Shellac is a versatile, nontoxic finish that enhances wood’s natural grain while adding smoothness without the plastic-like qualities of polyurethane or lacquer. Made from flakes of resin secreted by lacs (insects native to Asia) and dissolved in alcohol, most shellacs are clear or amber in color but can be tinted in a range of hues, from golden oak to dark mahogany. It’s readily available at home centers, goes on easily, and dries quickly.

Shellac isn’t an ideal wood finish for all situations. The finish can fade in the sun or dull over time, and it’s highly sensitive to water and high humidity. So while this less-than-durable finish can be repaired and retouched if necessary, it’s usually best applied to decorative wood items that won’t see a lot of wear and tear, rather than high-use furniture like a dining room table.

If you’re considering enhancing the natural beauty of your latest woodworking project, this step-by-step guide on how to shellac wood will get you started. A full, protective shellacking generally requires several thin layers, with a bit of sanding and buffing in between—a project that can often be completed in one afternoon.

Step 1: Prepare the shellac to the desired consistency.

Shellac is used in various concentrations, or “cuts,” that are mixed with denatured alcohol to determine the thickness of each coat. For a full-finish wood coat, a ratio of 2 pounds of shellac per gallon of alcohol is common and known as a 2-pound cut. A higher alcohol ratio creates a thinner mixture more commonly used as light sealer before staining. A higher shellac ratio produces a thicker blend that can mean fewer coats but can be sticky and difficult to work with.

Shellac can be made from scratch or purchased pre-made. If you’re up for the extra effort of making the mixture yourself, purchase shellac resin flakes and combine with denatured alcohol, using the 2-pound cut ratio as a starting point. You can add more or fewer shellac flakes to determine your own “cut preference” based on how the mixture is performing.

Pre-made shellac is sold by the quart or gallon, and usually has a high shellac ratio (3- or 4-pound cuts) which will result in thick coats. You can always thin out pre-made shellac by adding denatured alcohol. Shellac has a short shelf life, so purchase only as much as you will need for the job.

Step 2: Test the shellac on a piece of scrap wood.

Because shellac dries quickly, allowing no time to smooth out drips, it’s wise to test the consistency you’ll be working with before applying it to your project. Using a dry cotton cloth, rub some shellac onto a scrap piece of wood. If the shellac is too sticky to be wiped on smoothly, try adding a drop or two of mineral oil as a lubricant. (Mineral oil won’t affect the color or overall finish.)

Step 3: Sand the workpiece.

Sand the wood (220-grit sandpaper is appropriate for most projects) and wipe it with a tack cloth to remove any dust. Shellac can be applied with either a cotton cloth rag, a brush, or a combination of both. A good rule of thumb is to use a cloth to shellac wood if you’re covering a large surface area, and a brush for to finish tight edges and corners.

Step 4: Brush or wipe on the first coat of shellac.

Dip your rag into the shellac mixture and coat the wood using broad, even strokes and a generous amount of shellac. Try to avoid pooling or blotches, which will have to be sanded down later. Use the brush to finish tight areas and corners, doing your best to minimize brush strokes. While shellac dries to the touch almost immediately, wait at least 30 minutes before moving on.

Tried-and-True Advice

“When shellacking a piece with intricate carvings or detailed edges, I prefer to use a small artist’s paintbrush to apply the shellac to those areas first before coating the larger surfaces. This prevents pooling in tight spots and makes sure the detailed areas are evenly coated without getting too thick. Also, to make the process easier and to avoid drips, put your project on a lazy Susan or rotating turntable, which will give you to access to all sides without handling the piece, reducing the risk of smudges or uneven coats.”

—Paul Rankin, Contributing Writer

Step 4: Buff with sandpaper to smooth.

Sand any raised wood grain or uneven globs of shellac with 400-grit sandpaper. Alternately, use a piece of superfine (#0000) steel wool to buff between shellac layers.

Wipe away any white dust that accumulates from buffing. Examine the piece at eye level to identify spots where light does not reflect, which would indicate that the wood surface is not properly shellacked, and target those areas on your next coat.

Step 5: Apply more coats of shellac as required until you’re happy with the finished look.

At least three to four layers of shellac are required to achieve an ideal finish. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until the wood achieves a smooth, even appearance. After the last coat, you can leave the piece un-buffed for a glossy look, or buff one last time before applying a thin layer of non-silicone paste wax with a cloth for a satin finish.

How to Repair a Shellac Finish

If a shellac finish gets damaged, it’s easy to repair: Dab some alcohol on a rag and gently rub in a circular motion to remove the shellac from that area. Then follow the steps outlined above to shellac wood in just that area, sanding in between coatings, and building up until it is even with the rest of the piece, re-coating the entire surface once or twice if necessary. Scratches can also be repaired by using a fine brush to fill in low areas with shellac and then buffing then smooth.

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With prices on the rise and sustainability being top-of-mind, thrifting is becoming an attractive activity for more and more people. But discovering that one person’s trash can be your treasure is even more thrilling if you can then resell these items for a profit. Yes, you can take the home goods you grabbed for a steal at secondhand stores, estate sales, and flea markets and flip them into a lucrative hobby or side business. 

Indeed, the resale market has emerged as a goldmine for savvy thrifters who know how to spot valuable items that others will want to snag up quickly. Home design expert Jasmine Charbonier of Tampa, Florida, highlights the following factors that ensure an item is flip-worthy: has brand recognition, is made of quality materials, meets current design trends, is easy to clean and transport, and doesn’t need major repairs. 

Keep reading to learn more about the best items to thrift and resell, including where to find used home items and the top platforms to resell them on later.

Best Places to Source Used Items

To get started, you’ll want to browse everything from secondhand stores to social media to estate sales in order to find the best buys. Be mindful of some common pitfalls of thrifting, warns Charbonier. “Don’t buy anything with strong odors (they rarely come out), pass on items with structural damage, and stay away from recalled items or brands,” she says. 

Here are some favorite places to find used home goods: 

• Social media, selling apps, and online communities like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, and OfferUp. 
• Online auction sites like eBay and HiBid.
• Websites like 1stDibs, Chairish, Etsy, Mercari, and Poshmark.
• National secondhand stores like Goodwill (also online), Habitat for Humanity’s ReStores, and The Salvation Army Thrift Stores. 
• Local thrift stores and consignment shops.
• Estate sales and garage sales. 

Top Ways to Resell Goods

When it’s time to resell those items, you’ll want to get them ready to list on the best outlets to reach as many customers as possible. Charbonier suggests cleaning and repairing items thoroughly before listing them. Stage home items and take well-lit photos to market them effectively. Also, write detailed descriptions with measurements and brand names.

Where you decide to sell your thrifted finds depends on the type of item you have and who you are trying to reach. “I recommend using online marketplaces like eBay and Facebook Marketplace for quick sales of home goods,” says Nataliya Zhestkova, co-founder of Ecualama, a company specializing in handcrafted products. “You can also create an Instagram account dedicated to selling your resold finds, which is perfect for reaching a design-conscious audience.” 

She also enjoys selling through Etsy if the items are vintage or have a unique or artistic flair. Lastly, hosting a pop-up shop or setting up at a local flea market can help you make face-to-face connections and move large quantities of items quickly, she says. Other options include Amazon, Chairish, and consignment shops where you get a percentage of the sale.   

Best Home Goods to Source and Flip for Profit

Certain categories of home items are always in demand. Here are the top home goods to resell, according to experts. 

1. Antique and Vintage Furniture

Reselling antique and vintage furniture is probably the most common way to turn thrifting into a sale. “Antique and vintage furniture pieces can bring amazing returns if you know what to look for,” says Charbonier. “Danish modern and mid-century pieces are super hot right now.” She suggests heading to thrift stores and estate sales to look for tables, dressers, and accent chairs made with solid wood construction and popular brands like Herman Miller or Knoll, which can sell for five to 10 times what you pay.  

Ryan McDonald of Huntington Beach, California, and COO of Resell Calendar, an e-commerce platform for resellers, agrees and believes you can add value through minor restoration. He has purchased vintage wooden chairs for under 30 dollars, sanded and refinished them, and resold them for a 150 percent profit. “Restoration doesn’t have to be extensive—even a fresh coat of paint or swapping out hardware on cabinets can elevate an item’s appeal. Buyers love ready-to-use pieces, so any effort you put into making an item immediately functional or stylish pays off,” he says.

2. Mirrors

Decorative mirrors can turn into fantastic flips. “Large or ornate mirrors often have excellent resale potential with just a bit of frame repair or painting,” says Mike Milad, a home design professional and owner of RGB House Painters in London, Ontario, who previously made money repainting furniture as a side gig. Look for mirrors with antique finishes and ornate designs to attract the most attention. 

3. Outdoor Furniture

If you are crafty, try purchasing old outdoor furniture—such as metal patio sets, wooden benches, and wicker chairs—to revamp and turn a profit. “People are tired of molded plastic and wooden Adirondack chairs, and this means that vintage styles, including wicker as well as 1980s-style metal with plastic mesh, are increasingly popular,” explains Mike Fretto, co-founder and creative director at the outdoor furniture store Neighbor in Sayville, New York. “Wicker, in particular, is easy to repair and rehab even if it’s in pretty rough shape, and is popular in higher-end designs,” says Fretto.

4. Linens

Dr. Marcia Layton Turner is an eBay top-rated seller and author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Staging Your Home to Sell. Since shipping big, bulky items takes more time and expertise, she prefers to stick to smaller, lightweight items. “I’ve done really well with bedding—comforters, quilts, duvet covers, and sheets, for example—which I can buy for a dollar or two at the Goodwill clearance center and resell for many times that. I’ve found Pendleton wool blankets that have sold for $150-plus quickly,” she notes.

5. Light Fixtures

Light fixtures are among the best items to thrift and resell, since savvy thrifters can find all kinds of light fixtures secondhand. “Floor lamps, chandeliers, and table lamps with unique designs can be rewired or updated with a fresh finish and new shades,” says Milad. Vintage lighting fixtures, such as chandeliers or brass lamps, are also hot items that you can clean up and resell for a significant margin, says Chenise Freidus, home stager and business manager at ZFC Real Estate in Boca Raton, Florida.

6. Small Appliances and Kitchen Gadgets

Don’t overlook small appliances and kitchen gadgets when reselling used items, especially if they are in excellent condition or from well-known brands, says Zhestkova. Milad adds, “Vintage cast iron pans, Pyrex, and copper cookware are highly collectible and in demand.” Giving small appliances new life helps buyers restock or redecorate more sustainably. 

7. Gardening Items

If you are an avid gardener, then you might enjoy buying and reselling gardening tools. Laura Janney, CEO of The Inspired Garden in New York, has had much success buying and selling gardening-related items. “I have bought beautiful containers, furniture, and other decor for indoor and outdoor on the cheap and resell often on my local Facebook groups,” she notes. 

Some other items she has found include urns and other types of planters, statues and sculptures, outdoor art, outdoor furniture, decorative benches, and shelves for outdoor spaces. She typically finds goods at flea markets and thrift stores. “It’s really hard to say how much profit I make. I think the planters are the most popular; I would say 50 percent markup,” says Janney.

8. Vintage Rugs

Reselling vintage rugs, particularly Persian or Turkish rugs, can also be a lucrative endeavor. “Even those with wear can command significant resale value since buyers aren’t necessarily looking for perfection; they want character and authenticity,” says McDonald. He has seen rugs purchased for $50 at estate sales resell for more than $200 on platforms like Chairish. “The key here is understanding the appeal of these rugs as both functional and decorative investments; they instantly elevate a space, making them irresistible to interior enthusiasts. My pro tip: always check the tags for origin and material. Natural fibers like wool or silk add value,” he says.

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