The Thrift Store Rule To Follow That Can Make Your Haul Much More Valuable

As tangible representations of history and a bygone level of craftsmanship, antique and vintage pieces are inherently valuable. When it comes to monetary worth, however, there are a few factors to consider if you want to spot valuable, high-end items at thrift stores. Rarity, famous provenance, and good condition are three such factors that most people, whether they're collectors, enthusiasts, or just passive explorers, will instinctively remember. There is one more, however, that you'll do well to keep in mind during your next thrift store visit. 

Next time you're hunting for antiques, even if you're not thinking of reselling them for a profit, make sure to grab pieces that come in pairs. Similarly, if, when you're flirting with bringing a given piece home, you notice it comes in a pair, never leave its mate behind — even if it costs you a little extra. As interior designer Laney Oaks explains in an interview with Martha Stewart, "It's one thing for an antique piece of furniture to make it through the ages intact, but for a pair to remain together is a completely different thing." Because they're so rare, pairs can be some of the most valuable items to seek out at a thrift store. "The value of a pair in great condition will often exceed a singleton's value times two," Oaks points out.

Antique pairs aren't necessarily two identical objects. That can be the case in certain scenarios, but, more often than not, pairs are items that were conceived to be used in tandem and complement each other. Think of serving spoons in different shapes or sizes, paintings whose imagery continues from one to the other, or an armchair with a matching footstool. These types of duos can be trickier to spot and, therefore, more likely to get separated along the way. As a result, if they've survived the passage of time together, they'll hold great value.

Two identical pieces, on the other hand, can simply be mass-produced items made in bulk, in which case they're not a pair, but parts of a series. Of course, if that series is rare and no longer being produced, owning not one but two copies is still incredibly worth it. There are other exceptions, too. For example, two identical bedside tables are a pair because they were made to be used as such.

Additionally, pairs — whether complementary or identical — are typically more coveted for interior design purposes, and therefore more valuable. While not everyone will know about the importance of symmetry in interior design, most will instinctively gravitate toward it as a way to make a space look orderly and polished.