Thrifting Is My Love Language — And These Are the 5 Vintage Chairs You Can Still Get a Deal On
Vintage chairs used to be a dime a dozen. You could stop by any antique store or peruse the listings online, and leave with a solid wood chair for a song. Paying over a thousand dollars for a set of secondhand dining chairs? It was unheard of (unless, of course, you were truly on the pricey antique scene, but that’s a different audience).
In the age of Google Lens, however, it can feel like zero antiquing deals are left to be found. Walk into a thrift shop in any town, and prices that used to be under $50 are now $500 — if there are any left to begin with.
Luckily, a few chair styles can still be found affordably, if you’re willing to search. Even if they’re reproductions, they’re often solid wood, which is good enough for amateur enthusiasts interested in just decorating their apartments versus hitting the jackpot on a Facebook Marketplace steal.
Want to start the hunt for your next great find? You can still find a deal on these stylish chairs — if you have the time and energy to look.
Hitchcock Chairs
If you spot a black wood chair that is covered in decorative stenciling, chances are it’s a Hitchcock chair, or, more likely, a reproduction or dupe (yes, there were even dupes in the old days). Often, these chairs have seats made of rush or cane, and the chairs have a look that sits somewhere between farmhouse and eclectic. In a more modern room, they can read as an art piece.
You can often find them for a song on Facebook Marketplace. People sometimes inherit them from grandparents, deem them too country, and throw them up online for $25 a piece. But if you know how stylish they can look, their loss is your gain.
Buy: L.Hitchcock~2 MAPLE SIGNED 60s-80s STENCILED BLACK COUNTRY TURTLE SIDE CHAIRS, $295.00 for 2
Bentwood Chairs
Bentwood chairs are the iconic wood chairs that make you think of a French café or an ice cream parlor. They have a signature bent wood curved back (hence the name) that was groundbreaking for its time.
You can often find these chairs in thrift stores for less than $50. However, if you find an authentic Thonet chair, named for Michael Thonet, who developed the style, that could cost you a pretty penny — unless the seller doesn’t know what they have.
Corner Chairs
Lounge chairs have had many iterations over the years, from the La-Z-Boy to the Barcelona chair, but one of the earliest renditions was a quirky little chair called a corner chair. These often ornately carved chairs were popular in the 18th century and beyond, but they’ve never caught on at antique shops.
You’ll have no problem finding these on Facebook Marketplace or in a roadside antiques mall. I have a couple in my own home, which you can see here.
Eastlake Chairs
Ornate isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and the incredible detailing of Eastlake chairs is a bit of an oddity. It’s monastery-meets-geometry-class vibe.
Turns out this style doesn’t resonate with everyone, and you’ll often find dusty Eastlake chairs in the back of antique shops. So keep your eyes peeled the next time you’re vintage shipping.
Buy: Early 20th Century Antique Eastlake Chairs, $400 for a set of 2
Ladder Chairs
Ladder chairs have a farmhouse appeal, but, in the right setting, they could look like a beloved family heirloom. However, that country meets cottage look is what probably keeps them priced low at secondhand shops.
They’re a regular sight on Facebook Marketplace or at the local Goodwill where you can pick them up cheaply, then combine them with more modern or eclectic decor to keep them looking fresh.