When people walk into a home they haven’t visited before, their attention is usually captured by a feature piece.

Think a painting, rug, ornament, artwork, antique, pottery, ceramics, glassware, crystal or carved wooden items.

Despite whether the home is modern, newly built, freshly renovated or redecorated, many times the owner will divulge to visitors that their signature piece was found in the back of an op shop.

To find a treasure to suit your home in an op shop, here are some tips and tricks.

Take your time – a rush trip will never work if you want to find something special.

Look high and low. Often undiscovered gems have been placed away from eye-level, where people don’t usually look.

Don’t discount something that has caught your eye if it’s a bit messy or in bad shape. Have a closer look and see if you could polish or repair it. It may just need a good clean, sanding or new coat of paint etc.

The put-back racks and boxes near the rear of op shops are worth scrummaging through too. Because, like the old saying goes, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”.

Ask shop attendants what they have out back, especially if you’re looking for something specific. Say, an old teapot. They may not have put it out for sale yet. Most of all, don’t underestimate the power of the op shop when decorating your home. Happy hunting!