The 2025 Hosting Trend That's Great News For Thrifters

Thrifting is everywhere these days: From HGTV stars encouraging followers to check out their local secondhand shops for decor to resellers showing how they make money off vintage finds, there is a massive uptick in the trend of buying old versus new. One of the things that makes thrifting so special is that it feels like treasure hunting for what makes you happy and fills your space with unique designs. In fact, experts are really leaning into the idea of buying for preference rather than cookie cutter aesthetics. When it comes to thrifted glassware, there really are no rules. Mismatched and mixed glass pieces are visually interesting and add dimension to any room — and they are really trending as a hosting trick to elevate your table and save you money. Instead of buying new sets of matching glassware for your guests, pull from the pieces you already have and supplement with interesting finds from thrift shops, garage sales, and estate sale.

One of the biggest perks of thrifting and upcycling old glassware is how creative you can get. While cut glass is great for adding texture and dimension, colored pieces also let you introduce various hues that you might not usually include in your designs. If you have an all-white kitchen or dining room, for example, adding a few glasses in jewel tones can pull through a pop of color without overwhelming the space, and the bright pieces still come across as light and airy because they're made of glass. 

Thrifting glass items is a sustainable way to decorate and will give you a more original aesthetic than shopping at big-box stores that sell hundreds of the exact same pieces. There are a lot of valuable glass items you can keep an eye out for at thrift stores, but you don't have to specifically search for designers or expensive glass for this trend. It just depends on what calls to you and works for your home. Although, glass kitchen items like Murano glass have popped up on social media as a random find on a thrift store shelf, so you could be striking gold when grabbing your glassware. If you're newer to thrifting and don't know brands, you can always check for maker marks. 

When it comes to setting up your glassware and knowing what to look for, try finding varying shapes and sizes that create balance. For example, tall glasses are ideal for serving soft drinks and mocktails, while coupe glasses make for elevated drinkware. If you're hosting a themed or seasonal event, choose colored glassware that fits the decor but is still light enough to let the drinks show. 

For a more understated table setup, use various styles and sizes of clear glass to create dimension and texture without relying on bold hues. Paired with thick linen, clear glass creates a stylish setting without needing extra decor. The varying shapes and cuts of the glasses will do all the work of creating that visual interest on a thrift store budget. You should also be careful of a health hazard when thrift shopping for glass — vintage glass can contain uranium, lead, or other dangerous components. Make sure you know what you're drinking from before using older thrifted pieces.