Thrifting and antiques can be overwhelming for a number of reasons – there’s always so much to choose from, and the items aren’t always organized in a logical way. That’s why I follow a few simple tips every time I go shopping. First, I set a limit: only one item per market or shop – no questions asked – which forces me to rank my finds so that I only walk away with my favorites. Second, I eliminate anything that can’t fit in my arms or hands. And lastly and most importantly, I stick to simple color palettes or combinations to make my shopping picks, like black and white.
The first two limits are purely for practical purposes—there’s only so much that can fit in a bag or suitcase, and, as a food and travel writer who likes to overpack, I’m probably already hitting Delta’s generous 70-pound weight limit when I’m traveling. . The black and white motif, however, is a deliberate design decision.
The base of my apartment is modern, primarily neutrals, and already leans towards a black and white color story, which is why I chose this palette as a frugal guide. This classic duo of colors (and its derivatives — hello, gray!) never clash, despite each individual shade’s mutual contrast, and pieces in this palette can accent an already busy or a more modern, simpler living space.
Not only has this shopping rule saved me from overbuying, which I had a tendency to do in the past, but it can also work in different design styles and in more colorful settings, thanks in part to the simplicity of black and white, especially if you apply this rule to smaller items. Nothing black and white will ever really overpower a room; for example, guests are usually drawn to my oversized camel couch, but my tiny black-and-white objects—an onyx turtle from Cancun, an antique piggy bank from Lucca, Italy—fade into the background. And on purpose – I want the guests to notice them only 15 minutes into the conversation. I want to be asked about their significance and the mystery that surrounds them.
It turns out that this buying rule makes sense for designers, too. “I’m obsessed with bold and bright colors and patterns, as well as collecting objects from around the world,” says interior designer Anthony Gianacakaos of Anthony George Home. “But following a specific or muted color scheme, at least when it comes to accent pieces, will allow you to bring more memories into a room without making it too crowded or chaotic. It also allows the bigger pieces to shine.”
This is exactly the effect of this shopping rule in my home. Smaller, black-and-white thrift pieces or items I’ve picked up while traveling play a secondary role, so I can invest my money and precious wall or floor space into larger, more attractive furniture. After all, a room with too many “statement makers” vying for attention makes each item feel much less special.
So the next time you find yourself panicking about whether one or a dozen baubles are worth hauling back from a trip abroad, limit yourself to a size and a specific color scheme—maybe even my black and white palette, since it’s so easy to decorate with . This will help you get on board, weed out the frivolous, and ensure you’re filtering your discoveries to the things that will resonate the most and quietly complement what’s probably already a full house.