Here at VERANDA, it’s no secret that we’re big fans of decorating with antique and vintage pieces whenever possible. It’s one of the quickest ways to make a room feel more collected, unique and layered—not to mention, well-made pieces offer a more sustainable alternative to buying new furniture. Whether we’re sourcing antiques from France or hitting up a local estate sale for vintage furnishings, we love the thrill of the hunt. But we recently asked ourselves: Could our beloved old furniture provide a different type of thrilling experience? Is it possible for these pre-owned pieces to be haunted?

While it may sound woo-woo, some of the most respected designers in the industry report that they’ve experienced paranormal activity around furniture. Interior designer Noz Nozawa of says, “I definitely believe antique and vintage pieces can be haunted.” She adds, “While I notice an explicitly negative feeling more often, I think it’s just because those are more uncomfortable to observe. I also have found myself drawn positively to antique and vintage things in a way that feels most accurately described as cosmic.”Nozawa says that some of her clients are even superstitious when it comes to certain old furnishings and put them on their no-go design list. She says, “There are cultures out there that believe old mirrors can be haunted by those who've previously gazed into them. I have several clients who will not accept antique, vintage, or even pre-owned mirrors into their homes. Just last week at the flea market, I overheard someone talking about how they're creeped out by old mirrors!”

To get to the bottom of the matter, we reached out to , a Boston-based psychic medium. The good news? She says your antiques aren’t haunted—but that doesn’t mean you won’t pick up vibes from their past owners.Nichols says, “Spirits cannot be attached to their furniture or other earthly possessions. When we die, we lose all connection to all things physical, our bodies included, as well as the material possessions that we had in life. They don't go with us to the grave. We may have memories of them. We may think fondly of them on the other side, but we don't attach ourselves to them.”She notes that when someone picks up on unusual vibes or a “spirit attachment” from old furnishings, they’re generally experiencing something called psychometry, which means they’re “mediumistically picking up on the person's energy who previously owned that item.” Nichols adds that pre-owned or antique items can give off an energetic feel or impression, which can make people believe they’re haunted. But there’s a subtle yet important difference, she says: “If [someone is] sensitive, and don't know that they're sensitive, and they sit down on a chair and all of a sudden they are given a view or have an image or an experience of a woman in a white dress sitting on the chair, and she's smoking a cigarette and it's the 1930s, that simply means that person is having a mediumistic experience, and that they're simply opening themselves up to the energy of that item.”While it may sound spooky, Nichols is quick to point out that you cannot “attract or bring home a spirit” if you buy pre-owned furniture since “there’s no soul or spirit that’s attached to it.” She caveats this by saying, “What you are doing is potentially bringing their energy into your space, and that is all dependent upon how intuitive of a person you are, or how sensitive of a person you are.”But don’t fear: You don’t have to stop shopping at your favorite antique shops if you’re sensitive (or even just superstitious). Nichols says that buying items from antique stores or estate sales won’t negatively affect your home, and if anything, “it can add different energies to your home.”She says that it’s just about being selective when browsing. You don’t have to be psychic or intuitive (though, she says everyone has the capability to be); you just have to “pick the furniture and items that feel the best for you.” Nichols adds, “I love looking for art at antique stores. I love experiencing the joy and the feelings behind the artwork that people have created and that have been passed down to the stores, but I only go for art where I can tell—and I can feel—that there was joy behind creating. I do not buy it if there's any sort of negative feeling around it.”Nozawa says that she’s also been drawn to the energy before while shopping for antiques and art. “Sometimes the things I have been pulled toward or compelled to collect are not even necessarily in styles that I normally notice,” she says. “My somewhat-recent love of hand-painted folk art pieces is one of those. I just chase that energy, because there's so much design to look at, that I may as well let the energy direct me toward what to pay attention to!” In addition to avoiding items that feel energetically “off,” Nichols also advises against looking for creepy things on purpose. She says when you do that, “you're setting an intention and you're adding your own psychology to it, and that's where you can end up spooking yourself and manifesting that kind of negative experience that some people have.”In the same vein, Nozawa says, “If my skin gets goosebumps or my instincts sense something not pleasant around an old piece, I will usually leave it.” However, if you go into the antique store with an open heart and mind and purchase things that feel energetically good for your home, “it can be quite a neat experience,” Nichols says.So go ahead and buy that 1920s settee or pre-owned painting. Beyond adding chic layers to your home, they’ll also bring a sense of history and an energetic imprint from their previous owners—which is a pretty beautiful thing.