5 Things Interior Designers Always Look for on eBay

Why settle for all brand-new items when you can design a collected space with a mix of secondhand finds woven in? Many interior designers love to go the vintage route in their projects—and eBay remains a favorite source for many.

“Especially when I’m doing a project that has a lot of retail, I need eBay to make it feel extraordinary,” says Adnan Anwar, the founder of Adnan Anwar Design. Here, Anwar and other pros share the five types of items they gravitate toward while browsing the site. The next time you’re looking for a piece with a little extra oomph, remember that eBay is a goldmine of secondhand gems just waiting to be discovered.

Wallpaper

Kristin Keyes, the founder of Kristin Keyes Interiors, likes to search for wallpaper on eBay, having recently ordered some discounted, out-of-stock Anthropologie rolls for a client project. “I like having access to patterns that aren’t currently available and feel a bit less ‘trendy’ than what you can find from major retailers,” the designer says.

She underscores the importance of confirming a room’s measurements before placing an order. “If possible, it’s best to get all your rolls from the same die lot for perfect color matching,” Keyes adds.

Small Decorative Accents

Many designers enjoy purchasing decorative accessories via eBay. “When shopping on eBay, I gravitate toward the small, finishing touches that make a space feel layered and personal—like a beautifully aged ceramic vessel or a unique sculptural vase,” says Michael Graham-Smith, the founder of Graham-Smith Designs.

Anwar has also had success sourcing pottery on eBay—among his favorite types include early American salt-glazed, Raku, and Italian mid-century. “Often you can find the same things on eBay that are being sold at the ritziest antiques shows for less,” he says.

Candlesticks are another item that Anwar has sourced time and time again. “I’ve bought beautiful brass, crystal, and stone ones from a range of periods and cultures,” Anwar says.

Quilts and Textiles

Maureen Dana, the founder of XOMO Studio, is a big proponent of taking to eBay to shop for soft goods. “They are not items that you have to worry about getting damaged during shipping, unlike mirrors, framed art, or furniture,” she says.

Antique and vintage quilts and textiles are some of Dana’s favorite items to source via the website as of late. “In the current moment of cottagecore, maximalism, and color and pattern mixes, quilts and textiles are a great way to add character to a design scheme,” the designer says. “They can even be that singular pop of color and pattern in a more minimalist setting or a Scandinavian style home.”

Don’t forget to scour eBay for basic bed linens that are anything but ordinary, as Anwar suggests. “I’ve found the most stunning antique bed linens from Europe—Swiss cutwork, lace trimmed, embroidered, appliqué,” he says. “I regularly find unused designer bed linens from brands such as Matouk, Porthault, and Yves Delorme.”

Additionally, don’t forget that you can display textiles as art throughout the home—Sarah Storms likes to order and then frame vintage scarves that she finds on eBay. “I have found some really beautiful silk scarves that have very interesting patterns but might not be a designer label,” says the founder of Styled by Storms, noting that she then places the scarves in floating acrylic frames.

Vintage Lighting

Graham-Smith has taken to eBay to shop for lighting for his projects, citing bathroom sconces as one example. “Specificity is key,” the designer explains. “Rather than a broad search like ‘bathroom sconce,’ try something more refined, such as ‘vintage mid-century brass sconce’ to get better results.”

Retro or Nostalgic Items

Why not use eBay to track down something special from the past? “I can imagine a client’s favorite Star Wars toy on an office shelf, an encyclopedia set from the year a couple was married on a living room built-in, or a globe from the year a client was born on a dresser,” Keyes says. “If you’re looking for something hyper-specific, come back to your search every few days and keep after it—the thing you’re searching for will probably pop up eventually.”