8 antiques to avoid buying at an estate sale

Estate sales are wonderful places to source unique items for your home at bargain prices. Brimming with preloved furniture, ceramics, books, and more, they are frequent haunts of interior designers, who search for one-of-a-kind pieces to add character and lived-in feel to their projects. But they have their cons too.

As anyone who loves decorating with antiques knows, there’s a thrill to be had in finding that vintage gem that fits perfectly in your home. With a vast array of unique and characterful finds together under one roof at affordable prices it can be easy to get carried away at an estate sale, but there are some items that you should avoid buying at an estate sale.

With no refunds and no guarantees at estate sales there’s no going back, so spend unwisely and you could come to regret it. To help guide your thrifting we reached out to seasoned estate sale buyers and interior designers who decorate with antiques to get their advice on what pieces you shouldn't bring home from an estate sale.

8 antiques to avoid buying at estate sales

Generally speaking most of the interior designers we spoke to love a good estate sale for sourcing antiques as they offer all sorts of unique items, plus you can examine antiques up close. However, broken items and those in need of significant repair were often a red flag, such as damaged furniture, worn textiles and carpets, vintage lighting, and sets of items that have missing parts. Of course, items with hygiene issues such as old cookware, mattresses, and bed linen.

‘Do remember that many antiques need refurbishment. Don’t get carried away buying something thinking it is good value when it actually needs to go to the restorers. Factor in your prices, it could end up costing rather a lot or may just sit in the hallway gathering dust,’ says Nicky Mudie, founder of Violet & George.

On the flip side, many expressed the opinion that collecting is individual and there can be a time and a place for everything, so don't necessarily be put off certain items if you love decorating with vintage. ‘I can’t think of too many things to avoid at an estate sale because if you love it, it becomes your treasure even if it’s someone else’s trash,’ says Gaia Guidi Filippi, principal designer of Gaia G Interiors.

That being said, see this list of items not to buy at an estate sale as a bit of a warning, you might not always follow the rules, but do always consider why and what the plan is before you bring something home.

1. Damaged furniture

Estate sales are wonderful places to pick up characterful pieces of wooden furniture which are often of superior quality to modern pieces and crafted with time-honored techniques. That said, it’s important to pay attention to their condition. Whilst it can be tempting to be swayed by something at a bargain price in need of repair, it could end up being far more costly than it’s worth.

‘Condition has a great impact on value. Only acquire pieces that are free from damage and that will need little more than cleaning and polishing to look their best,’ explains Anthony Barzilay Freund, editorial director at 1stDibs.

Instead, look for quality, as it is the best-made pieces that hold their value, he adds. 'Furniture crafted from beautifully figured woods or with fine finishes, that show an attention to detail in the decoration, and that have an overall sense of balance and proportion, are more likely to be examples of good design than mass-manufactured items. From there you can take a closer look “under the hood" for things like maker’s marks, labels or period details like dovetail joints that might give you greater insight into the piece’s history – which adds to its value.'

When it comes to materials, look for pieces crafted from solid wood like walnut or mahogany advises Sara Swabb, founder of Storie Collective. ‘These timeless items have lasting value and can be restored or reimagined in a modern space. They bring a sense of history and character to any home.'

The odd scratch and scuff are part and parcel of antiques and add to their patina and unique charm, but take care of pieces riddled with woodworm damage or wood decay. ‘Wooden furniture with excessive holes – small holes or powdery residue could indicate woodworm, which can spread to other pieces in your home,’ advises interior designer Lauren Gilberthorpe.

In addition to rotting or damaged wood, be wary of pieces that aren’t sturdy, says Maryland-based interior designer Kelley Proxmire. ‘I avoid any wobbling tables and chairs. Some furniture can be repaired, but typically I avoid any wobbly furniture pieces, such as tables and chairs, because it is often too costly to repair them and the quality might be poor.’

2. Heavily worn textiles

Whether used as artwork, cushions or bedspreads, decorating with vintage textiles is a fabulous way to bring color, texture, and warmth to interiors as they often display unique patterns and skilled craftsmanship.

However, ‘unless they have undeniable vintage value, stay away from items that are too worn or damaged,’ advises Sara Swabb. ‘Stains or frays can take away from the beauty of the piece and often require costly repairs.’ With wool items, you’ll also need to look out for signs of moth damage.

Estate sales are often awash with old table linens, but unless they're in tip-top condition, it’s best to walk on past, says Kelley Proxmire. ‘I avoid old linens that are not perfect such as yellow-toned linens. Yellowed old linens can never be cleaned to look crisp and fresh so I would avoid them, as well as any bedding that is discolored. Also, be careful when selecting kitchen and table linens as some stains never come out.'

While vintage textiles can be incredibly beautiful, often they also come in irregular sizes and limited lengths. Unless you have an intended purpose in mind for the fabric, such as a cushion or a lampshade, then fabric remnants can have limited uses.

3. Antique carpets and upholstery

As with vintage textiles, antique upholstery and carpets can have problems so they must be examined thoroughly before buying.

'I would probably not buy an antique carpet for my house,' says Harriet Hansard, interior designer at Joanna Wood. 'They can often have wear and moth damage and require costly treating and fumigating.'

When shopping for antiques it’s always important to see things in real life. Photographs can often be misleading and you can’t always be sure of the quality of the item,' adds Harriet.

Interior designer Lauren Gilberthorpe also stresses the need to be vigilant for moth damage. 'Moths can quickly infest other textiles, so always check for signs of damage before bringing vintage upholstery home.'

Even if a piece of upholstery may be moth-free, if the fabric is worn it's good to be aware that reupholstery can be very costly. 'I typically stay away from upholstered pieces unless I have a pretty good understanding of what I am getting into with reupholstery and reconditioning and its potential costs,' advises interior designer Marianne Jones.

If you have already purchased, or are in the midst of purching, a rug or carpet from an estate sale that is looking a little worse for where, below are my favorite, tried and tested, products to help you salvage what you have, and make it look almost perfect.

4. Vintage lighting and electrical items

Take caution when buying vintage lighting and electrical appliances second-hand. Generally speaking, it’s best to avoid broken electrical items such as lighting as these items may need considerable work before they are safe to use in modern settings.

'Vintage lighting and appliances often need rewiring to be safe for modern use. Unless you're prepared for the cost of professional restoration, they can be more trouble than they’re worth,' says Lauren Gilberthorpe.

Estate sale hunter Elizabeth White Cook, also tends to steer clear of vintage lighting. 'Unless it's purely for decorative purposes rather than function, I tend to avoid antique lighting. The wiring is often outdated and incompatible with modern bulbs and I've ended up spending more on rewiring than on the fixture itself.'

If an item has been tested and you’ve fallen in love with it, ‘always test them before purchasing,’ says Sarah Jane, thrifting and vintage influencer. ‘Most estate sales will have all the lights on to demonstrate that they work, and since you're in someone’s house with access to outlets, it’s easy to check,' she adds. Bear in mind that ‘estate sales usually do not offer guarantees or warranties, so you may end up with a non-working item you cannot return.’

5. Incomplete sets

Take extra care when buying items that come in sets such as silver cutlery services, tea sets and games with counters. Of course, there’s no harm in buying a decorative piece of china or a teacup and saucer that’s caught your eye to put on display, but if you’re looking for something to hold its value then it's best to buy a complete set.

‘When acquiring pieces that are part of a set, it is only recommended that you purchase a full set, or a quantity large enough to be useful and of interest to a collector,’ says Anthony Barzilay Freund. ‘Beautiful tableware, whether it be sterling silver flatware, crystal stemware, or porcelain dinner services, can often be found in like-new condition, and classic designs by Tiffany, Baccarat, and Royal Copenhagen still hold collectors’ interest.’

6. Unverified artwork

There's a wealth of antique artwork up for grabs at antique sales, but be wary of famous names. If you see something that looks to good to be true, it probably is.

'At many of the estate sales I've visited, I'll often come across works by artists such as Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali and even Pablo Picasso listed as lithographs or merely presented as artworks in their nice frames. More often than not, these are cheaply produced reproductions (possibly posters or images torn from books) with little chance of appreciating over time,' says Anthony Barzilay Freund. 'As images they may have value (they make you happy, they can brighten a room or add visual interest...) but they have no intrinsic value, so make sure the price you pay takes this into account.'

Lauren Gilberthorpe agrees, stating that, 'unless you’re well-versed in provenance and authentication, be wary of art pieces that claim to be from a specific artist or era without proper documentation.'

7. Opened paints and liquids

While nearly full and seemingly untouched cans of paint and varnish might be tempting, it’s best to steer clear of these, as you can’t be sure of their age or condition.

‘Partially used paint cans, cleaning supplies, and chemicals may be dried out, separated, or hazardous to handle. Many of these products have a shelf life, even if they don’t always have a clear expiration date printed on them. Over time, the ingredients can break down or separate, making them either completely ineffective or unstable. Older paint – especially anything made before 1978 – could contain lead, a major health hazard,’ explains Sarah Jane.

Lauren Gilberthorpe also advises to stay away from antique bottles containing liquids. 'Bottles and jars with unknown substances can be unsafe, as their contents may have deteriorated or become hazardous over time.'

8. Ivory and taxidermy

While the sale of Elephant Ivory items is prohibited, some antique Ivory items are exempt and can be purchased if they meet the ESA antiques exemption rules. In order to legally purchase the item it must come with the correct documentation.

'Stay clear of anything that is banned such as ivory and scrimshaw, unless it has been verified,' advises Nicky Mudie of Violet & George. 'Personally, I am not that keen on taxidermy, especially animal heads.'

Of course, take some of these things not to buy at an estate sale with a pinch of salt. There are some exemptions to these rules, and if you have fallen hard for an antique tablecloth or a slightly worse for wear looking chair, it's not a hard no.

As Molly Kunselman of Molly Kunselman Design explains, ‘Buy it because it speaks to you, not because you think it's valuable, trendy, or simply a great deal or find. If you find an item you love, but it has a blemish such as a ceramic piece with a small chip, buy it anyway. You can probably barter the price down due to the blemish, but more importantly, a small imperfection speaks to the story the piece is a part of.’