I Asked 2 Thrifting Pros for the Dorm Decor They Always Recommend Buying Secondhand

Thrifters know that one of life’s greatest pleasures is feeling the adrenaline rush through your body when you uncover something unique at a thrift store. Bonus points if you manifested before you found it. Not only is thrifting a sustainable option for buying decor for your dorm, but it is also a great way to curate your personal style without leaning on current trends. 

Capital One Shopping Research from 2025 reported that secondhand shoppers save an average of $1,760 a year by shopping secondhand — and as a college student myself, this statistic is mind-boggling. That’s 88 times I could DoorDash, 220 matcha lattes I could drink, 17 months of apartment utility bills I could cover, and 40 times I could fill my car tank to the brim with gas. And that gas has not been filled to the brim since sophomore year.

My point is, why not start out your college experience by making thrift hauls part of your dorm decor? And why wander around a thrift store like a lost puppy when you have this handy guide on what to keep your eyes peeled for?

“I definitely spent the whole summer before my freshman year of college thinking about my dorm and what I wanted it to look like,” says Sammy Palazzolo, a junior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Palazzolo is a YouTuber who posts about travel and her college experience — and is a huge advocate for filling your dorm with thrifted decor. “If you just got into college, here’s your reminder that you can make the dorm of your dreams. How you do that is you’re going to start thrifting now for it,” Palazzolo says in an Instagram Reel. 

Aarica Nichole, a DIY content creator in Dallas, Texas, also thrifted furniture for her beautifully designed townhouse. I asked these two thrifting pros for their best advice on what to buy secondhand when shopping for dorm decor, and these are the five things they said to put on your dorm thrifting shopping list. 

Thrift stores typically sell only one of each item, as things aren’t being ordered and sold in bulk. So if you’re looking for some one-of-a-kind wall decor, secondhand art is for you. Many thrift stores carry an abundance of artwork, prints, and picture frames — and sell them for a fraction of what they usually cost when you buy them new. 

If you find a frame you love but aren’t wild about the artwork, Nichole’s pro tip is to remove the original print and add your own DIY art or photos to make a cute, framed collage. She also recommends using Command Strips to attach the frames to the wall so you get your full safety deposit back, or opt for a frame that props up so you can set it on your desk.

When thrifting, open up your mind to different kinds of artwork options — and don’t limit yourself just to prints and frames. “One day I was at this record store and they had a bunch of these 25-cent records and it was just the coolest artwork I’d ever seen,” Palazzolo says. “I bought a bunch of them.” She then arranged those records on her wall like a gallery, which added personality and vintage flair to her dorm room.

Brand-new mirrors can be surprisingly expensive, but Nichole says she has come across plenty of interesting mirrors when shopping secondhand. At stores like Goodwill, you can often find large mirrors for under $20.

While you may be able to score a new over-the-door mirror for a similar price, the cheapest ones tend to be a little flimsy and can give off that dreaded fun-house mirror reflection effect. Shop for a quality thrifted mirror instead and not only can you admire your outfit before you walk out the door, but also your sweet, sweet secondhand find. 

“I’ve actually thrifted two lamps for my apartment,” Palazzolo says. “Then I put in color-changing light bulbs and thrifted vintage broaches and pins to put in the lampshades.” Once you’ve found a lamp you like, there are so many ways to customize it with a little DIY magic, from painting the shade to decoupaging the base. 

Nichole says that secondhand lamps “are such an easy way to add a little character and coziness to your room.” Plus, they can make it that much easier to concentrate during long study sessions. Just be sure to find an outlet to plug in the lamp before you take it to the thrift store checkout — otherwise, you may bring it home just to find you have to get it rewired. 

A pro thrifter knows not to overlook the tiny trinkets in secondhand stores. Nichole says she has found plenty of small, ornate plates for jewelry, headphones, and keys. 

Thrift stores also tend to carry lots of cool flower vases — even if you use them for faux flowers, they still bring in that mood-boosting pop of color. As you roam the aisles, also be on the lookout for unique cups for your pens or makeup brushes, or candlestick holders for flameless candles.

Dorm room floors are a toss-up. If you have cold, hard tile, you might not be so keen on getting out of bed in the morning — unless, that is, you lay down an inviting rug. “Rugs are important for a dorm,” Palazzolo says. And because a new area rug can easily run you a couple hundred dollars, she says it’s a great item to buy thrifted. Just be aware that, as a fabric find, it may carry previous bacteria and stains. If it’s in the budget, you could pay to have it professionally cleaned. Who knows? You might just stumble upon a gorgeous vintage rug that will be an heirloom you bring to your post-college apartment and treasure for years to come.