I'm a Professional Thrift Shopper—These Are the 12 Things I'm Buying in April

From gardening essentials to Mother's Day gifts.

Ceramic teapot and teacup with floral designs on a table — Credit:
Getty Images

April is always a mixed bag when thrifting. People are still in the thick of spring cleaning, so you never quite know what you’ll find. This month is a great time to be on the lookout for summer must-haves, organizational items, and holiday essentials, such as Mother’s Day gifting and Easter décor. As a professional thrift shopper, here’s what I’m looking for when shopping secondhand in April.

Gardening Essentials

A wicker basket on grass with fresh pink and white flowers spilling out next to garden shears — Getty Images

Gardening season is just around the corner, and although it's still too soon to plant in certain zones, April is a wonderful time to stock up on some essentials.

Gathering Baskets

While we're still a few months away from summer harvests, it’s never too early to start collecting gathering baskets! Keep an eye out for sturdy baskets now so you won’t have to compete for the better baskets during summer when everyone else is looking for them.

Planters

Container gardening will be here before you know it, so now is the perfect time to collect your planters. When looking for planters, don’t forget to check the faux and silk flower section; you can always remove the fake flowers and keep the pot. Keep a list of sizes you’re looking for before heading out, and remember, you can always paint pots to match what you already have.

Hats

April is the perfect time to look for big floppy gardening hats, which can double as vacation hats. Thrift stores are absolutely filled to the brim with straw hats, so you can have a wonderful selection by the time the sun arrives and you actually need them. Before wearing, wipe the inside of the hat with a disinfectant and let it air dry outside on a sunny day.

Home Décor

A decorative wreath with flowers and painted eggs hanging on a door — Getty Images

Give your home a seasonal refresh without breaking the bank. Secondhand cabbageware, pastel linens, and other décor are easily found at thrift stores and will brighten your space for spring.

Cabbageware

You’ve heard of Cottagecore, but you may not have heard of Cabbage-core. For over 140 years, Bordallo Pinheiro has created Majolica-esque cabbage-themed tableware beloved by avid hosts and is shaping an entire design aesthetic today. The ceramic dishware isn’t especially easy to find, but handmade dupes sometimes appear in thrift stores if you know to look.

Easter Décor

This month, thrift stores will be featuring a plethora of bunnies and eggs in their Easter sections. If you aren’t able to get your hands on much before the upcoming holiday, check again after to stock up for next year. Many people edit their festive décor annually, so there’s always an influx of it in thrift stores once the season has passed. Keep an eye out for beautiful pastel tablecloths (don’t forget to check for stains!), spring-themed dishes, and cloth napkins.

Mother’s Day Gifts

A floralpatterned teapot on a kitchen stovetop next to a white mug — Getty Images

Show Mom you put extra thought into her gift this year by taking the time to find her something secondhand. Not only is this more sustainable than buying new, but it also requires more time and attention to detail.

Teapots

Thrift stores are filled with gorgeous antique teapots that can be gifted to Mom in so many ways. Transform it into a vase with a flower frog lid or gift it as-is with a beautiful selection of her favorite teas.

Books

If you’ve never given the bookshelves a good look, this is the month to start! There are many great finds to discover, from new releases to vintage books that can be used for home décor. Pair either option with an E-reader or gift cards to a local book seller.

Stock Pots

If you’re lucky, you might stumble upon a very nice stockpot in the cookware section. Fill it with fun items like a cookbook, tea towels, special herbs and salts, and a gift card.

Antique Lamps

Vintage and antique lamps offer some of the best deals found at thrift stores and make sweet gifts. It’s a good idea to purchase a lamp kit online to replace the old wiring—it’s extremely easy to do, very affordable, and provides peace of mind when gifting.

Vases

A bouquet of flowers given in a beautiful vase is always just a little bit more special than a boring old glass vase. Keep a back-stock of beautiful vases for just this reason, and gift the prettiest one on Mother’s Day.

Car Supplies

A first aid kit is put in the glove compartment of the car, a compact bag for medicines, a red box with pills. High quality photo — Getty Images

More time spent outside also means more time is spent in your car, driving to the dog park or taking a day trip to the beach. Keep your car orderly by picking up some essentials from the thrift store.

Organizational Caddies

The outdoor sports and hiking season is ahead; keep your car tidy and clean by using thrifted baskets or caddies and storing them in the trunk to stay organized. Label each basket, so you know what goes where. I also always recommend dedicating a basket to first aid supplies and one for any essential tools.

Brushes

Brushes are also excellent items to keep in your car. If something is especially dusty or sandy from a day outside and needs brushing off, a stiff brush works wonders and is easier to tote around than a towel that can get musty.