For a few years there, it looked like IKEA might have a whitewash on Britain’s homes. Seduced by the chic and cheap Scandinavian design, Britons – and everyone else across Europe – rushed to the great blue hangers for furniture, dime bars and meatballs. Rare is the home without an expedit shelving unit

Images from Joanna Thornhill’s new book: ‘Home for Now’

Thankfully, we came to our senses before houses were completely homogenised. Though IKEA and its brethren hold a definite place in interior décor, people started to look for pieces with more character, pieces that inject their personality into a room, solid pieces that had already stood the test of a few years. 

“There’s been a boom recently,” says Gary Rees, owner of Recycle&Donate in Ashton who set up the company to “stop people’s unwanted furniture ending up in landfill”.

Bristol with its self-professed green slant and formal Green Capital 2015 crown ought to be a hotbed of furniture recycling. It is, but for various reasons. “It’s partly because of taste,” Gary continues, “but partly because of build quality; we humans have become quite wasteful and people are now looking for stuff that is built to last.”

Of course, it’s cheap too. A second-hand chest of drawers can be snapped up for as little as £20, a wardrobe £40.

There is, however, an art to blending retro pieces into your home without making it look like your nan’s lounge. Interiors stylist and writer Joanna Thornhill, who divides her time between Bristol and the bright lights of London, offers some tips for buying and integrating winning items. 

When shopping, “always check the overall quality of a piece before buying, but don’t let flaws necessarily put you off,” she advises. “An old Victorian side table might be a bit scratched and battered, but that’s easily transformed with a lick of paint. As long as a piece has good ‘bones’ – a solid structure and nice shape – you can’t really go wrong. 

“Solid wood furniture is often easiest to refurbish – simply give it a light sanding then prime and paint for a quick and inexpensive transformation. Chairs with removable seat pads are super-easy to make over, too – no sewing skills required! Look out for fabric scraps bigger than the seat itself, then pop it out and use a staple gun to pull the fabric taut around the pad, slotting it back into place within the chair when you’re done.”

Back at home – after making sure that your new finds are spotlessly clean – nothing spoils a scheme like a must of moth balls – mix old with contemporary. “The best schemes are often those which involve pieces from a few different eras, rather than slavishly following one particular look – the mix of elements are what visually softens a space, adding texture, interest and personality, which is ultimately what creates a cosy, individual home.”

Easy on the pocket, easy on the eye, easy on the environment. What’s the catch? 

Treasure Troves

Junk shops are great, but they can be elusive beasts. Here’s our round up of some of the city’s best for those who fancy braving the retro revolution:

1. 2nd Chance Furniture, Hartcliffe – www.2ndchancebristol.co.uk
2. Recycle&Donate, Ashton – www.recycleanddonate.co.uk
3. Focus on the Past, Clifton – focusonthepast.org/
4. Re-furnish, St Werburgh’s – www.re-furnish.co.uk/
5. YMCA, Bedminster – www.ymca.org.uk
6. Bristol Reclamation, Southville – www.bristol-reclamation.co.uk
7. The Reclaimers, Gloucester Road – www.facebook.com/ReclaimersReclamation
8. The Attic, Downend – www.radisol.com/attic
9. Wotnot, Westerleigh – (not online)
10. Rachel’s Antiques, Bedminster – (not online)