Lauren Layton has furnished much of her home with items from garage sales and op shops. PICTURE: LACHLAN BENCE
One of Ballarat’s garage sale experts has shared some of her secrets to plucking a piece of treasure from of the trash.
“Garage Saling” is almost a religion in Ballarat. Every Saturday morning dozens of collectors, antique enthusiasts and bargain hunters gather in the driveways and garages of those wanting to get rid of old wares.
But for some, that old, daggy furniture could be somebody else’s pride and joy.
Inside tomorrow’s edition of The Courier, grab your free map for “Rummage Around the Rat”, Ballarat’s biggest garage sale.
The city-wide sale map will have the best spots to go and where to find the best deals.
Ballarat’s Lauren Layton might just be the city’s best “Garage Saler” and “Opp Shopper”. She’s decked out most of her house in eclectic trinkets and vintage furniture gathered from sales.
She said she even used several crystal pieces in her wedding, which she found for a bargain, or course.
Her tips for tomorrow: shop smart, play tough and get in quick.
“You want to get there early, but at the same time there’s an etiquette – don’t bang on the door at 5.30am when it’s a 7.30am start,” she said.
“Also don’t be afraid to ask for a better price or appear disinterested then come back later.”
“There’s lots of little tricks you can do.”
Ms Layton said her main focus is small crystal accessories and furniture from the 1900’s through to the 1970s.
“It’s really good fun,” she said.
To get your copy of the Rummage Around the Rat map, grab a copy of The Courier tomorrow.