a broader or changing respondent group.
For now, the report points to a visible shift in interiors: older pieces are being chosen not just for economy, but for their individual character and history. Whether that translates into sustained growth across the whole resale market remains dependent on future sales and more detailed evidence.
Key Questions
What is changing in interior design?
According to the Livingetc report, vintage and secondhand furnishings are increasingly treated as deliberate design choices, valued for their character, materials and provenance as well as their price.
How large is the secondhand furniture market expected to become?
Mordor Intelligence estimates the global market will grow from about $47 billion in 2025 to $62.7 billion by 2031. These are projections, not confirmed future sales.
What did the 2026 designer survey report?
The article says 81% of designers surveyed by 1stDibs reported sourcing furniture and decor from the 1920s through the 1990s. The supplied material does not include the survey’s sample size or methodology.
Does the report prove that secondhand furniture is replacing new furniture?
No. It describes growing interest and cites market forecasts, but does not show that resale has replaced new purchases or become the preferred option for all shoppers.
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