How to Find the Best Lamps at Thrift Stores—and Safely Install Them in Your Home

In need of a new lamp? A trip to the thrift store is the perfect place to find a unique one. However, you may have to look past its current condition in order to envision its full potential—and put some extra work in on top of that.

Whether you like the lamp shade more than the base itself, or a finicky wire needs some extra TLC, there are several things to keep in mind when shopping for secondhand lighting. We asked three experts for their tips on adapting thrifted lamps to the modern home so they're safe, stylish, and practical.

How to Find Beautiful Lamps

The first step in finding a good secondhand lamp is to go to the right store.

"Start at a thrift shop in a neighborhood with great old homes that may be the source of great antique fixtures," says David Calligeros, founder of Remains Lighting. "Don’t expect treasures if the thrift store is in a town built entirely of 1990s ranches."

Once you've found a lamp you love, try to assess it beyond face value. "You might look for things that have a coat of house paint slapped on them," he adds. "That often makes something great look particularly valueless—but a savvy eye can see the proportions and style under the surface."

You'll also want to ignore how the base and lampshade look together, and instead evaluate each element separately.

"Either can be swapped out for something different, so if you're drawn to the silhouette of the shade or the design of the lamp base, buy it anyway and swap out the part you don't like," says Kate Pearce, founder of Kate Pearce Vintage.

Make Sure It's Functional

The trickiest part of buying antique lighting is ensuring that the lamp you love can function properly in your home.

"The wiring will often not work and, if it does, it might be unsafe," says Pearce. "Table and floor lamps can often be plugged in at the thrift store or estate sale to see if they work, but chandeliers and pendants are always more of a gamble."

Calligeros also recommends skipping fixtures from the fluorescent and LED era, since they are more difficult to rewire safely. Instead, look for fixtures with simple, screw-base sockets.

"Make sure that arms are solidly attached—no broken solder joints—and that you’re not missing any significant elements of the fixture," he adds. This includes the wall and ceiling connections, such as backplates, canopies, and crossbars.

Keep Safety in Mind

Wiring shouldn't be the reason you don't buy that incredible vintage light fixture, but it is important to make sure it's always rewired safely.

"Consult an expert restoration shop or, at minimum, an electrician," says Calligeros. "Proceed with caution if you’re doing this solo, and study up with videos online. Test everything before you hang the fixture."

Pearce notes that rewiring is much easier and cheaper than it seems. She also recommends swapping out the bulb when you bring a lamp home. "Some of the bulbs can be older incandescents, which always get hotter faster than LEDs, and are more likely to cause a fire," she says.

Still unsure if your lamp needs some electrical TLC?

"Does the lamp work? Is the cord intact? Is the cord frayed?" says Bene Raia, auctioneer, appraiser, and founder of Raia Auctioneers. "If the cord or any part of the lamp looks suspect, I would take it to a licensed electrician and have it rewired."