‘My home is filled with charity shop and ex-display finds’
Laura Hannam, who has over 10k followers on her aspirational Instagram account @arle_house, explains how second-hand, vintage and ex-display buys have saved her cash while making her home unique.
She says, “I grew up in a household filled with furniture both old and new – and from that, I learned to appreciate the charm a vintage piece can bring to a space. Over the years, I’ve found myself welcoming more and more second-hand additions into my home, sourced from flea markets and charity shops – and it’s not just because I love the way they look, but also because they’re more sustainable than buying brand new.
“I’ve come to realise that whatever you’re looking for – whether it’s a particular lamp or a coffee table – it almost always already exists somewhere. It could be vintage, an ex-display from your favourite shop, or even a customer return. But nine times out of ten, you can achieve the look you want without buying new.
“My style is neutral and paredback. The house is filled with ceramics from charity shops, ex-display kitchen appliances, flea market art, and even a chair I found in my neighbour’s garage.
“Recently, a Loaf sofa I’d been coveting for my living room appeared on Facebook Marketplace as an ex-display for 40 per cent less than its original price. I also managed to track down a Visual Comfort pendant light on eBay – it retails for hundreds but after a few months of typing the brand name into eBay, the exact one I wanted came up and it was less than a quarter of the price. It arrived new and unopened. I’ve got no idea why they were selling it, but it just goes to show that patience is key to finding what you want. Obviously it’s unrealistic to buy everything second-hand, but by doing it with a few items, you’ll be really surprised by how much money you’ll save.”
Follow Laura on Instagram @arle_house