Comments on: Secondhand Scores: Why The Vintage Armoire Is Your Home’s Design Secret Weapon (+ How To Find An EHD-Approved One)

By: Sally

Sally — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:21:40 +0000

Can I please add another search term for those who don’t have the room for a full armoire – I bought a bonnetière quite a few years ago which is like a single door armoire. Traditionally used for hats (I think), I use it for kitchen and dining linens.

By: Julie

Julie — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 23:31:50 +0000

We have a 1920s/30s deco veneer armoire in our old house’s large but closet-less entry/mudroom, which we use for coats and misc object storage. It’s great! We’re looking for one for my mom who has a similar situation – be VERY sure to check the depth if you are wanting to use the hanger rod. Many are a couple inches too shallow to comfortably store coats on a hanger – needs 20″ and many are 17ish.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 23:03:40 +0000

In reply to wally. Holy smokes, that's crazy!! I can't believe they didn't disclose that. I'm sure that was a big surprise for you when it arrived... "Uuuum, where's the back?!" The perils of marketplace.

By: wally

wally — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 21:33:08 +0000

I got an armoire for $5. I didn’t have a license at the time, so had taskrabbiters pick it up for me. Unbeknownst to me, the owners had used it as an entrance for an escape room and had taken the back out, and did some bizarre things to the inside. So def get as many photos as possible before buying!

I’d love pieces on vintage china cabinets, sideboards, dressers, and secretary desks.

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 20:20:31 +0000

What a fun post! I actually have one of the armoires listed here … with a collection of vintage cookie tins on top. It’s my office, as the room it’s in doesn’t have a closet. It was a pain to transport when I bought it about 20 years ago, and we had to rent a small UHaul to get that thing home. But it has served me well, and if we ever move, it will certainly come with me!

By: Marianne B.

Marianne B. — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 19:25:43 +0000

Over 20 years ago, we bought a rustic antique hutch and an ice box. Now that we are 20+ years older, and we no longer store games, school supplies, and bakeware in the ice box, we are trying to give it away, but even Habitat won’t take it because that sucker is heavy! We successfully gave our Mexican pine entertainment armoire to our friends for their music studio, though. Still, every time I spy a vintage or antique armoire, I have to stop and look.

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:14:25 +0000

In reply to SarahT. Yes, up until surprisingly recently, it was common for people to fold clothes for storage rather than hang them. They also had way fewer articles of clothing, along with just less stuff in general. I live in an old house and have actually come to prefer freestanding furniture over closets. It's more flexible!

By: Sara

Sara — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:56:41 +0000

I’ve been looking for a buffet/sideboard and a vintage bar cabinet. Think you could put together another secondhand scores post on either or these two items? Thank you!

By: Addi

Addi — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:02:08 +0000

Dying to know if you ever got your armoire out of storage. Wasn’t there some issue with it in your move?

By: SarahT

SarahT — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 15:34:58 +0000

Arlyn, it’s always been so great to read your posts here and elsewhere on the internet over all of these years. Thank you! This one made me realize why the old apartments I’ve lived in had almost no built in storage. It must have been not just that people had fewer things, but that there was an expectation of the renter using furniture like armoires for storage. Maybe a post about vintage cane furniture? Here’s to a week of small joys for you and your sweet family!