Are you looking to add some new decor to your home or want to change up your style? We know that decor can get quite expensive, but there are ways to get the look you want without the hefty price tag. Here’s my guide on how to style your home on a budget with thrifted home decor.
What is National Thrift Store Day?
National Thrift Store Day is on August 17th and it focuses on supporting local thrift stores. It also a day to as raise awareness for charitable organizations. Also known as consignment stores, resale shops, and secondhand stores, thrift stores are full of lightly used donated items that are usually priced at a fraction of the original cost.
How to Style Your Home on a Budget
Thrift store shopping is a great and sustainable way to find some beautiful and unique pieces for your home. A great way to make thrift pieces your own is by upcycling them. This way you can customize them to fit your own style.
You can upcycle in a few different ways such as refinishing an item to give it a new look. Keeping the item as is but using it for something different than its original purpose. This also completely transform the item to reuse it in a completely different way.
With thrift store shopping, you can find almost anything you need whether it be decor, lighting, furniture, tableware, and more!
How to Find a Good Thrift Store
If you have never been thrifting before, it’s a good idea to visit a few different shops. Keep in mind that some shops are more curated towards specific items like thrifted home decor. Some thrift shops also specialize in just clothes.
Once you have visited a few, you will have a good idea of what you actually like. Get to know your local and popular thrift stores that have high traffic. There are chances they will have some good items if they constantly need to replenish their inventory.
You can also go to an area that is known for its thrift stores. Some thrift shops will open next to each other. Note that these stores may be crowded but it will be a good way to visit multiple stores at once.
Another good idea is to go to an upscale neighborhood, to find some high-end items. However, the average price will most likely go up.
Thrift Store Furniture tips
It’s important to keep an open mind when thrift store shopping and look at the potential of the items ( what they could be rather than what they are). If you’re having trouble finding items, it’s a good idea to go thrifting more often as they usual. Rotate through inventory frequently.
Pay attention to the condition and construction of the items so you know that they will last for a long time and withstand any alterations you make. You will also want to consider the shape and size of an item, as these are two things that are difficult to alter than their aesthetics.
Thrifted home decor DIY ideas
Picture frames
One thrift store home decor item that is popular is picture frames. Framing pictures and art can be costly, whether it’s a custom frame or just getting one from the local store. Most thrift stores will carry some vintage or even new frames that you can easily revamp.
You can easily use some spray paint and pick a color that suits your vibe. To keep a vintage look, you can use two different colors of chalk paint of your choice and then use sandpaper to create a distressed vintage look.
You can also pick up some gold leaf from the art store and adhesive to create an antique-looking frame that would be perfect for a gallery wall.
Lamps
You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a unique lamp when you can create it yourself. A useful tip is to have a spare lightbulb with you so you can test out the lamp before you buy it.
Go thrift store shopping to find a lamp design that you like, then you can explore different aesthetics that you are interested in. If you want to change the lamp shade, you can use printed paper or fabric to cover the old lamp shade.
You can even find a separate lamp shade you like to replace the current one. If you want to paint the base, make sure to sand down the base lightly so that the paint can adhere better, and use a primer. Lastly, you can add embellishments and hardware to make it more unique.
Mirrors
If you’re in need of a chalkboard but can’t find a style you like, you can upcycle a mirror with some chalk paint to create a more aesthetically pleasing one. This would be perfect for a playroom or the kitchen to write your weekly grocery lists.
If you like the mirror but the frame needs some work, a cool and creative idea is to use small pieces of stone tiles and glue them on the frame to create a rustic look.
Vases
Vases can have dozens of different uses aside from holding flowers or plants. If you find a clear vase, you can create a terrarium for your kitchen or bathroom to give it a more natural aesthetic.
Vases don’t necessarily need a purpose either and can just be purely decorative. Give it a makeover with a new color and add some textured paint to create a natural look.
Candle holders
Antique candle holders are extremely popular but can be very expensive. Luckily, you can easily find some affordable ones while thrift store shopping. Create your own with some gold leaf and adhesive and you can easily get that elegant look.
If you have flat base candle holders meant to hold larger candles, you can use industrial strength glue and a plate to create your own customized cake stand.
Coffee tables
Flip old furniture like a coffee table and create your own look to suit your space. Sometimes just a coat of paint, wood stain, and a new countertop will do the trick but you can get creative with it.
If you want a more modern coffee table, switch out the old wood legs for some stylish metal legs and give the table a coat of paint to match your style.
You can even make your own coffee table from scratch by thrifting an old window and adding in some wood panels and legs.
Are you ready for your next DIY thrifted home decor project?
The options are endless when it comes to upcycling thrift store home decor. What will you create with your next thrifted home decor find? Let me know in the comments below!
xo, Gbeke
What do you think?