There’s a thrill in the secondhand hunt that younger generations can’t seem to resist. Whether it’s a floral plate discovered in a charity shop, a bamboo shelving unit rescued from Facebook Marketplace, or a slightly faded folk painting picked up on eBay, millennials and Gen Z are filling their homes with pieces that feel unique and full of character.
“Vinted has made buying second-hand huge,” says Gabrielle Downie, associate at Cheffins Auction House—and a millennial herself. “Our generations are realizing they can buy items for half the price on the secondhand market, often of better quality than buying new.”
She says Cheffins has seen a sharp rise in younger buyers attending auctions over the past few years, as sustainability concerns and tighter budgets push millennials and Gen Z toward more personal alternatives to mass-produced interiors.
At a time when younger generations are finding it harder than ever to buy their own homes, “buying second-hand really defines your space, ; it’s not someone else’s,” she adds.
From patterned plates and folk art to compact writing desks and midcentury furniture, younger buyers are embracing vintage pieces that bring warmth and individuality into their homes.
Folk Art
Millennials and Gen Z are increasingly drawn to antiques and vintage finds that feel personal, handmade, and slightly imperfect, and folk art is one category seeing a major resurgence. According to Gabrielle Downie, younger buyers are far less interested in buying pieces for status or prestige than previous generations. Instead, “Gen Z and millennials tend to buy what they love, rather than what they think they should buy.” That shift in taste has pushed folk art firmly back into fashion.
Gabrielle explains that folk art often refers to works created by unknown artists or makers without formal training, with many pieces drawing on tradition with a homespun, crafted feel. “Usually identifiable by childlike or endearing imagery,” she says, the style has been steadily growing in popularity for years but is now really taking off thanks to the current obsession with colorful, maximalist interiors.
Paintings in particular, often described as Provincial or Naïve School works, are becoming highly collectible, with their quirky figures, imperfect animals, and maple frames appealing to younger buyers seeking homes that feel curated rather than pristine.
Prints and Artwork
Signed prints and affordable artworks are also proving hugely popular among younger collectors looking to create homes with personality without spending a fortune. Gabrielle says prints offer an accessible entry point into art collecting, with prices ranging “from a few hundred pounds for a signed Mary Fedden print to up to £10,000 [about $13,400] for a Bacon.”
For millennials and Gen Z buyers who are tired of generic high-street wall art but unwilling to “remortgage the house” to build a collection, limited edition prints strike the perfect balance between style and investment. “Owning a limited-edition signed print really is the second-best thing,” says Gabrielle, describing them as an ideal companion to original artworks as budgets grow over time.
Patterned Plates
Forget minimalist white dinnerware; younger generations are embracing vintage patterned ceramics in a huge way. “In all honesty, no one wants a plain white plate anymore,” says Gabrielle. Instead, buyers are actively seeking out decorative, slightly worn tableware that looks “as if it has been handed down by granny.”
Once dismissed during the minimalist interiors boom of the 1990s, patterned dinner services are now flooding back into auction houses as maximalism, cottagecore, and “granny chic” aesthetics dominate social media and interiors trends. Gabrielle says pieces by brands such as Wedgwood, Davenport, and Nymphenburg, once left languishing in charity shops, are now being “quickly snapped up by the design-conscious.”
The renewed demand has dramatically pushed up prices. “A couple of years ago, a smart Spode service might have only sold for around £50 [about $65],” she explains, whereas the best examples now achieve “well into the hundreds or even the thousands.” Younger buyers are particularly drawn to the warmth and nostalgia that these pieces bring to tablescapes and open shelving displays. For those looking to tap into the trend affordably, Gabrielle recommends classic blue-and-white Willow pattern, which remains widely available thanks to its mass production in the late 18th century.
Bureaus and Compact Writing Desks
Hybrid working has also sparked renewed interest in antique bureaus and compact writing desks. Stuart Murray, owner of Retrovintage, says smaller-scale vintage desks are becoming increasingly sought after as younger people look for stylish ways to carve out workspaces in flats and shared homes.
“Compact writing desks are another fast-moving category,” he explains, reflecting the fact many people now need “a defined work spot in a bedroom or living area.” Antique bureaus offer practicality without sacrificing character, while also fitting comfortably into smaller modern homes.
Vintage Storage
For renters unable to redecorate or install shelving, vintage storage has become a practical solution and a design statement. Stuart says Gen Z and millennials are increasingly turning to antique and retro storage pieces to inject personality into temporary homes.
“Things like Hornsea jars, retro Pyrex, and practical stoneware are commonly chosen because they add personality instantly and work even in a temporary home,” he says. Functional but decorative pieces are especially appealing for younger buyers who want their spaces to feel individual without making permanent changes.
1970s Rattan and Bamboo Furniture
Texture heavy interiors continue to dominate social media, driving huge demand for vintage rattan and bamboo furniture from the 1970s. According to Stuart, lighter pieces such as shelving, headboards, and occasional chairs are particularly sought after.
“They are popular because they lift a room visually, feel less heavy in rented flats, and add warmth without needing decorating changes,” he explains. The relaxed, bohemian feel of rattan also fits neatly into the lived-in, layered look many younger homeowners and renters are embracing.
Midcentury Furniture
Midcentury furniture remains one of the biggest vintage success stories among younger generations. Gabrielle points out that brands like Ercol were once considered deeply unfashionable. “Around 25 years ago, Ercol and other midcentury furniture was unsaleable,” she says. “Tons of it was thrown into skips up and down the country. However, now, it’s become cool again.”
Today, the appetite for clean-lined Scandinavian and British midcentury design is enormous, with the best pieces selling for “hundreds of thousands” at auction. Yet Gabrielle notes there are still affordable entry points for younger buyers experimenting with the look. While serious collectors invest in iconic names such as Hans Wegner and Finn Juhl, later factory-produced pieces and furniture by lesser-known makers continue to offer strong value—making the trend accessible even to those furnishing on a budget.
