Thrifting has been a significant part of my life for a couple of decades now. Not only did it give rise to my “second chance” career as a blogger, but it’s also substantially shaped our home. There are so many thrift store finds that can become sublime home decor, with or without upcycling. And I thought I’d share some of my favorite examples of that to help inspire your own curating adventures.
Fixed Bookends
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Despite our online, digital world, reading and books are having a real moment right now. And I LOVE to see that! So it’s no surprise that I turned a very plain thrift store find into this set of fixed bookends. Besides, it was missing a piece anyway, so it was destined for creative upcycling.
Indoor Planters
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Like books and reading, houseplants have surged in popularity in recent years. And while our cat-filled household precludes us from having real plants, I’m a big fan of the artificial variety. Especially when I can upcycle something interesting like this Habitat ReStore treasure into an elegant pot.
Thrift Store Finds on the Wall
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
A collage picture frame in the right design can almost look like Brutalist-style mid-century modern wall decor. At least, that’s what this one looked like to me when I spotted it at the thrift store. It just needed a little upcycling TLC to transform it into DIY home decor- not too shabby for a $2 thrifted frame that was originally purchased from Walmart (based on the tag), eh?
Fixing the Broken
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
A lot of thrifted finds are imperfect or even broken. And while some may be irredeemable, others present opportunities for creative transformation. As was the case with this marble tray that was cracked right down the middle.
Closet Doors Need Love, Too
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Those closet doors that stay closed most of the time are the perfect place to add a lil’ thrifted something. And a hanging basket filled with (faux) succulents is a lush, fresh way to give those closed doors life. I happened to “glaze” this basket to give a little glow, but that’s certainly optional and not required.
Faux Boho Pottery
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Pottery is a staple of in a lot of homes these days, but if you can’t find (or afford) the real deal, there ARE other options. Textured paint, like the kind used on this clear glass vase, is a great fake-out option. It gives clear glass pieces from the thrift store a much improved look for your own decor style.
Thrift Store Art
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Whether you find a painting, just a frame, or the whole enchilada, art is one of my favorite thrift store finds. I paired up a thrifted frame with a vintage painting here, but the other painting was also a thrifted treasure. Our home is FULL of secondhand art, and I am slightly obnoxious about showing it off when someone new comes over.
Glass Cloche
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
A geometric brass-and-glass pendant light is perfect for upcycling into a DIY cloche like this. You can display anything you’d like within it and even change it out seasonally. Big name decor shops sell similar versions for a much higher cost than the full light fixtures run at thrift shops, too.
Shelving Your Thrift Store Finds
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
One of my favorite “challenges” when it comes to decorating with thrift store finds is creating vignettes. Putting things together that don’t match, but coordinate in interesting, unexpected ways is an especially fun exercise. For instance, not only were most of these items thrifted, but the bamboo bookshelf was, too!
Unorthodox Woven Decor
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
This woven wall hanging started out as a pizza pan on a thrift store shelf, believe it or not. But look how amazing it turned out- both as a loom and as a finished frame. The final results are contemporary and surprisingly stylish for a Boho or eclectically-styled home.
Marrying Your Thrift Store Finds
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
A thrifted table with a broken (or missing) top is ground zero for something sensational. And thrifting for the replacement “top” is an additional layer of fun. That’s what happened here when I “married” a pair of unrelated thrift store finds into a fun and functional side table.
Thrift Store Lamps
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Lamps are such a statement piece in today’s (and yesterday’s!) homes- and let’s not forget how superior lamplight is to overhead lights. Of course, the thrift store is a phenomenal place to hunt for lamps, which is how I came about this shapely brass version. I obviously painted mine, but that’s a personal choice, for sure.
Upcycled Botanical Prints
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Whether it’s greenery or floral, botanical prints and artwork are an endlessly stylish option for your home. To give my version even more personality, I created these prints on woven palm mats that yes, I found while thrifting.
Clear Glass Vase Makeovers
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Can you even tell that these exotic vases started as clear glass vases from a thrift store? They’re the kind you would get with a small bouquet from the florist or even a hospital gift shop. But a globally-influenced paint job gives them such an exotic look, like you brought one home from an overseas trip.
Easy Fix for Bad Art
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
A cool frame at the thrift store might be holding some very unappealing “art”, which was the case with this unusual frame. And getting the ugly prints out of the frame ended up being a nightmare. So, the bad art was simply covered up with some peel-and-stick wallpaper samples– and you’d never know it if I hadn’t told you!
Thrifted Store Finds on the Coffee Table
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t immediately reach for the paint when I bring home my thrifted finds. Sometimes, a ‘no paint project’ is more impactful than a painted one. But in the case of this weird tray, paint was the best option– and now it looks fabulous on our funky coffee table.
Thrifted Gallery Wall
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Wall galleries made from flat baskets are a wonderfully thrifty way to fill a LOT of vertical real estate. Plus, they’re lightweight and easy to hang- and with the addition of vintage woven trivets, they take on a whole new look. Either way, this is a very thrifty idea for DIY home decor using inexpensive treasures from thrift shops and yard sales.
Curious Cactus Garden
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Sometimes, a home decor idea takes time to gather. And in this case, the thrifted finds are the the ceramic cacti plants AND the basket. I just had to be patient while I slowly collected all the pieces I needed to put together a fun tabletop “cactus garden”.
Decorating Your Home with Thrift Store Finds
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
“Verve” is one of my favorite underused words, but it’s one I use to describe our home. There’s personality, sparkle, and curiosity on every wall and tabletop, thanks to thrift store finds and a little upcycling magic. I hope this post inspires you to go thrifting and hunting to curate your own vibrant, vivacious, and quintessentially unique home. Sometimes, you just need a wisp of an idea to get started on the journey…
Craft on!
S
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Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Sarah Ramberg is the owner of Sadie Seasongoods, a website that celebrates all things secondhand. From upcycling ideas and thrifted decor to vintage-centric travel itineraries, Sadie Seasongoods is a one-stop shop for anyone who loves thrifting and approachable repurposing ideas. Sarah is also the author of “Crafting with Flannel” and has been featured in numerous media outlets and magazines.
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