New Year, Old Things

We kicked off 2026 with my favorite tradition: New Year’s Day brunch.

We have two toddlers, so we aren’t out late on New Year’s Eve. Instead, we tucked the kids into bed and I baked gluten-free cinnamon rolls and prepped pie crusts for quiches, so friends and family could join us the next morning to ring in the new year together. There’s something about going to bed January 2nd full of good food and long conversations and joy, with a messy kitchen and every toy we own strewn about, that leaves me both content and not ready to start any ambitious resolutions. Truthfully, I can barely stick to the rhythms I currently attempt.

After brunch, I sat around our dining table with some of the gals and flipped through half a dozen interior design books I’d checked out from the library. We admired the architecture, the composition of the rooms, the floor-to-ceiling windows and perfect views. But what we were all drawn to, again and again, were the antique and vintage pieces—the homes that felt layered and lived in.

Now I love decluttering, but I was reminded that the new year is the best time to acquire those sorts of treasures While everyone else is resolving and minimizing and making room for new Christmas presents, you get to treasure hunt.

The next day, I went thrifting.

The donation line spilled into the parking lot—cars idling, trunks open, people eager to offload December. I dropped off a bag or two of outgrown kids’ clothes and some kitchen items I’m no longer using. Then I parked and went inside.

The shelves were overfilled in that very particular January way. I took my time and scavenged slowly. That’s my best advice if you’re tempted to try January thrifting: don’t rush it, and don’t go in looking for something specific. Let your eye be drawn to quality, weight, materials. Look for things that have already lasted. Patina and age give pieces history and make them one-of-a-kind.

January Thrifting Tips
Go when everyone else is donating. Take your time. Look for age, materials, and signs something has already lasted. Ignore the plastic and trends. Be willing to pass by a lot of things, but use your creative vision and come with an open mind. You will be surprised by what you can find!

I found a large, vintage 80s ceramic country crock lamp with blue roses. Beautiful and unapologetically domestic, the kind of piece that would round out a dresser or shelf all on its own. There were several large gold frames with faded mauve and green mats donated by someone who had good taste since the artwork inside was uncommonly tasteful. If you thrift, you know what I mean. And hanging wall baskets that held plastic ivy and foam blocks. I promptly threw away the faux greenery out right there at checkout. I’ll line the baskets with old plastic containers, fill them with soil/water, and tuck cuttings and small plants inside.

It's fun to be creative and imagine a vision for the items. It’s a good practice in stewardship of money, materials, and attention. Limiting waste is a lovely benefit.

If January is a month where you’re aiming for improvement or excellence—health, home, habits—I’d encourage this posture alongside it: practice contentment and joy now, not later. You don’t have to wait for the house to be finished, the systems perfected, or the clutter fully solved before you’re allowed to enjoy where you are.

I’ll be back at the thrift stores a few more times this week. January is generous if you’re patient. When everyone else is clearing out, the store shelves fill and there are hidden gems tucked inside that can give your home character and charm.

And that feels like a good way to begin the year.