The appeal of secondhand shopping, whether discovered on Facebook Marketplace or within your local vintage store, continues to rise. No one is more delighted by this trend than Lara Spencer, who, alongside her demanding role as a journalist on Good Morning America, has dedicated her entire life to thrifting, both publicly and privately (a nod to any Flea Market Flip enthusiasts).
Spencer is now focused on celebrating the upcoming generation of thrifters with her brand-new series, That Thrifting Show, premiering on Freeform on Thursday, March 19.
A Deep-Rooted Passion Passed Down Through Family
If Lara Spencer isn’t familiar to you from Good Morning America, you might recognize her from another show centered on thrifting, Flea Market Flip. Yet, even before those television appearances, Spencer was often found thrifting with her mother—from a much younger age than you might anticipate.
“It all started with my mom… she ignited my enthusiasm for thrifting and repurposing from when I was a baby,” Spencer shares. “Through a natural process, it became ingrained in me… and later in life, it evolved into a mutual passion.”
Spencer’s mother passed away in early 2026, but her spirit thrives through Spencer’s endeavors, notably in That Thrifting Show, where Spencer serves as both host and executive producer. “She possessed a keen eye and truly exquisite taste,” Spencer notes. “This show stands as a beautiful testament to her.”
Crafting Elegant Rooms with Pre-Loved Treasures
That Thrifting Show challenges contestants and encourages viewers at home to envision a world where we decorate exclusively with pre-owned home decor, championing sustainability from start to finish. Teams come together to convert an empty room into a stellar display of interior design, spending no more than $2000 on thrifted finds. Style experts Robert Hartwell, Dani Klaric, and Preston Konrad then determine the winner.
“The fact that it can be accomplished for under $2,000… demonstrates to our audience that anything is achievable,” Spencer declares. “It’s not about being bigger, shinier, or newer…it’s about items and spaces that convey a narrative, and that’s precisely what this program is dedicated to—creating these rich, layered rooms using only vintage, upcycled, thrifted, and even discarded pieces, proving that you don’t require a large budget to design a truly exquisite room.”
One particular platform proved to be consistently successful for That Thrifting Show participants. “Facebook Marketplace was a veritable goldmine for our teams,” Spencer recounts. “The quantity of items acquired… not only at very low prices, but often for free, was both a blessing and a superb strategy for individuals designing on a limited budget.”
The victorious team from each episode gets to keep the thrifted items from both competing teams’ finished rooms, ensuring each piece finds a continued purpose after filming concludes. According to Spencer, every show wraps up with a home video documenting what the winning team did with each item.
Beginning Your Thrifting Adventure
Even if you’re not prepared to completely redecorate your home with secondhand finds, thrifting is accessible to everyone. “You can tentatively explore the world of vintage thrifting without feeling overwhelmed,” Spencer suggests. “Start at a flea market—they often feature a more curated selection—or a charity thrift shop that boasts a more carefully chosen inventory… these options can feel less intimidating.”
Charity thrift shops rank among Spencer’s preferred destinations for thrifting. “I am a tremendous supporter of charity thrift stores because everyone benefits,” she affirms. “You unearth wonderful pieces that someone has donated, and there’s a deep satisfaction in knowing that at least a portion of your purchase contributes to a truly noble cause.”
Regardless of where or how often you engage in secondhand shopping, opting for used items is beneficial for the planet and allows you to acquire pieces with distinct histories. “It’s a wonderfully enjoyable way to introduce a unique dimension to a room,” Spencer observes.
Viewing Information
The inaugural season of That Thrifting Show makes its debut on Freeform on Thursday, March 19, at 9 p.m. ET. You can stream the first episode—or rather, the initial six episodes—on Hulu the very next day. The latter half of the 12-episode season is slated for release later this spring.
Access the original article on Better Homes & Gardens